Free Transform multiple objects...

It would be very nice to have the ability to select multiple layers/objects and free transform them about their respective orientation points rather than one, shared point.
For example, I am creating a large grid of items that are all in 1" X 1" squares and get them all spaced correctly on the gird, only to find out that each one needs to be increased slightly in size, BUT keep them centered in their respective squares. But the way I currently do it, I have to go item by item adjusting the sizes individually. A better option would be to be able to select all the objects, check a box that says "Transform by individual Orienation Point" and then go about resizing the one free transform box and having each object transform about their own orientation point, thereby saving me a tremendous amount of time and work.
The odd thing is, this feature has already been implemented (in a roundabout way) in InDesign already (here), you would think it would have found its way into Photoshop by now.
Feel free to let me know if I am missing something that is already implemented? Thanks!

So all your squares need to be upscaled by precisely the same amount? You can can record an Action that will perform the scale on the first. Then just re-run the Action with a shortcut on all the other layers, you can even automate the "move to next layer" step, so just hitting a single key will transform as many layers as you want one by one very quickly. Transform again (command shift T) will misregister them unfortunately.
Another option is for you to have set the squares up as instanced Smart Objects (if they are all the same). Then scaling one object in Image Size will scale them all instantly.
What you asked for is an interesting request, but its hard to see how it would be useful generally.

Similar Messages

"Anti-alias" greyed out when free-transforming smart objects.

While resizing smart objects, I noticed that the anti-aliasing was very contrasting and not smooth enough for my purposes. I realized that if I rasterized the smart object before resizing, the anti-aliasing was better. I then noticed that there was a setting when free-transforming smart objects called "anti-alias." However, I am unable to activate it as it is greyed out. So, here's two questions:
1) Is there a way to make the anti-aliasing for smart objects the same as that of rasterized objects?
2) Is there a way to activate that "anti-alias" setting when free-transforming smart objects?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide

On top of what Zeno Bokor wrote that while your doing the transform your viewing a quick scaled preview not the actual transformation you wrote
The SOs I'm talking about are bitmap images I made into SOs to be able to resize and edit without destructive changes, not imported vector graphics from AI.
You did not state how you made the bitmap images into smart object. If you just converted a layer you had been working on into a smart object some damage may have already been done to the bitmap image. You might get better results if you started out with a smart object layer to begin with by using ACR open as smart object option or by placing your camera jpeg images into your document as starting points.

Turn off free transform on objects

Is there a way to turn off the free transform on objects? This is a helpful function sometimes, other times it is the most annoying thing, especially when I am working with small dots marking map locations.
I am using Illustrator CC 2014
Thank you for any input.

Marcia,
What happens in CC2014 if you
A) Use the Group Selection Tool (the Direct Selection Tool with the + (see the flyout),
or
B) First Alt/Option Click the object with the Direct Selection Tool then ClickDrag with it?

Photoshop CS4 Crash Free Transform Vector Objects

Hello!
I've a consistent ad recurring error and I wanted to see if anyone else has it.
The bug happens when I place a vector smart object either an Illustrator file, or pasting from InDesign.
I place the object, and confirm.
Then, when I hit "command t" to free-transform, Photoshop hangs for a second and then crashes.
It happens every time, on every type of Photoshop file, on any type of vector content.
I can place an EPS file, and the error does not occur.
Any suggestions?

I'm having the same thing happen with CS4 11.0 (I was running 11.0.1 before the crash),
Anytime I hit the transform command tit hangs then freezes... but never recovers. It crashes the whole system and I need to reboot.
Intel iMac, running OS X 10.5.7
I've trashed preferences, repaired permissions and reinstalled Photoshop (not the entire creative suite).
I used to have CS3, but it's been uninstalled but I'm not pointing the software to any other plugins... so I'm lost.
Any ideas?

Free Transform multiple layers at the same time (only selected part)

Hi,
i have two layers - one contains color and second one contains outline. I want to select a part of the image and free transform both the layers at the same time. (so when i for example move or rotate the selected part of my example, both the color and outline moves at the same time). Layers must stay separated, process must be sort of quick, i would love to use this all the time when drawing etc.
- Only way i managed to make this somewhat happen was to select the desired part of the image -> save the selection -> new layer via copy (on first layer) -> reselect the saved selection -> new layer via copy (on the second layer) -> select both of the new layers -> free transform. Warp doesnt work but other transforms do. But still this process is too slow and distracting even when having all the required commands hotkeyed. Is there a faster way?
Any tips are welcome!

