Free Transform tool not working

[64784228]

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

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

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]

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.

[carlr64784228]

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

[Balsonauta]

how can they be so dumb to change such a setting stone of this software? they don't know what to change it anymore! and they start to change the good stuff!

[DRAY1510]

I totally agree. Seems like they have young kids working at Adobe now that have no idea how things work. A bit of advice for you youngsters at Adobe - "Don't no change your core applications like you did with Photoshop, just because you have nothing better to do". There was absolutely no good reason for this change.

[nealbridgens]

DRAY1510  wrote

I totally agree. Seems like they have young kids working at Adobe now that have no idea how things work. A bit of advice for you youngsters at Adobe - "Don't no change your core applications like you did with Photoshop, just because you have nothing better to do". There was absolutely no good reason for this change.

I'd actually be okay with them changing the transform behaviours if they made them the same across all the applications. But to just change this one to a whole new and unexpected paradigm? If you work with PS/Illustrator/Indesign transform has become a mash the keyboard and see what happens experience.

[DRAY1510]

Great point.

[D_ohadobe]

This is such time-wasting foolishness.  Shame on Adobe and whatever programmer faction that concocted this.

[John Waller]

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.

[JoyceOdell]

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.

[nealbridgens]

I don't like the new one at all. I want a "use legacy transform" check box in the preferences please.

[basti83]

I have the same problem, since the new update. It's really frustrating. Been struggling alot for a while now

[Kukurykus]

Photoshop 20.0 – Free Transform Bug | Photoshop Family Customer Community

[patl25776930]

WHY? Doesn't make any sense why Adobe decided to change this. Stop messing with [removed]!

[jane-e]

Hi patl25776930

This is a user forum. We can't tell you why, but we can tell you how!

[DRAY1510]

I have tried to get used to this change, but I can not stand it. I have chosen to uninstall Photoshop 20 and use the 19 version until Adobe pulls their heads out of their [removed] and fixes this. I have used Photoshop since 1988 and it has never been changed this radically before. I have no idea what they are thinking. Apparently Adobe is out of touch with their customers.

[Guest]

Hi

You can revert back to how it use to work

Transform objects in Photoshop

[sharper.seabest]

I agree. Every update I get for photshop has just been combersome and annoying. It has taken away from me actually getting my work done to solve the isses. It doesn' benefit the user at all.  I wish they would stop the maddness and leave well enough alone!  I just fixed the save as problem that added the word "copy" to every jpeg. I cringe at the though of the next update and what else am I going to have to find a way to fix. argh. 

[jane-e]

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@sharper.seabest wrote:

I cringe at the though of the next update and what else am I going to have to find a way to fix. argh. 

---

Hi @sharper.seabest 

A couple of hints:

• You can turn off automatic updates
• You can select to keep the previous version when you install the new one
• Never update in the middle of a big project
• Come to this forum and click "Announcements" at the top of the page. There will be links to what is new.
• Click "Bugs" at the top of the page to read the bug reports as they start coming in. They don't affect all systems.
• Turn off the filters for Announcements and Bugs so you see everything again

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-updates.html

~ Jane

[Bob_Hallam]

There is a solution for this that Adobe has included.  Chanege the FT tool prefrencse back to Legacy.  

[default0uf5w8y1iv0s]

For decades I've been an Adobe Graphics editing fan/ user until 2021. Our purchased copy of CS 4 blew up (time bomb) in Windows 10 but survives in Windows 7. So we have no choice but to sign up to the new online CS suite in Win 10. At first everything seemed familiar and easy to use. Once you dive into using and updating this new package it's a nightmare for those that don't like relearning. It feels like there are machines writing the code! These machines have no idea how humans work. Maybe they do, and are intentionally making life terrible for regular Adobe users? Please do not mess with core functions like Transforming, it's so frustrating to be forced to relearn what you already knew for no good reason.

[jane-e]

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@default0uf5w8y1iv0s wrote:

Our purchased copy of CS 4 blew up (time bomb)...

...it's so frustrating to be forced to relearn what you already knew for no good reason.

---

Hi 

CS4 was released in 2008 and there have been quite a few changes in the past 14 years.

Free Transform has two methods to return to the legacy function, but I actually prefer the new(ish) method. It only took me a few days to get used to it. In addition to making the change to the old way in Preferences, there is also a toggle in the options bar.

To increase your productivity and decrease your frustration, you might want to spend a bit of time learning the features that have come out over the last 14 years. You can watch Julieanne Kost's tutorials on LinkedIn Learning, work through Conrad Chavez's Photoshop Classroom in a Book, or hire a certified instructor for a day. And of course you are always welcome to ask here in the forums if you prefer. We're always happy to help.

Jane

[daron2641738100si]

Hi, I've just upgraded to a MacOS Monterey. I'm using the latest photoshop but have hit this problem. Where before the free Transform moved smoothly it now skips making it difficult to place layers. Please if anyone has the key for it to go back to before I'd be very grateful

[goatskull]

So "Free transform" is now just "Transform ->Scale".......unless you hit shift. Totally stupid change. Change it back please.