153
Chapter 9: Transforming and
Distorting Images
ou can transform a layer in many ways by
making subtle changes to retouch an
image, or by making drastic distortions to
create an artistic effect. For example, you can scale,
rotate, or apply perspective to a selection, and
make areas of a layer look like they’ve been melted.
Transforming layers, selections,
and shapes
You can scale, rotate, skew, distort, and apply
perspective to entire layers, selected parts of layers,
and shapes. Some memory-intensive transforma-
tions cause Photoshop Elements to display a
progress indicator in the status bar (Windows) or
progress bar (Mac OS) to mark the time remaining
until the transformation is applied.
Specifying what to transform
You can apply a transformation to a selection on a
layer or to an entire layer. You can also transform
multiple layers in an image simultaneously.
To specify what to transform:
Do one of the following:
• To transform an entire layer or a type layer,
deselect everything, and then select the layer in
the Layers palette.
• To transform the background layer, select the
layer in the Layers palette and choose Select >
All. Some areas of the background layer may
display the background color after you apply a
transformation. Alternatively, you can convert a
background layer to a regular layer before
applying a transformation. (See “Adding layers”
on page 95.)
• To transform part of a layer, select the layer in
the Layers palette, and then use any selection
tool to select an area in the layer. (See “Selecting
pixels” on page 114).
• To transform multiple layers simultaneously,
link the layers together in the Layers palette.
(See “Linking layers” on page 99.)
• To transform a shape on a layer, use the shape
selection tool to select the shape. (See “Trans-
forming shapes” on page 194.)
Rotating layers, selections, and shapes
Rotating a layer, a selection on a layer, or a shape
turns it around its center point.
To rotate or flip a layer, selection, or shape:
1 Select the layer, area, or shape you want to
transform. (See “Specifying what to transform” on
page 153.)
Y
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