Applying Transformations

Applying transformations

The commands under the Transform sub-menu let you apply the following transformations to an item:

• Scaling enlarges or reduces an item relative to its reference point. You can scale horizontally, vertically, or both horizontally and vertically.
• Rotating turns an item around a reference point. By default, this point is at the center of the object; however, you can move it to another location.
• Skewing lets you slant an item vertically and horizontally.
• Distorting lets you stretch an item in all directions.
• Applying perspective lets you apply one-point perspective to an item.

In Photoshop, you can perform several commands in succession before applying the cumulative transformation. For example, you can choose Scale, drag a handle to scale, and then choose Distort, drag a handle to distort, and press Enter or Return to apply both transformations. In ImageReady, you can perform multiple types of transformations at the same time using the Transform > Numeric command.

To scale, rotate, skew, distort, or apply perspective:

1. Select what you want to transform.

2. Choose Edit > Transform > Scale, Rotate, Skew, Distort, or Perspective.

Note: (Photoshop) If you are transforming a shape or entire path, the Transform menu becomes the Transform Path menu. If you are transforming multiple path segments (but not the entire path), the Transform menu becomes the Transform Points menu.

3. In the options bar, click a square on the reference point locator.

4. Do one or more of the following:

• If you chose Scale, drag a handle on the bounding box. Press Shift as you drag a corner handle to scale proportionately. When positioned over a handle, the pointer becomes a double arrow.
• If you chose Rotate, move the pointer outside of the bounding border (it becomes a curved, two-sided arrow), and then drag. Press Shift to constrain the rotation to 15° increments.
• If you chose Skew, drag a side handle to slant the bounding box.
• If you chose Distort, drag a corner handle to stretch the bounding box.
• If you chose Perspective, drag a corner handle to apply perspective to the bounding box.
• For all types of transformations, enter a value in the options bar. For example, to rotate an item, specify degrees in the rotation text box.

5. If desired, switch to a different type of transformation by selecting a command from the Edit > Transform submenu.

When transforming a bitmap image (versus a shape or path), it becomes slightly less sharp each time you commit a transformation; therefore, performing multiple commands before applying the cumulative transformation is preferable to applying each transformation separately.

6. When you're satisfied with the results, do one of the following:
• Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS); click the Commit button in the options bar; or double-click inside the transformation marquee.
• To cancel the transformation, press Esc or click the Cancel button in the options bar.

To flip or rotate precisely:

1. Select what you want to transform.

2. Choose Edit > Transform and choose one of the following commands from the submenu:

• Rotate 180° to rotate by a half-turn.
• Rotate 90° CW to rotate clockwise by a quarter-turn.
• Rotate 90° CCW to rotate counterclockwise by a quarter-turn.
• Flip Horizontal to flip horizontally, along the vertical axis.
• Flip Vertical to flip vertically, along the horizontal axis.

Note: If you are transforming a shape or entire path, the Transform command becomes the Transform Path command. If you are transforming multiple path segments (but not the entire path), the Transform command becomes the Transform Points command.

To repeat a transformation:

Choose Edit > Transform > Again, Edit > Transform Path > Again, or Edit > Transform Points > Again.

To duplicate an item when transforming it:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) when selecting the Transform command.

To apply multiple types of transformations at the same time (ImageReady):

1. Select what you want to transform.

2. Choose Edit > Transform > Numeric.

3. Do one or more of the following, and click OK:

• Select Position and enter values for the new location in the X (horizontal position) and Y (vertical position) text boxes. Select Relative to specify the new position in relation to the current position.
• Select Scale. Enter the dimensions in the W and H text boxes, or enter a scaling percentage in the Scale text box. Select Constrain Proportions to maintain the aspect ratio.
• Select Skew and enter degrees in the H (horizontal skew) and V (vertical skew) text boxes.
• Select Rotate. Enter degrees of rotation in the Angle text box, or drag the in the circle to the right of the text box.

Filters - Choosing effect

Filters - Choosing effect

The built-in filters are grouped into 14 submenus. In addition, any third-party filters installed appear at the bottom of the Filter menu.

Artistic filters

Achieve a painterly or special effect for a fine arts or commercial project. For example, use the Cutout filter for collages or type treatment. These filters replicate natural or traditional media effects.

Blur filters

Soften a selection or an image. Blur filters are useful for retouching. They smooth transitions by averaging the pixels next to the hard edges of defined lines and shaded areas in an image.

Note: To apply a Blur filter to the edges of a layer, be sure to deselect the Preserve Transparency option in the Layers palette.

Brush Stroke filters

Like the Artistic filters, the Brush Stroke filters give a painterly or fine-arts look using different brush and ink stroke effects. Some of the filters add grain, paint, noise, edge detail, or texture to an image for a pointillist effect.

Distort filters

Geometrically distort an image, creating 3D or other reshaping effects. Note that these filters can be very memory intensive.

Noise filters

Add or remove noise, or pixels with randomly distributed color levels. This helps to blend a selection into the surrounding pixels. Noise filters can create unusual textures or remove problem areas, such as dust and scratches, from an image. The Add Noise filter can be used to reduce banding in feathered selections or graduated fills or to give a more realistic look to heavily retouched areas.

Pixelate filters

Sharply define a selection by clumping pixels of similar color values in cells.

Render filters

Create 3D shapes, cloud patterns, refraction patterns, and simulated light reflections in an image. You can also manipulate objects in 3D space, create 3D objects (cubes, spheres, and cylinders), and create texture fills from grayscale files to produce 3D-like effects for lighting.

When using the Clouds filter, generate a more stark cloud pattern by holding down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you choose Filter> Render > Clouds.

Sharpen filters

Focus blurry images by increasing the contrast of adjacent pixels. They include the Sharpen Edges (Photoshop) and Unsharp Mask filters, which find and sharpen areas where significant color changes occur (such as the edges). The Unsharp Mask filter is commonly used for high-end color correction.

Sketch filters

Add texture to images, often for a 3D effect. The filters also are useful for creating a fine-arts or hand-drawn look. Many of the Sketch filters use the foreground and background color as they redraw the image.

For a truer effect, change the foreground color to one of the common Conté Crayon colors (black, sepia, sanguine) before applying the filter.

Stylize filters

Produce a painted or impressionistic effect on a selection by displacing pixels and by finding and heightening contrast in an image. After using filters such as Find Edges and Trace Contour (Photoshop) that highlight edges, you can apply the Invert command to outline the edges of a color image with colored lines or to outline the edges of a grayscale image with white lines.

Texture filters

Give images the appearance of depth or substance, or add an organic look.

Video filters

Include the NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) Color filter, which restricts the gamut of colors to those acceptable for television reproduction, and the De-Interlace filter, which smooths moving images captured on video.

Other filters

Let you create your own filters, use filters to modify masks, offset a selection within an image, and make quick color adjustments.

Digimarc filters

Embed a digital watermark into an image to store copyright information.