@Trevor.Dennis
i did understand, but as i said ctrl clicking the new layer only selects visible pixels in it, and my layers dont cover the whole canvas, especially not the outline layer, so ctrl click will only select that noodle of pixels and thats not usable in the other layer. (doing selection in the other layer first isnt a solution)
Better description of what exactly im after:
im manually drawing characters and i keep the their black "ink" lines/outlines on separate layer from the color layer. From time to time i want to transform small part of the character, lets say warp or rotate just its leg to fix or iterate, but i want to transform both the outline and color layer at the same time with that rotation so i see realtime how it looks. I would use this all the time if it was doable quickly. Transforms and puppetwarp are so powerful when drawing that as last resort i will have to switch to drawing everything on single layer.

Layer via Copy, Free Transform, Multiple Layers, Doesnt work?

Hello,
I am using Adobe Photoshop CS6, latest version as of 05/25/12
I have 19 layers, each has a 1200x1200px texture. These are of course overlapped, so setting them all to visible will only show the top layer.
All layers are rasterized, and contain 1200x1200px:
1) I select all 19 layers using shift+click, all are highlighted (in the layer pane).
2) I select a region using the selection tool, in this case a rectangular region that is 172px high and 35px wide.
3) I right click the selection, and then select: layer via copy. (Note, Layer via cut is disabled for some reason)
4) *problem* It creates 19 new layers with the full image from the selected layers and not the selection which is what I wanted to place in the new layers.
5) *problem* when I right click the selection and select "Free Transform", the transform box surrounds the entire canvas and not the selection.
6) *problem* when I skew, it skews the entire image and not just the selection.
7) *problem* Previously, I have been able to select a layer from the layer pane, go to image menu, select adjustments, brightness/contrast, and adjust the brightness/contrast for just that layer. Now it wont let me.
8) *related problem* If I have 3 layers (background, 1, and 2) on a 1200x1200 canvas, with the image in layer 1 being 150px, and the image in layer 2 being 150x, each rasterized, and then stack the images on 1 and 2 over eachother, then select both layers, then select a region inside the stacked images, then select free transform, the free transform selection embodies all pixels inside the canvas (not the entire canvas this time) and performs the transform on these pixels and not the original selection.
If I do it making all the layers visible as well as selected, it behaves the same.
What appears to be happening is Photoshop is ignoring the selection and for some reason is using a pixel region (or if pixels cover the entire canvas, the whole image) when performing actions intended for the selection.
What's strange is when I made these textures, I started out with 19 150x150 pictures, I set the canvas size to 1200x1200, selected all the layers in the layer pane, selected the 150x150 image in the middle, and was able to move all 19 textures to the top right corner, able to switch to transform on all 19 pictures, able to rotate 180 degrees all 19 pictures, was able to flip horizontal all 19 pictures, then able to copy all 19 pictures to new layers, move the 19 pictures all at the same time to the right 150 pixels, rinse and repeat, to eventually come out with 19 1200x1200 textures tiled from the 150px pictures. In other words, I did exactly what I am attempting to do with the 1200x1200 pictures with the 150x150 pixtures and it worked like a champ.
Something has changed, maybe an option somewhere got clicked, something. I don't know.
The end goal of course is to take a selection of all 19 of the 1200x1200 pictures, transform, then skew that image to make a collage of images applied to an added background. Performing this on all 19 textures and getting the same exact skew, etc would take days considering I need to do about 15 of different portions of the tile.
Need some help here... is there an option somewhere that makes photoshop ignore the selection and perform the actions on all the images?
Best regards,
Dustin

Just ran into this problem today Dustin. You can only create new layers via copy from one layer. What I ended up having to do is copy all of my images that were on different layers. Then I merged them. Select all the images you copied>Layer>Merge. So now I have two copies of artwork on the same canvas. One that is all different layers and one that is now one layer. Then I was able to select the portions of the new merged layer I wanted and create new layers via copy. Then I erased the extra, merged layer.
You don't have to copy your initial images. I just did in case I wanted to edit them separately later.
I hope I understood your first problem correctly.

