Quick links to procedures on this page:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Transforming objects

You can change the appearance of objects using the following transformations.

Transformation
Description
Sizing
Lets you change the width and height of an object
Scaling
Lets you size an object to a percentage of its original size
Rotating
Lets you turn an object around its center of rotation
Flipping
Lets you create a horizontal or vertical mirror image of an object
Skewing
Lets you slant an object to one side
Distorting
Lets you stretch an object disproportionately
Applying perspective
Lets you give an object the appearance of depth

You can apply freeform transformations in the image window or manually adjust settings for more precise results.

You can apply transformations to a single object or multiple objects simultaneously.

Transformation
Applied to objects in an image

Photo Paint obj sizescale a Transforming objects

Sizing and scaling

Photo Paint obj sizescale b Transforming objects

The photo object is scaled down to fit onto the background image.

Photo Paint obj flip a Transforming objects

Flipping

Photo Paint obj flip b Transforming objects

The object is flipped to create a reflection.

Photo Paint obj rotate a Transforming objects

Rotating

Photo Paint obj rotate b Transforming objects

The reflection is rotated.

Photo Paint obj skew a Transforming objects

Skewing

Photo Paint objects mod p68 Transforming objects

The reflection is skewed to create a realistic angle.

Photo Paint obj distort a Transforming objects

Distorting

Photo Paint obj distort b Transforming objects

The shadow is distorted to indicate the direction of a light source.

Photo Paint obj perspective a Transforming objects

Perspective

Photo Paint obj perspective b Transforming objects

A second shadow is added and modified.

 

To size an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Position and size mode button Photo Paint pgx position mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag any of the handles on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can resize the object from the center by holding down Shift as you drag any of the handles.
 
You can also change the size of a selected object by typing values in the Size boxes, and clicking the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.

To scale an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Scale mode button Photo Paint pgx scale mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag a corner handle on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can also scale a selected object by typing values in the Size boxes, and clicking the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.

Photo Paint note Transforming objects

 
When you scale, skew, or rotate an object, its edges can appear jagged. For this reason, these transformation modes enable anti-aliasing by default.

To rotate an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Rotate mode button Photo Paint pgx rotate mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag a rotation handle on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

You can also
Shift and rotate an object
Type values in the Position boxes and the Rotate control box on the property bar, and then click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects .
Constrain the rotation to 15-degree increments
Hold down Ctrl as you drag a corner handle.
Change the pivot point
Drag the object’s center of rotation to a new location.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can also switch to rotate mode by clicking an object twice. As you cycle through the transformation modes, the handles surrounding an object will change to indicate the active mode.

Photo Paint note Transforming objects

 
When you scale, skew, or rotate an object, its edges can appear jagged. For this reason, these transformation modes enable anti-aliasing by default.

To flip an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Hold down Ctrl, and drag a middle handle on the highlighting box across the object, past the middle handle on the opposite side.
3.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can flip a selected object disproportionately by not holding down Ctrl while dragging a middle handle of the highlighting box across the middle handle on the opposite side.

To skew an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Skew mode button Photo Paint pgx skew mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag a skewing handle on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint note Transforming objects

 
When you scale, skew, or rotate an object, its edges can appear jagged. For this reason, these transformation modes enable anti-aliasing by default.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can also skew an object by typing values in the Size boxes and clicking the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.

To distort an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Distort mode button Photo Paint pgx distort mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag a distortion handle on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can also switch to distort mode by clicking an object two times. As you cycle through the transformation modes, the handles surrounding an object will change to indicate the active mode.

To apply perspective to an object

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Transforming objects
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click the Perspective mode button Photo Paint pgx perspective mode Transforming objects on the property bar.
3.
 
Drag a perspective handle on the highlighting box.
4.
 
Click the Apply button Photo Paint pgx apply button Transforming objects on the property bar.
If you want to cancel the transformation, double-click outside the object.

Photo Paint tip Transforming objects

 
You can also switch to perspective mode by clicking an object three times. As you cycle through the transformation modes, the handles surrounding an object will change to indicate the active mode.

Transforming objects