Resized image gets larger when moved

[philipd48456907]

I have cropped image A to a specfic size, 2.48 by .6 inches. I Image B have been resized to 2.48 inches as well. I want to drag image A onto a new layer in image B. They should of course be the same width. However image A gets larger when I drag it over and is now too large to fit where I want it.  What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any assistance. 

[MichelBParis]

philipd48456907  wrote

I have cropped image A to a specfic size, 2.48 by .6 inches. I Image B have been resized to 2.48 inches as well. I want to drag image A onto a new layer in image B. They should of course be the same width. However image A gets larger when I drag it over and is now too large to fit where I want it.  What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any assistance. 

What is meaningful to compare sizes is to compare pixel sizes. Of course, if both files have the same resolution in ppi, comparing sizes in inches is ok.

Now, what you are doing is to drag photos from the photo bin to an already opened other file in the editing space.

What happens then, and why?

The idea is to consider the file already in the editing space as your canvas (background) and to add a new file where you want, with the correct location on the  canvas, the correct size, the correct  angle.

So, the drag move first shows you a preview of the dragged file which you can then resize, reposition and tilt as you want.

Have a look at the layers palette: the file is shown with a small icon meaning the layer is a smart layer.

A smart layer stores the original of the dragged photo, so that if you change the size, position or ilt  angle of that layer in ulterior editing steps, you never lose any quality. The real original dragged image is always hidden behind the preview.

Two advantages: no quality loss. No need to calculate sizes in pixels (forget inches).

Smart layers don't allow all operations available on normal layers. So, when you are happy with your moved, resized layer, use the 'simplify' layer command to transform it into a normal layer and discarding the ocopy of the original dragged file.

If you want to drag layers without smart layers, there is an option in the preferences.

The older way to move layers was to get two files open at the same time in the editing space (menu Window). You can then drag a layer from the layer palette to another opened file. In that case, the pixel dimensions are kept.

The same applies if you are using the 'place' command.

[philipd48456907]

Thank you both for your answers. I am using Elements 12, without the smart layers, and therefore I'm using the older way that Michel refers to. Yes, Image B is the background layer and A has been tailored by with the crop tool to 2.48 x .6 inches. Both images are in the window. Rulers show that both images are 2.48 inches wide. Though you cannot see the ruler on the left very well.

When I copy and paste image A into B becomes about 5 inches wide on the B image ruler.

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

philipd48456907  wrote

Thank you both for your answers. I am using Elements 12, without the smart layers, and therefore I'm using the older way that Michel refers to. Yes, Image B is the background layer and A has been tailored by with the crop tool to 2.48 x .6 inches. Both images are in the window. Rulers show that both images are 2.48 inches wide. Though you cannot see the ruler on the left very well.

When I copy and paste image A into B becomes about 5 inches wide on the B image ruler.

Are both images the same resolution in ppi (pixels per inch)?

What are their respective sizes in pixels?

[philipd48456907]

Michel, Thank you so much. Once I changed the resolutions to match my problem was solved. As I suspected, the answer was simple once I knew what it was. Working through this has helped me grasp the relationship between the inches, pixels and resolution.

[MichelBParis]

Glad to help!

I am sure this discussion will help other users too. Thanks for asking here.