What Is the Shortcut to Resize a Layer in Photoshop?

Have you ever found yourself spending too much time resizing layers in Photoshop? We all know that resizing an image or layer can be a tedious process, especially if you have multiple layers to work with. Fortunately, Photoshop provides several shortcuts to help speed up this task. In this article, we will explore the shortcut to resize a layer in Photoshop and how to use it effectively.

What is the shortcut?

The shortcut to resize a layer in Photoshop is Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac). This shortcut activates the Free Transform tool, which allows you to resize, rotate, skew, or distort the selected layer.

How does it work?

To resize a layer using the shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Select the layer you want to resize by clicking on it in the Layers panel.
2. Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac).
3. A bounding box with handles will appear around the selected layer.
4. To maintain the aspect ratio of the layer while resizing, hold down the Shift key while dragging any of the corner handles. This ensures that the width and height are scaled proportionally.
5. To resize without maintaining aspect ratio, simply drag any of the corner handles without holding down Shift.
6. To apply the transformation and commit changes, press Enter or Return on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can click on the checkmark icon in the options bar at the top of the screen.

Tips for efficient resizing:

• If you want to resize multiple layers simultaneously, you can select them by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each layer in the Layers panel. Then, apply the shortcut Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to activate the Free Transform tool for all selected layers at once.
• If you only want to resize a specific portion of a layer, you can use the Marquee or Lasso tool to make a selection before applying the shortcut. This way, only the selected area will be transformed.
• The Free Transform tool also allows you to rotate, skew, or distort layers by dragging outside of the corner handles. Experiment with these options to achieve different effects.

In conclusion

The shortcut Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) is a valuable time-saving tool when it comes to resizing layers in Photoshop. By mastering this shortcut and exploring its various options, you can quickly and efficiently resize your layers with ease.

So next time you find yourself needing to resize a layer in Photoshop, remember this handy shortcut and watch your workflow become more streamlined and efficient!