Photoshop CC 2019: Freely Transforming an object is not working anymore

[12Jutta34]

I need to transform images on a daily basis by command drag a corner into place. It seems like out of control and doesn't give me any result. As I mentioned before, I'm using this tool on a daily basis. I don't know what to do.

[Muqqarib Hassan]

Hi, check the option located in Go to Edit>Preferences > Performance > Legacy Composting and restart your photoshop.

If its not solve your issue. then reset photoshop preferences.

To rest preferences quickly using a keyboard shortcut: Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you start Photoshop. You are prompted to delete the current settings.

Thanks.

[12Jutta34]

Checking Legacy Composting is not working. If I try to reset the preferences, there is no window where I'm prompted to delete the current settings. I tried this on my photoshop CC 2018 and it's working there.

In addition I uninstalled photoshop 2019 and reinstalled it. No change. Command drag a corner is still not working properly. Any other option I haven?

[Muqqarib Hassan]

well then wait for someone. May be he/she solve your issue.

Good Luck.

Thanks.

[12Jutta34 · Accepted solution]

Ok, resetting the preferences helped, but I need to go to Preferences > General and Click "Reset Preferences on Quit". After that I quit Photoshop and restarted and it's working now.

[psickoblongata]

NEW COKE....PhotoShop 2019 is a torturing beta experiment. Breaking functional UI. It's going to be easier to go back and do, it by hand. Faster no doubt.

[psickoblongata]

Thank god for uninstall.

[mjbelt]

Are you using Command + T

If so, make sure your layer is Unlocked.

Check your preferences too.

[12Jutta34]

mjbelt: I work with this tool almost every day. The layer is not locked. It's the drag just one point while holding down command key. It's not moving like it moves before, but it is at least moving. You only can move in one direction, e.g. right and left. If you need it also more to the top, you need to let command key go, grab the handle again and then drag it up, while before you could do it all in once. It took me a while to figure it out. At least I can work, but it will add extra steps to my work flow. Still not happy about it.

Maybe someone else comes up with a better solution.

Thank you for looking into this topic.

[billw55124201]

Thanks bud!

[occulus.nigra]

I'm not sure if this is your problem, but I gather the 'Free Transform' has been changed around. As follows:

1. Earlier: Drag handles... it resizes unconstrained proportions. Hold down 'Shift' key and it constrains the transformation.

2. Now: In PS 2019, it's flipped around. Straight drag constrains proportions. 'Shift' key un-constrains the proportions.

If this is the problem you can either live with it or employ a simple script. This was posted by a user, I can't remember his name:

In the update information the was information of how you can get Transform to worl like Photoshop's other tool like it in the past. So that is what I do.

How do I turn off the new proportional scaling by default behavior while transforming layers?

To revert to the legacy transform behavior, do the following:
Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on Mac OS to create a plain text file (.txt).
Type the text below in the text file:

TransformProportionalScale 0

Save the file as "PSUserConfig.txt" to your Photoshop settings folder:
Windows: [Installation Drive]:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings\
macOS: //Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/

[12Jutta34]

It's not really the Free Transform tool, it's the freely transform option where you command drag just one corner. After I have reset my preferences, it somewhat works, but not like it was before. You can move it in one direction, need to let go and than move it the other direction. It will add a lot of additional time to my workflow, as I'm using it almost every day. Before you just could grab a handle, hold down command, the arrow will turn into a white arrow and than move it where it needs to go and let go.

At least I can work now, which I couldn't before I have reset my preferences.

Thank you anyway.

[12Jutta34]

Thank you for trying to help, but it is not the “Free Transform” tool. It using the option “Freely Transforming” which means you drag one handle by holding down the command key. I don’t have a problem that they changed the Free Transform tool.

Let me know, if you do have an answer for the option to freely transform an object.

Thank you.

Jutta Geisler

Web Designer / Graphic Designer

(407) 494-6166

www.g-graphic.net

[marioart]

ohhhh so it is perfect... thank..:)

so the free transformation is free again...

