How To Change The Size Of A Layer In Photoshop

Looking to learn a fox or two well-nigh resizing a layer in Adobe Photoshop? Yous've found the correct tutorial.

Adobe Photoshop designs are dependent on layers. These layers allow you, every bit the designer, to manipulate the picture exactly the way you want.

A single Photoshop file can contain many layers, with dissimilar aspects of the image held on each layer. This allows you lot to edit parts of the image in 1 layer while leaving the rest of the image (anything existing in the other layers) untouched.

Every bit you master working with layers, you lot can learn how to isolate one layer and change its color in Photoshop, how to replace the color of one element in the image, or how to crop elements from an image.

This tutorial will walk you through how to resize a layer in Photoshop, pace-by-pace. If you are brand new to using Photoshop, this blog on How to Use Photoshop is a great starting point for teaching you the nuts.

If you desire to tackle more than Photoshop tools after this tutorial, Udemy besides has acme-notch tutorials on the Lasso Tool, the Pen Tool, the Quick Selection tool, and more than.

Why resize a layer in Photoshop?

Knowing how to resize layers opens up a earth of nifty design techniques that you tin utilize to create visually stimulating effects in Photoshop and become your images to look merely how you lot want them to. For instance, resizing a layer makes it easy to accommodate the proportions of dissimilar elements in an image past making the subject smaller or larger in relation to the background. This also makes it easy to resize and rotate text, shapes, and other design elements that you may add on acme of a photograph.

Graphic designers generally work with many layers in their projects because it allows them finer command over the private elements of an image in Photoshop. Learning how to quickly resize and rotate a layer is an easy way to produce effects that expect advanced.

Step i: Create or select the layer you want to resize

To resize a layer, y'all're going to demand a layer kickoff.

If y'all have an image you've previously created in Photoshop that already has layers, you can use that to follow along with this tutorial. Go ahead and open it, select the layer you want to resize, and then skip to Footstep 3.

If y'all don't take an image with layers created yet, we'll start by opening a new Photoshop pattern and making a layer.

Open a new design

Open a new canvas by going to "File" and selecting "New." A window volition pop upwardly, asking you to accommodate the size of the canvas. If you want, you can modify the superlative and the width to match the image you programme on creating. If you're not certain, try starting with the following dimensions:

width: 600 pixels
height: 600 pixels.

You tin can always suit this later.

Create a new layer.

The white canvas is your groundwork, and at present you lot demand to add a few layers on top of this groundwork to give you maximum flexibility while designing.

To create a new layer, go to your layers palette in the lesser right-paw corner of Photoshop CC. Make sure the tab called "Layers" is selected.

You lot'll meet a white thumbnail and the discussion "Background." On the bottom of that little panel, there is an icon that looks like a plus sign. Click that, and you'll have your start new layer!

Note: If you lot plan on using the shapes tool to do your first drawing, you don't need to create a new layer; when you draw the shape on the background, Photoshop will automatically create a new layer with the title of your shape tool and a "1."

Pace ii: Add a design element in the layer

You should discover a highlighted layer on your panel. This means it's actively selected, and y'all can design or edit it.

Within your active layer, go ahead and design anything yous have in mind. You may draw a shape, insert a photograph, or add some text — whatever strikes you, place something simple onto the layer. Here, we've inserted a beautiful photo:

Step three: Open the Free Transform tool

Now that you accept something drawn in layer 1, we volition use the "Complimentary Transform" tool, which allows us to resize and even rotate the layer.

In that location are ii ways to engage this tool:

Get to "Edit" in the top dropdown menu, and click "Costless Transform" or
Press command and the "T" fundamental (CTRL+T).

free transform tool navigation, photoshop

Note: The second option is called a shortcut. Each tool in Photoshop has its own shortcut using keys on your keyboard, which makes accessing them actually like shooting fish in a barrel.

Stride iv: Resize the layer

With your layer selected, and the Gratuitous Transform tool open, you should see anchor points around the canvas. These will expect like to the points around an image when you endeavor to resize or edit it.

Making the layer smaller

Choose a corner anchor point, and then click and drag it inward toward a central point. As yous practise, the layer will begin to shrink both vertically and horizontally.

If you want the layer proportions to stay the same, concord the SHIFT key while you click and drag your anchor point.

Let go of the mouse when the layer is at the size you want. Here'due south an example of what it looks similar now. Smaller and proportional in size:

Making the layer bigger

If you click on the aforementioned corner anchor betoken and drag your mouse outward, your layer will begin to grow in the same semi-proportional way. Once again, if you lot want to keep the layer proportions the same as you enlarge it, hold the SHIFT key while you resize information technology.

Adjusting the layer's width

If yous click on whatever of the points that sit forth the vertical sides of the layer, y'all can drag toward the center to decrease the width. Alternatively, pull away from the layer to increase the width.

Adjusting the layer's top

Also, if yous grab a horizontal ballast indicate (sitting along either the top or the bottom border of the layer) and drag information technology towards the centre, the height will subtract. If y'all click and drag it away from the center, you'll increase the summit. Here, I have resized the paradigm proportionally so stretched it up.

Relieve your layer at the new size

When you're done resizing the layer, press the ENTER cardinal to secure it at the new size. Pretty like shooting fish in a barrel, right?

Footstep 6: Rotate the layer

You lot've successfully resized your layer — now let's learn how to rotate it. We will utilize the same Free Transform tool to plough the layer.

Click on the layer that you want to rotate, and then open the Free Transform tool again by going to "Edit" and selecting "Free Transform." Or yous can press CTRL+T for the shortcut. You should come across the anchor points appear around the layer over again.

To rotate, hover your mouse arrow on the exterior of a corner anchor. You should see a half-moon-shaped line with an pointer on either end.

Click while your mouse arrow looks like this, and slowly elevate your mouse in the management yous want your image to rotate. As you lot go, the layer (and the paradigm or designs within it) will rotate in the direction you're moving it.

If you rotate the paradigm too far, here are 2 ways you can set up it:

Drag toward the other corner to balance out the rotation
Striking the shortcut for undo — CTRL+Z for Windows and Command Z for macOS — and so get-go your original rotation once again.

When you are satisfied with the size and rotation of your image, click salve under File–>Save to go on your changes.

Adjusting multiple layers

If y'all desire to adjust multiple images that sit down on different layers, you can do them one at a fourth dimension. Become to your layers palette and brand sure the layer you lot want to edit is highlighted, and follow the steps above.

That'south all in that location is to it! You tin now resize and rotate multiple layers in your Photoshop image to create the effects you desire. Now that you understand how to resize layers, you lot can utilise your newfound knowledge in learning how to erase backgrounds in Photoshop.