In Photoshop, is Free Transform on a Smart Object the same as Image Size resizing?
Asked 4/3/2021
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I’m trying to understand the difference in Photoshop between scaling a Smart Object with Free Transform and resizing with Image > Image Size. If I change the width and height of a Smart Object using Free Transform, does Photoshop rebuild it to a new pixel count the same way Image Size does? Or are these different operations?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
1
From a quick check that I have made:
- When resizing an image, with the image>image size menu option, you actually change the canvas size WITH the image size.
- However, when using free transform, you change JUST THE IMAGE.
In both cases, if the image is a smart object, you retain the original image resolution and information. I made sure of the last point by simply using the menu image size dialog to minify an 4000x4000 image to a 200x200 and back, and lost no information.
Bottom line, both are valid, depending on what you want to do with the rest of the canvas.
Originally by user98488. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user98488
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
They are related, but not exactly the same.
According to the community answer, Image > Image Size changes the image dimensions together with the canvas/image size, while Free Transform changes only the placed image layer/object itself.
For a Smart Object, both methods keep the original source data intact. That means if you scale a Smart Object down and then back up, Photoshop can still use the original embedded information rather than permanently throwing pixels away the way a normal raster layer often would.
So:
- Free Transform: scales the Smart Object layer in the document.
- Image Size: changes the overall image dimensions/resolution.
- With a Smart Object: the original image data is retained in either case.
Use Free Transform when you want to resize or distort just that object in your layout. Use Image Size when you want to change the dimensions/resolution of the whole image/document.
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