[occulus.nigra]

Glad that helped... but thanks really go to the individual who posted the 'fix'. That's if you are using the fix and not just adjusting your working

[marioart]

this is .. in my opinion ... the correct answer

To revert to the legacy transform behavior, do the following:

Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on Mac OS to create a plain text file (.txt).
Type the text below in the text file:

TransformProportionalScale 0

Save the file as "PSUserConfig.txt" to your Photoshop settings folder:
Windows: [Installation Drive]:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings\
macOS: //Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/

[cumbubblez]

OMG thank you so much!!! I was having this issue as well and it was driving me insane! That txt file fixed it for me!

[MrG3x266]

So in other words we need to "Hack" the program in order to get back a perfectly functioning feature that has been in Photoshop for ages. GJ Adobe. I feel this should have been a "preference setting", maybe something ground breaking like "Turn ON Legacy Free Transform". Not a "Hey in order to get back your daily functionality you need to hack the (insert registry, preference, library, obscure place in file structure) just to turn off the dumb ass "new way" anyone who is old enough to know not to pick their nose hates.

I like the fact they monkeyed with InDesign as well. Nothing like re-arranging people's learned workflows in order to achieve nothing but confusion. I guess its in order to justify the increases in subscription costs and the lack of business related new features in flagship products they thought that if they could confuse users with new "tool behaviors and preferences" then it would "seem" like this milestone upgrade actually had some milestone features worth the cost instead of the realization that the "milestone" was actually a eye candy and discombobulation "upgrade" they could milk users along whilst they think up "new cutting edge features. to fill the empty void of ingenuity they seem to be lacking as of late.

Kind of like Hollywood. Not much left on ingenuity  but re-brand and reboot the same old stuff just switch somethings around and call it "new".

In reality this is just terrible on Adobe's behalf. If you are going to drastically change the way the tools are going to work then at least give the user an option to revert to the legacy method or do a better job of informing the user how exactly the tools behavior has changed. They monkey with a lot of settings and tool behaviors in the 2019 update and so far its a 1 star review for me.

My advice to Adobe Engineers. Crack Kills.

[vikireed]

Wholly agree.  How could a bunch of engineers who use this application think that flipping the transform tool's behavior would be an improvement?  The MINUTE i started to get back to work after the update I slammed into this stupid wall of having to figure out that you have to stop and hold the shift key.  It's not fluid.  constraining proportions is secondary to being able to FREELY TRANSFORM an image or layer, especially when you're compositing or doing overlay effects . It is f'ing stupid. 

How do we reach the Adobe Team directly to en masse complain? Do they read these forums?

[12Jutta34]

It would be good if somebody knows, how to contact the Adobe Developer team for this issue.

I can see the reason why developer changed it to constrain by default. I have seen many first users they just shrink or enlarge images out of proportion, because they used other programs before and they actually handle it that way. It's correct, that it's hard to believe, that they will make us professional photoshop users to change our behavior just with the reason it's easier for to learn it, but  I also believe they will not change it again.

I want to ask Adobe Developers to provide a setting in the preferences, where we can with one click just go back to the "old" preferences if you choose to and please publish it and show that in your "What's New", so we all can access it quickly and make our choice.

Overriding the settings with a .txt file we need to upload to the Adobe Settings Folder, makes me believe, that is not our job and how many people will know about it and how to do it.

[vikireed]

Am I crazy or did the center anchor also disappear? I use that to constrain part of an image to it's position within the frame while stretching the rest to fill the frame (both distorting and resizing).   Where did the center anchor go? I see no option to hide or show it, nothing in prefs.

[12Jutta34]

Yes it did. You need to go to Preferences > Tools > Check "Show Reference Point when using Transform"

[vikireed]

AH!  Thank YOU!  I was looking in the wrong prefs menu and saw only everything checked.  Thank you!

[vikireed]

Okay, i got the reference point/anchor showing but now it's not behaving as it would in the past .

If i wanted to stretch an overlay but 'anchor' part of that overlay to a certain part of the image I'd just put that reference point where I want that part of the overlay to stay and then press the 'alt' key while using the transform tools to stretch the rest of the overlay layer. 

Now when you press the alt button after setting your reference point it just resizes the overlay layer in constrained form.   If I switch to the shift key with the reference point in place it just stretches freely but it ignores the reference point anchor I placed.  Do you know what the accompanying key to set the reference point is now or if there's another method adobe wants you to use now?

[12Jutta34]

If I understand correctly what you want to do, you now need to hold alt + shift for what you want to achieve.