CS3 Illustrator and Free Transform Tool

I have a problem with the function Free Transform Tool in Illustrator to OS X. After clicking on the icon Free Transform Tool object can become distorted. I got command key, I'm with the cursor in the corner, but does not work. Tried the instructions here: http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/Illustrator/13.0/help.html?content=WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07 d0100196cbc5f-646d.html, but it also does not work. By someone he did not know where could be the problem? Thanks a lot.

Use Effect>3D>Rotate to rotate the PNG into a perspective plane. It is not as accurate as the distortion mesh method, but it might work for you.
Alternatively, you can use the distortion mesh method and edit the mesh with the mesh tool directly. It is tedious because you'll have o move the anchor points and direction points separately (The free transform tool does this for you in one step).
A third option is to download the 30-day free trial of AICS4. You can make the distortion then open the file in CS3.
I don't have CS4 either and I am forced to keep 2 versions of Illustrator on my machine because of this bug.
Adobe should not force users to upgrade, just to get a bug fix.

Can I Free Transform/Distort An Object Like Photoshop?

I need to distort an object much the way one would in Photoshop with Free Transform - Distort. That's the one where you can drag the corners wherever it suits your fancy.
The closest thing in Illustrator I can find is Effect - Distort & Transform - Free Distort. But this is a lot tougher because I just get a tiny picture of a grid; you distort the corners, and hope for the best.
Is there a way in Illustrator that will allow me to do this with the actual object?
Thanks.

There's the Free Transform Tool.
Click a corner then hold down Command/Ctrl, Option/Alt, and shift then move the mouse to allow free transformations. The click-modifier-move order is important.

Photoshop CS6, Free Transform & interpolation on Smart Objects

Hi,
I'm really frustrated with this, since in all the previous versions this problem was not present.
When I try to scale down a Smart Object, by using the Free Transform tool, I get over-sharped edges. I suspect this is an interpolation issue. Mind you when I do the same on a raster layer I can overcome it since there is an option box where I can choose interpolation method.

flamestudios wrote:
That worked for me, even if I would prefer to be able to choose interpolation method when I transform Smart Object layers, just like you can on raster ones.
That not an option and its never an option using DOM scripting code you need to retrieve the users interpolation method set the one you want to use and then restore the users preference. Adobe even broke that in CS6. If you try the retrieve the user preference and it set to "Bicubic Automatic" which happens to be Adobe's default setting CS6 script encounters an internal error. If you catch the error and you can know the user setting is "Bicubic Automatic" If you change the setting your unable to restore the users setting for like you can not retrieve "Bicubic Automatic" using DOM code you can not set it with DOM code. Perhaps you can with Action Manager scriptlistener code. I'll give Adobe some more time to fix this before adding special code into my scripts to get around the CS6 problem.

Applying identical free transform to second object?

Please excuse my lack of techinical knowledge, I am trying to learn my way through AI via trial & error since I don't have time to read a book or so.
I think I understand what paths/anchors are used for and how basic perspective transform works (holding cmd/control and perhaps option and/or shift). I have an object that has already been distorted via Free Transform so that the perspective is changed. I have a logo I would like to add onto the surface of the object.
My assumption is to use Free Distort again, but how to mimick the same distortions to the correct angles? I have experimented with grabbing corners of the bounding box and trying to snap them to corresponding anchor points of the background perspective shape...but it's not really working out.
What am I missing?
I've tried searching for perspective and free transform tool tutorials, but they mostly just show how to distort into a new perspective but not how to 'mimick' or align to an existing perspective.
Thanks!

You did that the wrong way you would first position that which you wish to map to the relative position of the object it is being mapped to then group
the two and then use the free transform.
The other way is to use the #D Effect's Rotate command and rotate and give it some perspective within the dialog. Then you can turn your art that you wish to map into a symbol which then can be mapped by going back to the effect by accessing it in the appearance panel which will allow you to bring up the 3D Rotate Effect dialog.
You then click on Map Art button and then select the surface you need to map the art to and then select from the drop down the symbol you made of your art and you can see liv the preview on your art.
You would actually make the art into a symbol before apply the 3d effect but I wanted you to see that you can keep the effect live and even after you save a close the art you can still remove or remap different art.
Now most important is that this is Illustrator and you are not going to learn it by trial and error and so it is important for you to get a book like Mordy Golding's Real World Illustrator. For certain Mordy writes much better than probably any of us when it comes to methods, techniques and the workings and fundamentals of Illustrator and the other Adobe programs. Otherwise you are going to be very limited in what you ca do and the amount of time you spend trying to figure it out is going to be a lot more than you will spend reading Mordy's book.
The really good thing about the book is that is written in a way so that it is one fast reading and easy to retain.
Do yourself a big favor and read the book.
After all this is Illustrator and not an easy program to learn.

