Skewing and distorting path-based selections


You can skew and distort path-based selections. Skewing slants the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a selection non-proportionally. Distorting a selection lets you move the sides or corners of a selection in different directions. For example, you can crush or stretch the selection. In addition, you can use perspective distortion to give an object the appearance of depth. Skewing distortion allows you to achieve a 3D look.

To skew a selection

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1 In the toolbox, click the Transform tool .
If the Transform tool is not displayed in the toolbox, click and hold the Layer Adjuster tool to open the flyout, and then choose the Transform tool .
2 On the property bar, click the Skew button .
3 Move the pointer outside the border of the selection’s bounding box.
4 Drag a side handle.
If you want to skew only the selected side, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while dragging the side handle.
5 On the property bar, click the Commit Transformation button .

Skewing a selection

To distort a selection

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1 In the toolbox, click the Transform tool .
If the Transform tool is not displayed in the toolbox, click and hold the Layer Adjuster tool to open the flyout, and then choose the Transform tool .
2 On the property bar, click the Distort button .
3 Drag a corner handle.
If you want to constrain the distortion to the horizontal or vertical axis, hold down Shift while dragging a corner handle.
If you want to distort the selection relative to the Reference Point, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while dragging a corner handle.
4 On the property bar, click the Commit Transformation button .

A selection before (left) and after (right) distorting

To distort perspective in a selection

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1 In the toolbox, click the Transform tool .
If the Transform tool is not displayed in the toolbox, click and hold the Layer Adjuster tool to open the flyout, and then choose the Transform tool .
2 On the property bar, click the Perspective Distortion button .
3 Drag a corner handle.
If you want to constrain the distortion to the horizontal or vertical axis, hold down Shift while dragging a corner handle.
4 On the property bar, click the Commit Transformation button .

A selection before (left) and after (right) perspective distorting

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