6 Replies Latest reply: Aug 16, 2009 7:46 AM by Wade_Zimmerman RSS

    CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?

    robains Community Member

      I had a strange problem last night when I selected pixels in my image and then Edit - Transform - Scale, the selection ONLY scaled but not the pixels (my image).  This was in a Smart Object layer.

       

      To reproduce (Method 1):

      1.  Load an image (background layer)

      2.  Make a selection within the image and hit copy

      3.  Paste selection (new layer)

      4.  Convert layer to smart object (not sure this step is required)

      5.  Use magic wand and click anywhere in transparent area

      6.  Under select, pick "Inverse"

      7.  Edit - Transform - Scale (or Warp or any type of transform)

       

      The "selection" itself transforms/scales, but the underlying pixel (image) does not.  Did I do something wrong?

       

      Strangely if I do the following, the transform works (Method 2):

      1.  Load an image (background layer)

      2.  Make a selection within the image and hit copy

      3.  Paste selection (new layer)

      4.  Edit - Transform - Scale

       

      This works, pixels are transformed.

       

      Is this a bug or am I just doing something wrong with my Method 1 approach?

       

      Thanks, Rob.

       

      P.S. - CS4 Extended is an EXCELLENT improvement, love it!

        • 1. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
          c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

          What do You need the selection for exactly?

          If You want to transform the Smart Object selecting it in the Layers Panel without active Selections and hitting command-T is enough.

          (Command-J might save You one keystroke on command-C and command-V.)

          • 2. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
            Michael L Hale Community Member

            From what I understand, it's not a bug but a design choice by Adobe. You can search John Nack's blog for details.

             

            Bottom line is unless you want to transform the entire smart object as Christoph suggested you will need to double-click on the smart object to edit. You can then apply your transform to only part of the image, save and the smart object will update.

            • 3. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
              Rob A. Community Member

              Interesting, so if I understand you correctly, what I need to do in Method 1 was double-click the smart object to make it editable and then do the selection and transform?

               

              Thanks, Rob.

              • 4. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
                Michael L Hale Community Member

                As I understand it you can't do anything that alters only part of the image, like transform, painting, etc.

                 

                So yes, to do what you are trying to do you need to edit the underlining document of the smart object by double-clicking, doing your edits, then saving.

                • 5. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
                  c.pfaffenbichler Community Member

                  5.  Use magic wand and click anywhere in transparent area

                  6.  Under select, pick "Inverse"

                   

                  I interpreted this part in the original post to indicate that the whole of the SO was to be transformed, in which case a selection would be useless.

                  • 6. Re: CS4 Extended Transform selection problem?
                    Wade_Zimmerman Community Member

                    A smart object is not directly editable it is like a linked object but more than that it is wholly contained with in the file.

                     

                    You must edit it in the native program, which might seem funny since the native program is photoshop but if it was an illustrator object you were editing you would have to open it in Illustrator through the smart guide icon in the layers panel same goes for the photoshop smart object.

                     

                    Once you edit the smart objet in the native program in this case photoshop it updates the smart object if you save it but only if you save the changes.

                     

                    You will get a better understanding of this if you open a file as a smart object in Photoshop then edit the smart object in photoshop and save it now save the file you just created with a different name or leave it as the default name which denotes it as the original title plus smart object added.

                     

                    Now open the original you will see that was never altered you never touched it you actually where working on a copy that is embedded in your new file.

                     

                    Hope this understandable.