Keeping transform handles verticle or horizontal

[COGordonW]

I am using the warp transform and wanted to know if there is a way to make sure the handles only move horizontal or vertical. I am trying to avoid any unwanted distortions. Usually you just hold shift but that doesnt seem to work in PS CC 2019.

[Silkrooster]

Constraint has been inverted. Shift is unconstrained and not holding down shift is constrained.

[Bojan Živković]

If I can understand your question correctly then you must hold down Shift + Alt + drag one of the vertical handles or drag one of the horizontal handles. That will constrain scaling only to horizontal/vertical axis leaving another axis as it is.

[COGordonW]

I tried that but it still did seem to constrain the movement to just horizontal and vertical. If it helps I am on a mac running adobe cc 2019

[Semaphoric]

I think this has always been an issue with Warp. You can toggle the warp function on and off in the option bar:

    

and then constrain the corner and side handles. but I've never found a way to constrain the warp handles.

[mglush]

Hi!

I am on an older version of PS, but when I hold down the Shift key and drag out one of the handle bars on the Warp tool, it constrains it to just moving in one direction.

You can also place a ruler guideline to make sure it's staying straight.

Michelle

[Semaphoric]

mglush, are you sure about that? I just tried in CS4, as well as CC 2015, CC 2018, and CC 2019, and can't get the handles in Warp to constrain, no matter what modifier keys I try. FWIW, I am running Windows 10.

[mglush]

It worked for me last night when I dragged the line in one direction--it stayed constrained to just moving horizontally. But as I tried it today to respond, I was able to move up or down as I dragged out the handle bar. Hmm. It worked for me as long as I was dragging it  straight. So, I think the Shift key helped but I would have to say it doesn't limit it to just horizontal or vertical like it should.

I think the best way to make sure that you're only moving horizontal or vertical is to drag out a guideline and use that as your reference to keep it straight. That worked the best.