Scaling proportionally with shift doesn't work in CC

[aleksandra krawczycka]

Normally holding the shift key down to resize an image or object constrains its proportions. But in my recently installed Photoshop CC on my brand new iMac , the shift key doesn't work to resize proportionally.  Is there a way to fix this problem or is there a new tool that replaces the shift key shortcut?

Please help me, I already tried resetting preferences and restarting.. Nothing works. It's a new iMac and Photoshop is also just installed.

I always work with photoshop, so I know how to use the shortcuts, never had problems with it, this never happened before.

[mytaxsite]

Are you clicking on the corners of the handles?  It only works when you are dragging the handles of the corners (NOT the SIDES).

Good luck.

[Trevor.Dennis · Accepted solution]

What is the aspect ratio of the object you are Transforming?  Holding down the Shift key forces height and width to change as a percentage of the initial value, so with a stretched out object like below, you do not get an equal linear reduction.

There any number of ways to get an equal gap top and sides.

Enter values in the Options bar adding the Px to change from percentage to pixels:

But I think my preferred method would to use View > New Guide Layout and with the upper fields empty, add margins as below.  This only works when the object fills the layer.

If the object does not fill the layer, zoom way way in, and use the heads up as below.  You will need to know the starting value, and you will need a steady hand and a half decent mouse, but if you are zoomed way in it is not hard to do.  Don't use the shift key, of course, but hold down the Alt key to force equal changes to the opposite edge.  It is actually pretty easy to do.

[canon reed]

i have to go up to the top and click the lock on the proportions EVERY TIME now, there is no way to set it as a default. i use the clipboard from illustrator to photoshop a lot and THIS once simple thing, scale using shift to keep proportions is gone. I think the script in the program is missing or error that allows you to use shift to keep proportions and should be fixed by adobe

[davescm]

Scale using Shift (to apply the same % scale to width and height)  works perfectly here on CC2017.0.1* provided you drag the corner handles (as stated my mytaxsite in post 1)

Also went back and tried CC2015.5 and CS6 and both work perfectly.

However I'm on Windows 10. Hopefully someone on a Mac can confirm.

Dave

[kleewink]

I am having the exact same problem. Yes, grabbing the corner. But shift doesn't scale, just crops. Mac OS Sierra - Indesign CC2017. 

[D Fosse]

kleewink wrote:

I am having the exact same problem. Yes, grabbing the corner. But shift doesn't scale, just crops. Mac OS Sierra - Indesign CC2017.

InDesign or Photoshop?

InDesign is supposed to crop with shift+drag corner. To scale, use ctrl+drag.

[MDrewes]

I am on this forum because I am having the exact same issues!! It was there yesterday but gone with a new iMac & CCloud update. BOO BOO, Adobe. I have been trained to use this for years!! How could they take this away. It works with the SCALE tool, but who wants to go get a new tool everytime?! Bring it back...pleeeeeeeeeeeeez

[Nathan D.]

I am surprised this is still an issue. After recently purchasing a new MBP 2017 with Sierra pre-installed, I am having this same issue across all adobe products. Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects. I use to be able to hold shift + command and proportionately scale from the set anchor point or center of the selection. Holding only command will allow me to scale from the center/set anchor point, but when I add shift to lock proportions, it breaks the action and only scales proportionately to a specific corner.

Going crazy here as this has been a problem for 2+ months now. Any new suggestions?

[humphreyb89353625]

plus one here!

It went a couple of days ago. I wonder if its because I give Adobe s**t about their increasingly unreliable product and their rip-off subscription model every time their customer research survey pops-up when I open ID? Do something petty to those calling them out on issues rather than fix it? I wouldn't be surprised Adobe!

[margw85764163]

The following has solved the issue for me. Using selection tool, double click on the image you want to resize. (For me, doing this turns object frame edge turquoise.) To enlarge, use only shift (shift and command will move the image within the frame.) Drag the corner to enlarge.

[D Fosse]

To be clear, shift-scaling in Photoshop works as it always has. I use it all the time without issue.

