Portrait image seems to have underlying landscape qualities

[wydaho]

I'm working with what I think was originally a scanned image. The thumbnail appears to be in portrait. The canvas is 8.49 wide x 10.95 high (actually image: 6.5x8.38) When I open this document and try to change the size in any way, it defaults to a landscape orientation.

I tried opening a new document with 8 x 11" dimensions. (Portrait)

But look what happens when I open the image in this new document. The dimensions have automatically changed to 16.98" w x 10.95" h. 

I can straighten the image and crop it to proper margins, but if I try to resize it, I'm faced with that wonky wider than high dimension and it's all out of wack. What am I doing wrong?

Photoshop CC version 20.0.1

Windows 10 version 1809 x 64

[mglush]

Hi!

Are you opening an existing document or Creating a new document and pasting the image into it? The image shows a resolution of 100 ppm -- is that how you set the document up or did it come to you that way?

Michelle

[wydaho]

Thanks for the response, Michelle.

The file came to me with these properties: 16.98 x 10.95” (w x h) 100 ppi.

The image is clearly longer than it is wide. BUT, as soon as I try to resize it in any way or to straighten and crop the wide background away, the image takes on that landscape proportion and throws everything off. I will attach the file I’m working with.

Linda

[davescm]

Hi

The clue is at the top of the image tab where it gives the image title and says ........[scaled]

That shows that Photoshop is treating the image as having non square pixels and is correcting the aspect ratio accordingly. If you go to the view menu you will see that pixel aspect ratio correction is checked. Uncheck it and it will treat the pixels as square.

None square pixels normally only appear in images designed for certain TV formats so I am not sure why your image is using them.  Try going to view - Pixel aspect ratio and setting the pixels to square.  Now you can adjust the image to make it the shape you need and the properties panel will match.

Dave

[wydaho]

Thanks, Dave.

This is great information. I thought there was something about that "scaled" thing. I did exactly as you recommended.

Original scaled image:

  But then this happened:

But then this happened:

I suspect that this file has been mucked with too many times before I got it. There must be some hidden defaults going on.  If I try to crop or resize the above image it simply moves the crop marks over the image without changing the dimensions. 

But at least I have corrected that Aspect Ratio setting in my app, so thank you!

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Now that you have the pixel aspect ratio set correctly to square pixels, select the layer and unlock it by clicking on the lock icon in the layer. Then use Ctrl+A to select all and then Ctrl+T to transform. Hold down shift whilst dragging in the side handles to adjust the layer back to it's normal image aspect ratio. Then you can use the crop tool to crop the excess canvas and finally save.

Dave

[wydaho]

You are a genius, Dave! Thank you.

[davescm]

Haha! You're welcome, glad you got it sorted

Dave