Constrain proportion with shift key works like legacy

[brienarnold2]

I have to hold the shift key (like legacy format) to constrain proportions. The new update is supposed to constrain by default without holding shift and holding shift should free transform. This happens whether I have "Use Legacy Free Transform" in preferences on or off. The setting in preferences has no effect and it behaves the same either way.

[Chuck Uebele]

Have you tried resetting your preferences? Did you ever create a text file to override the preferences when the new transform was released? If so, remove it.

[brienarnold2]

yes i've tried resetting them, deleting them, uninstall and reinstall of photoshop. i never made an override file.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Are you using this on a smart object?

[brienarnold2]

i go into the smart object then place an image inside it in the psb. that's where it doesn't work.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

When you place - is it creating a new smart object? This is a bug with smart objects. Holding shift should work.

[brienarnold2]

Doesn't create a new smart object. Does it with any image even a new file placing an image with no other layers. It only constrains when I hold shift, like it used to before the new updates. If I don't hold shift, it is free transform, whether the preferences is set to use legacy or not.

[r-bin · Accepted solution]

In my opinion, everything works as described in this article.

https://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2019/06/new-free-transform-preference-in-photoshop.html

The purpose of the Shift button in the new Free Transform is not to preserve the proportions at all, but to a completely different one.

[brienarnold2]

Well that's dumb. So it's different now than it was in 2019 which was different than 2018. I wish they would just stick to an idea instead of screwing with things all the time. Thanks for letting me know that though and giving me the article. I thought I was going crazy(er). I tried so many things and it was so simple once you told me.

[j4m1eb]

so glad I found this thread, thought I was going mad that it no longer scaled proportional y when I had just gotten used to it. The legacy check box seems to do nothing and I was about to delete and reinstall. Odd of adobe to keep changing the way something so fundamental works.

[jane-e]

Hi  j4m1eb,

In addition to the Legacy checkbox, there is a link option in the options bar that can be toggled. Is your link widget on or off? Try toggling it to see if that makes a difference.

~ Jane

[j4m1eb]

Hi Jane, thanks yes I had figured that out by wathching the video https://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/2019/06/new-free-transform-preference-in-photoshop.html that explain the changes to how transform works now. Just weird that they changed it a few times within the last 6 months.

[jane-e]

"Just weird that they changed it a few times within the last 6 months."

Hi

Adobe changed the way transform worked in PS 2019 to be constrain by default. This was met by a large outcry from users who wanted to distort their images for various reasons, and Adobe has made several changes since then so users can work as they prefer. I just looked through your link to Julieanne's blog, and as usual, she is thorough and spot on.

~ Jane