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Inspiring
November 12, 2018
Answered

Free Transform tool not working

  • November 12, 2018
  • 12 replies
  • 112819 views

I cant get the Free Transform tool to work in new 2019 Photoshop. cannot just stretch or squash an image. No control over unlocking ratio tool in top toolbar. 2018 works 2019 doesnt.

Please any suggestion. So far update has been very, very disappointing

Carl Rainer

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jane-e

Totally stupid change. Change it back please.

By @goatskull

 

You replied to a thread from 2018 and things changed several years ago.

 

You can change the behavior back yourself in one of two ways:

  • Preferences > General > Use Legacy Free Transform
    or
  • After you choose Edit > Free Transform, click the Link icon inbetween the Width and Height controls. If the Link is enabled, the controls work in tandem. If it is off, they work separately.

 

Details here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/free-transformations-images-shapes-paths.html

 

Jane

 

12 replies

John Waller
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 13, 2018

There is a workaround provided by Adobe to revert the behaviour of Transform to be the same as previous versions of Photoshop. I use it and it works fine.

Refer the Help document link provided by jane-e above for exact steps.

Inspiring
December 12, 2018

Have followed the instructions, but the tool still does not work satisfactorily. It does not work smoothly, it flashes between too large and too small, covering the area that I'm trying to fit things into, to the point of not being able to see how it is fitting into the space.

I am not going to deal with this kind of botched performance. I've deinstalled 2019 and am going to continue to use 2018 where the tool *behaves itself*.

I seriously doubt that I am the only user being disobliged by this kind of high-handed diminished functionality on the part of the developers (or the marketing wonks). With any luck there will be a sufficient amount of protest for the next version to at the very least have a toggle built in where we can choose which settings we wish to use. Or the crippled 2019 "default" version will be the one that's accessible by an extra key command.

I will quite happily skip a crippled version of a key program, thank you.

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 13, 2018

They have changed the way it works. It’s proportional by default and you use the Shift key to distort. Read Help about how it works now: Use the Free Transform command to apply transformations

LMn0P
Known Participant
November 14, 2018

Ok, fine, make us learn a little something new.  We can do that, I guess.  But then...  I start noticing these other things. 

At the link provided with instructions: (https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/free-transformations-images-shapes-paths.html )

  • If you are scaling layer types such as pixel layers, type layers, bitmaps, Placed Smart Objects, drag a corner handle to scale proportionately. Press Shift as you drag a corner handle to scale non-proportionately.
  • If you are scaling shapes and paths (that is vectors), drag a corner handle to scale non-proportionally. Press Shift as you drag a corner handle to scale proportionally.

1. So, now this is saying we must transform the new way with images (raster/bitmaps, even type),  but if we are transforming shapes and paths (vectors) it will still work like it used to by pressing shift to constrain proportionately.   Why the difference?  

2. Second issue with transform - midpoints.  The instruction page also tells us what we all used to know, that you drag corners for scaling (conformed or not).  You drag midpoints for "stretching" something horizontally or vertically.  Only, right now, if I transform any graphic and drag one of the midpoints, that too is scaling in 3 directions unless I hold down shift, which will then allow me to stretch one direction.  Why would we need to scale in three directions from a midpoint when that's what the corner transform point does?  Midpoints should only stretch, right?  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Known Participant
November 14, 2018

I now have it working thanks to your replies. But no thanks to Adobe. If it was not for the forums I would still be stuffing around. I tried to contact Adobe support via phone and live chat but never got through. What makes it worse is that Adobe just go and make changes and the users are always left guessing.

They have done the same with Illustrator updates, the bloody toolbar has changed and no explanation offered.

Regards and thanks to all

Carl rainer

carlrainerphotography.com