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KrystleSvetlana
Participant
October 24, 2018
Answered

Transform Tool in the latest Photoshop

  • October 24, 2018
  • 14 replies
  • 17327 views

This may be a silly question... but I'm trying to use the free transform tool to stretch an image vertically (with no scale constraints). This is a simple task (which I do all the time) but for some reason it won't let me freely stretch. It's scaling evenly horizontally and vertically (which I don't want to do on this occasion) - I'm not sure if I turned something on or if 'scaling' constraints were automatically turned on... I'm not sure.

Does anyone know how to turn off the automatic scaling on the free transform tool, so I can stretch and distort freely with the transform tool?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jane-e

I agree about the video and learning what’s new, but here’s the quick answer to solve your immediate problem. Hold down Shift to distort. The default is proportional unless you change it.

14 replies

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nblake
Participant
June 29, 2019

WHY would Photoshop make this change?! I just updated to this latest version and was using it for the first time tonight. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't transform in one direction only. I had the transform mode active, and the behavior doesn't even change when you click to unlock the proportional editing. How does that make any sense?

I'm willing to bet that some genius thought that this would protect the novice user from stretching images unintentionally. But why would they change it only in Photoshop? Anyways, as others have said, please don't fix what isn't broken, Adobe. And thanks for the quick fix with the text file!

gener7
Community Expert
gener7Community Expert
Community Expert
June 29, 2019

If you have upgraded to 20.0.5, you have a checkbox for the legacy behavior in Photoshop Preferences. No need for the Notepad fix.

D
DocRock
Participating Frequently
December 11, 2018

Hate The New Free Transform Tool in Photoshop CC 2019? FIX IT Easily!    - YouTube

    K
    Kris Kathmann
    Participant
    October 31, 2018

    This and the undo change disrupted my workflow. I probably lost a day of productivity. I honestly thought the program was bugged at first. My company has been buying and using Adobe software for over 20 years. Affinity is looking more and more attractive with each month's CC payment...

      M
      Matt Picone
      Participant
      October 30, 2018

      What a stupid change. Photoshop CC2019 is the worst version in a long time. (And I've been a user since Photoshop 2.0)

        N
        nolcon
        Known Participant
        October 29, 2018

        To Adobe...  what ever genius decided the transform tool needed "fixing" obviously doesn't sit on their butt working in Photoshop everyday.  If it's not broke... please don't fix it just so you can tout we have something new! Thank you for those Photoshop users who provided a workaround.

          J
          JGeiger156
          Participating Frequently
          November 5, 2018

          Someone told me years ago that the engineers who design the updates to Adobe products don't actually use them on a day-to-day basis. I wrote that off as silly conspiracy and rumor. With the release of Photoshop's 2019, the wonky performance of the  transform tool confirms that this as an astute observation of fact. Updates should be evaluated on their merits; usefulness and improved performance.

            M
            Matt Picone
            Participant
            November 5, 2018

            Your statement is incorrect. The design engineers are of course avid

            users. The implementation engineers are not.

            P
            philw62542790
            Participant
            October 29, 2018

            In addition to the annoying scale tool update the 'distort' now performs a skew when you use the centre handles (if I wanted to 'skew' I'd use skew!) and a distort along the same axis when you use the corner handle?? And when scaling linked images the preview constantly jumps rather than giving a smooth preview which makes it difficult to visually scale accurately.

            'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!' comes to mind. Lost nearly a full day after updating to CC2019 rectifying issues or trying to find out why things weren't working.

            Hope the preferences txt file works. Thanks for posting.

              S
              sholderman1
              Inspiring
              October 26, 2018

              And (I haven't found this info yet anywhere in the NEW documentation), if you want symmetrically distort using the free transform tool, you must now hit ctrl/cmmd + t to get the transform tool, and then hit ctrl/cmmd + option and drag a corner. In the new version of PS, this will now work with a vector object, but, as in previous versions, it will not symmetrically distort text. You must still rasterize text first before symmetrically distorting it.

              C
              creativer56692937
              Participant
              October 25, 2018

              Unhold [SHIFT]

              After years of practicing photoshop. People are now used to press SHIFT while transforming.

              Our mind may take some time to accept this change. By removing one shortcut key user experience may become better. I think 90% of the designers wants to transform images with the perfect aspect ratio and the shape with the dots selection.

                aennie
                aennie
                Inspiring
                October 25, 2018

                The bigger problem is, that the different kinds of transformation tool short cuts don't work the same way on every layer.

                For example: I use the transformation tool mostly to fit layers to a certain perspective (think of an image / mockup for presentations etc.). Therefore I need versatile corners.

                I use a lot of smart objects because they are great to work non destructively and to exchange designs in these layers fast and easily.

                BUT: With the new short cuts set you cannot move the corners as before by pressing the cmd-key. If you do this on a smart object layer, the corners (at least on a mac) only can be moved on a straight x- or y-axis. Only when you render the smart object to a "normal" pixel layer the cmd-key is back and allows you to place a corner wherever you like ...

                But that's the worst thing I can do because I would delete all the smart objects benefits then. It's crazy! And why would anyone need different short cuts for different layer types? It worked perfecty before. And why is the change not global within the suite? Doesn't make sense.

                  J
                  jthornton42
                  Participating Frequently
                  October 24, 2018

                  Hold shift to transform disproportionately. Adobe has reversed this convention for some stupid reason.

                    K
                    KrystleSvetlanaAuthor
                    Participant
                    October 24, 2018

                    Ohhh you have to hold shift to transform disproportionately now?! After alll this time they decide to reverse this convention - my brain has become so used to holding shift to transform in proportion that this will be a habit I'm going to have to try hard to break now! haha... Thanks Adobe! lol

                    Thanks for the heads up on that ya'll!

                      gener7
                      Community Expert
                      gener7Community Expert
                      Community Expert
                      October 25, 2018

                      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/
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