2 Replies Latest reply: Nov 11, 2010 4:13 PM by RichPate RSS

    How to limit size of the Transform Tool box?

    RichPate Community Member

      I work on creating composite images, importing small image elements that need to be positioned, scaled, warped and sometimes flipped to match the lighting source of the larger background image. For example, importing an image of a car into a larger city-scape image.

       

      Since these elements are rather small relative to the background layer, when I convert the imported element's layer to a Smart Object and then use the Transform Tool, the bounding box comes in to match the size of the large background image. Often the control points of the transform box, especially in Warp Mode, are too far apart to be effective in fine-tuning this small element.

       

      Is there a technique I can use to limit the transform box to cover just the object that I want to transform? Thanks.

      Rich

        • 1. Re: How to limit size of the Transform Tool box?
          Mike Gondek2 Community Member

          That does not happen to me with a psd placed into another psd as a smart object. what file format are you placing? Do you need to use smart object, this really does not help if you are resizing bitmapped images(unless you are going back and forth between smaller to bigger).

          • 2. Re: How to limit size of the Transform Tool box?
            RichPate Community Member

            Thanks Mike. Based on what you had to say I did a little experimenting. Yes, indeed, just a straight .psd file placed in another .psd image worked just fine with the Transform command, when converted to a Smart Object before or after being placed.

             

            However, I was selecting all the layers in a .psd file and placing those into another .psd file, and then converting them to a Smart Object. That doesn't work -- so I have changed my workflow.

             

            And yes, I go back and forth to the transform command in resizing, experimenting with perspective and warping, depending on how other elements in the composite come together. So converting to a Smart Object is helpful. I try to do my pixel-based editing on the image prior to placing and conversion in order to save time later in not having to open the Smart Object, edit, then save.