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choose where to position the centering reference point position. For example, the Numeric Transform can commonly be used to change the percentage scale of a layer. You just enter the scale percentages in the Width and Height boxes. If the Constrain Proportions link icon is switched off you can set the width and height independently. You can also change the central axis for the transformation by repositioning the black dot (circled). In it's default position a numeric transform will take place around the central axis. If you were to click on the top left corner, you can have all transforms (including numeric transforms) default to taking place around the top left axis of the image.

Figure 9.46 This shows the move tool Options bar in Transform mode. The same Options bar controls are seen when a selection is active and you choose Select Transform Selection.

Manually setting the transform axis

In addition to the simplified Option bar icon for determining the transform axis, you can move the transform bounding box center point anywhere by dragging to place it where you need it to be.

Transforming selections and paths

You can also apply transforms to Photoshop selections and vector paths. For example, to transform a selection, choose Select Transform Selection (note: if you choose Edit Transform, this transforms the selection contents). Transform Selection works just like the Edit Free Transform command. You can use the exact same modifier key combinations to scale, rotate and distort the selection outline. Or, you can use right mouse-click to call up the contextual menu of transform options. With Transform Selection, you can modify a selection shape quite effortlessly.

Whenever you have a pen path active, the Edit menu switches to Transform Path mode. You can then use the Transform Path commands to manipulate a completed path or a group of selected path points (the path does not have to be closed). But remember, you won't be able to execute a transform on an image layer (or layers) until after you have deselected any active paths.

Expand/Contract selections

The Select Modify menu contains ‘Expand…’ and ‘Contract…’ menu options. These allow you to expand or contract a selection. One of the downsides of using this approach is that when you enlarge a rectangular selection in this way, you'll end up with rounded corners. If instead, you use the Transform Selection method, you will be able to preserve the sharp corners of a rectangular selection.

Arrange, Align and Distribute shortcuts

Note here that all the Layer menu and Layers panel shortcuts are listed in a separate appendix which is available on the DVD as a PDF document.

Transforms and alignment

When you have more than one layer in an image, the layer order can be changed via the Layer Arrange submenu (Figure 9.47), which can be used to bring a layer forward or send it further back in the layer stacking order, plus you can also use the following keyboard shortcuts. Use to bring a layer forward and to send a layer backward. Use to bring a layer to the front and to send a layer to the back.

Figure 9.47 The Layer Arrange submenu.

If two or more layers are linked, these can be aligned in various ways via the Layer Align menu (Figure 9.48). To use this feature, first make sure the layers you want to align are selected, linked together, or are in a layer group. The Align commands can then be used to align the linked layers using the different rules shown in the submenu list, i.e. you can align to the Top, Vertical Centers, Bottom, Left, Horizontal Centers or Right Edges, and the alignment will be based on whichever is the top-most or left-most layer, etc. There is also the Distribute submenu, which contains an identical list of options to the Align menu, but is only accessible if you have three or more layers selected, linked, or in a layer group. The Distribute commands allow you to distribute layer elements evenly based on either the Top, Vertical Centers, Bottom, Left, Horizontal Centers or Right axes. So for example, if you had