Smart object or duplicate layer/ decrease resolution or free transform

Hi all
I would appreciate some advice on a few questions I have regarding PS.
1) I intend to place an image I have been working on into another file in photoshop. To keep file size down and to keep as much quality as possible which is my best option? The options I see available to me are to save the file as a TIFF
and then duplicate the layer into the new file or to place the image as a smart object. Or is there a better way?
If I were to place it as a smart object in which format is best? I will not need to work on the original file once it has gone into the new file.
2) I have a subject matter in a raw file that is quite small and needs to be made larger once in photoshop. I see two options for me. First one is decreasing the resolution from 300 to something like 250 which will make im the subject matter the right size. The second option I see is to free transform the image in photoshop to make it larger.
I intend to print these files on A4 at a commercial printers.
Thanks

As to your question #2: by all means do any upsampling of the raw file inside Adobe Camera Raw through the ACR workflow options (looks like a link right under the ACR preview window) to the exact dimensions you'll be using. That'll give you the best quality.
Downsampling to upsample later is just nuts!
Re #1: "To keep file size down and to keep as much quality as possible" is an oxymoron. You get either or.
It's always best to work at the final output size.

Can't warp pasted AI vector Smart Object using Free Transform in PS CS6

Hi
I pasted a vector object into PS CS6 (13.0.1 x32) today directly from Illustrator CS6 (16.0.1 x32), and selected "Paste as Smart Object" (Windows XP Pro SP3).
I then tried to warp the pasted object using the Free Transform tool by dragging one of the corner handles with CTRL held down (Windows).
This usually warps\distorts the object, but instead, this launched a skew operation.
If I paste as Shape Layer or as Pixels then apply Free Transform, <Ctrl + corner handle drag> performs a warp\distort operation.
Also, if I rasterise the pasted AI object, and then convert to a Smart Object I can warp\distort.
Is it not possible to paste an Illustrator vector in as a Smart Object, and then warp\distort it directly using this technique?
Thanks for your help.
Richard

Your right in that on a pasted vector smart one can't warp, distort or perform perspective transforms.
One workaround would be to right click on the vector smart object layer in the layers panel and
choose convert to smart object.
It depends on what your object is, but you'd probably get better quality from a pasted shape or path, but then you won't be able to open the object
back in illustrator from photoshop.

Bounding and Free Transform Boxes do not scale properly for small objects.

Illustrator CS5 Windows:
When using the bouding box or the free transformation box to scale a small object, Illustrator will add some padding between the box and the object.
This would really be helpful, but the scaling box now scales the object based on the transformation handles.
This would be fine if the transformation corners fit the object, but because of the transformation padding, the resulting height, width, x, and y are way off.
To replicate (CS5 Windows):
1. Go to magnification of 100%
2. Create a box that is 100 pixels wide by 4 pixels high
3. With the object selected, take note of y: coordinate.
4. Select the free transformation tool
5. Drag the bottom middle transformation handle down a good distance.
watch the outlines you'll see the problem.
6. The top edge (y:coordinate) of the new object is now much lower, but the bottom middle handle should never change to the top edge position of an object (unless you invert it)
Is there a setting or something to turn this feature off?
Jeff

See here:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/3086491

When I click on the objects it no longer appears automatically free transform how can I fix it?

When I click on the objects it no longer appears automatically free transform how can I fix it?

Cmd(Ctrl)-Shift-B is the toggle for Show/Hide Bounding Box.

Set arbitrary origin of objects, outside "Free transform" tool?

Hi,
With Modify≫ Transform≫ Free Transform a nice thing is that we can move the origin, unlike with other tools that the origin is the center of the image.
If I am using other tools such as the one recommended by groove25 in http://forums.adobe.com/message/4443283#4443283, is there any way I can set arbitrary origin?
Bob

You'll notice with the Star Auto shape, for example, that when you click on the Transform tool to select it, a small black circle (the rotation point) appears in the center of the star. You can drag that circle anywhere you like to relocate the rotation point.

Free Transform multiple objects...

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