Distorting smart objects

[Zoë Woodworth]

I've recently upgraded to Photoshop CC 2019, and a task that I used to do regularly with ease now seems to be impossible. I am trying to distort the corners of a smart object -- not a skew, not a slant, but independently moving the corners of the smart object to distort the image.

How do I do this now? I really can't figure it out. Thanks in advance!

[JohanElzenga]

I really wished people would read what has changed after an update and/or did a search here before they asked the same question over and over again.

You now have to hold down the shift key to distort, and not hold down any key to keep the aspect ratio.

[Zoë Woodworth]

I am aware that you now have to hold down the shift key to preserve aspect ratio. That wasn't the question I was asking. What I want to know is how to pull the corners of a smart object around independently. I used to be able to do this using the Free Transform tool.

To give you a specific example, how would I distort the embedded Illustrator file to fit the napkin. I am able to do it by rasterizing the Illustrator artwork, but I would rather keep it linked if possible.

[JohanElzenga]

You can still do that. There are a lot more Transform options than just the Free Transform option, such as Skew. Transform objects in Photoshop

[davescm]

Hi

Use Ctrl+T to transform then hold down Ctrl whilst dragging to move each corner independently

Dave

[Zoë Woodworth]

Thanks Dave, that works, but it is really "sticky" -- I can't move the corners freely, it seems to only want to move in one axis at a time, which makes the process really annoying and laborious. I have snapping turned off, so it's not that. Any insight into why it's doing that?

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Hi

Without shift it is constrained to one direction or the other so hold Shift and Ctrl to move the corner finely without snapping

Dave

[Zoë Woodworth]

Bless you, good sir. That did it.

[davescm]

You're welcome

Dave

[Trevor.Dennis]

I agree with Joan.  I mean what is the point of updating if you aren't going to take a moment to see what the changes are. 

It is a simple process.

Hit F1 to open the Help screen in your default web browser, and click on What's New

[pejott]

[abuse removed by moderator]

[Martin35501415ub6b]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYG79Nrud8w