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caitlinr2449128
Participant
October 16, 2018
Answered

Free Transform Maintain Aspect Ratio NOT Working

  • October 16, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 17766 views

Hi, I've been searching these forums all afternoon and nothing has helped. For some reason, holding down shift when doing free transform does NOT maintain aspect ratio. Additionally, I DO have the lock between the H & W selected.

The shift key on my keyboard does work, and all other shortcuts in Photoshop that include shift key work as well. It's just this one that is giving me problems.

I use Adobe CC, and Photoshop is up-to-date.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer John Waller

It's a new feature. The old behaviour has been reversed. Default = proportional (constrain). Shift for non-proportional. Few people see any logic in this change.

New and enhanced features | Latest release of Photoshop CC

Plenty of forum posts on this

Scaling Images with shift no longer works after update (20.0)

CC20 transform tool: Shift doesn't keep Aspect ratio

SCALE 2019 VERSION

The new behaviour can be disabled.

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/

4 replies

Participant
July 8, 2020

I just thought I'd add to this. There is an easier way. 

Edit > Preferences > General > Tick mark 'Use Legacy Free Transform'. 

 

This will fix your  Shift key to maintain aspect ratio.

John Waller
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 10, 2020

Yes. This discussion all took place before the Legacy Free Transform existed in Preferences.

 

After a community outcry, Legacy Free Transform was added in the 20.0.5 update back in June 2019.

jeffh34577280
Participant
March 12, 2019

I too am baffled by this change, it should be a user defined option. I've been using Photoshop for 25 years, since before layers, and it has always been shift to constrain proportions. Since upgrading I have messed up a few images because my finger automatically goes to the shift key.

My problem is that I tried to to the workaround, I saved the txt file, but I don't have a folder in my library: "//Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/". I'm using Mojave 10.14.3, just upgraded, has the system changed and these folders no longer exist?

Arlo G
Participating Frequently
March 12, 2019
jeffh34577280
Participant
March 12, 2019

Turned on hidden folders, still no "Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings" folder.

Mabel Tan
Participant
November 17, 2018

Thank you!

John Waller
Community Expert
John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 16, 2018

It's a new feature. The old behaviour has been reversed. Default = proportional (constrain). Shift for non-proportional. Few people see any logic in this change.

New and enhanced features | Latest release of Photoshop CC

Plenty of forum posts on this

Scaling Images with shift no longer works after update (20.0)

CC20 transform tool: Shift doesn't keep Aspect ratio

SCALE 2019 VERSION

The new behaviour can be disabled.

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/
caitlinr2449128
Participant
October 16, 2018

You're wonderful, thank you! The text file fix worked perfectly.

John Waller
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 16, 2018

You're welcome.