In our last lesson, we changed the size of a layer by using Show Bounding Box. In this lesson, we'll change the size of a layer by using the Transform tool. You'll be glad to know that it works exactly the same way as Show Bounding Box. But you can use it when you have other tools selected, like the lasso tool, so I find it much more convenient.

I'll demonstrate using the practice files in Part 2, lesson 7. I'm going to add two pieces of word art and a paint spatter to this photo. Let's start by moving the first piece of word art onto the photo using the Photo Bin. Click and drag the word Wilderness onto the photo. Now let's move and resize it using the Transform tool. In the Menu Bar, choose Image, Transform, Free Transform, but that's the hard way to do it. The easiest way is to use a shortcut listed on the right: Ctrl T in Windows, or Command T on a Mac. T for Transform, which makes it easy to remember.

I'll close the menu and try it Ctrl T in Windows or Command T on a Mac, T for Transform. When I do that a bounding box appears around the word art. It works the same way as Show Bounding Box. Click on a corner handle and drag inward or outward to resize it and keep the original proportions. Avoid using side handles because that will distort your image. Click inside the outline and drag the word to the right close to the edge of the document. So maybe right about there. I'll use my arrow keys to move it up just a wee bit. Now let's make it smaller. In this case, I don't want to resize all four corners at once, because I want the right side of the word art to remain stationary. So I'll click and drag from the upper left corner handle, which means the right lower corner will stay stationary. I'll just make this quite a bit smaller... right about there, and then click on the checkmark to commit the change.

Notice that the transform outline disappears as soon as I commit the change which I prefer. I don't want to see a bounding box around the selected layer. Nor do I like having to turn the bounding box feature on and off in order to resize and then get rid of the outline. So the Transform option is perfect for me. I can access it in a moment using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl T in Windows or Command T on a Mac, no matter which tool I'm using, and it disappears when I commit the change in size.

Now let's add the word Adventure. Click and drag it onto your document. To move and resize it press Ctrl T on Windows or Command T on a Mac to get Transform options. Click inside the outline and drag it to the right under the word wilderness. This time I'll resize from the center by pressing ALT in Windows or Option on a Mac. As I click and drag from a corner handle that resizes all four corners at once. I'll bump it up a bit using the arrow keys, and then I'll click on the checkmark to commit the change.

We have one more item to add: the paint splatter. Click and drag it onto your image and press Ctrl T in Windows Command T on a Mac. This is pretty big. So let's resize it a bit using the resize from the center technique. Press Alt on Windows, Option on a Mac and click and drag from a corner handle. That resizes all four corners at once. Move your cursor outside the bounding box, and when you see the double curved arrow, click and drag to rotate the paint. Click and drag inside the outline to reposition it. I'll move it right over here next to the word art on the side. I can even make this a little bit bigger if I want. Maybe rotate it a little bit more. And when I'm satisfied, I'll click on the green checkmark to commit the change.

So you have two options to resize. You can use Show Bounding Box when the Move tool is the active tool. Or you can use the Transform tool with any tool. I prefer the Transform tool but if you have a hard time remembering the shortcut, then by all means select the Move tool and check Show Bounding Box and that will give you the same results. So that's how to resize a layer quickly and easily. Take some time to practice this skill using both Show Bounding Box and the Transform tool.