Those having problems should look at other, external causes.

[margw85764163]

Quite right re Photoshop! I was diverted by the issue mentioned above re InDesign. (Which has changed since the original simple click, shift and drag.) Photoshop has never been an issue for me, either.

[skuss]

To be clear, yes it works as it always has-not at all. It works properly in Lightroom and ON1, but NOT in Photoshop using the transform tool. As others have said, the only way is to lock it in the task bar EVERY time the tool is invoked. This date, current Windows 10, current Photoshop CC. Clearly implying that others are incompetent because it "works for me" is NOT helpful.

[gener7]

I don't know if you have Webroot, but it can trap the Shift key.

Shift key won't constrain proportions

While this appears to affect Macs running 10.7 and above, Windows users can experience problems. If pausing Secure Keyboard Entry does not work, disable it and see if that works: (right-click Webroot icon in system tray - select "shutdown protection", enter captcha, if needed) and check to see if indeed it is Webroot causing your keyboard problems.

If you do not have Webroot, shut down system tray apps to see if they are the cause.

[skuss]

...mmm...no Webroot here, but I do have Logitech kybd/mouse. Seems as though a long time ago I had an issue that was traced back to that. On the other hand, using a Wacom Intuos, including a function key programmed to shift results in the same non-action. No change with the Wacom turned off. I also have a ShuttlePro that is plugged in all the time. Impossible to know how all those drivers are routed and/or interact.

Not sure about the system tray thing. Most of those are just notifications, and shortcuts, but I suppose there could be some background stuff happening. This seems to be such a specific failure though. Everything else works as it should. Will cogitate some more....

Thanks for the response. Food for thought.

[gener7]

The Windows system tray has those active programs that start during bootup. My video driver had a set of "Hotkeys" that rotated the screen and only in Photoshop "trapped" the Escape key when Photoshop was active. I was able to shut off the Hotkeys with no harm.

Why Photoshop and not others? Photoshop uses different "programming calls" to the OS to do simple tasks like Printing and can hit problems other programs miss doing the same task. Same goes for virus protection programs and tablet keyboard drivers.

[Shashank Sharma-Verseon]

same problem with me. with every new update with adobes many software there are more and more new bugs.

what????

[davescm]

pmadabhushi​

Todays update made an intentional change to transform constraint keys. See the details here:

New and enhanced features | Latest release of Photoshop CC

Dave

[fnonaka]

WTF Adobe! Why changing a feature that everybody is used to work for more than 10 years! Shame on you!!! Worst thing u changed in Photoshop, useless!!! Everybody is used to press SHIFT and scale, and you just changed!! I'm freakin nervous here!

[John Waller]

You can disable it if you don't like the new behaviour:

New and enhanced features | Latest release of Photoshop CC

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:

1. Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on Mac OS to create a plain text file (.txt).
2. Type the text below in the text file:
   
   TransformProportionalScale 0
   
   
3. 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/

[StephenTurner]

Had the same problem.... realised Its opposite now. Hold Shift for non proportional, just transform without shift for proportional... you get used to it.

[Momir]

If someone in Adobe decided to intentionally make confusion in Photoshop 20.0.0 it did it right. Why this "new behaviour" is not regulated by Preferences settings?

WHY, for the Gods, WHY DEFAULT BEHAVIOUR IS DIFFERENT FOR PATHS AND FOR LAYERS/SMART OBJECTS?

Why default behaviour is even different across main apps - InDesign and Ilustrator follow traditional way where Shift makes scaling proportional?

If one know how to make hidden folders visible on Mac or it is Terminal savvy, creating proper PSUserConfig.txt  in User Library Photoshop CC 2019 Settings solves the problem (as explained by John Walker and Adobe "whats new")

[gener7]

For Mac users, here is a good step by step screenshot tutorial on permanently unhiding folders and files in Finder:

View Hidden Files and Folders on Your Mac With Terminal

[CynCyn]

Hi John.... Thank you so much for putting that script out there. This helped my issue and now I can resize!