Align two points during scale transformation

[James_Luca...@adobeforums.com]

I've got two layers that need to be aligned, but are currently at different scales. In Illustrator, aligning two objects (lets call them A and B ) at different scales is an easy two step process: drag point A1 to point B1; then move the reference point to A1/B1 and scale-drag point A2 until it's on top of point B2. Voilą! But in Photoshop I can't seem to scale except with corner handles or numerical input, and neither is convenient for this purpose. Is there something comparable to Illustator's scale tool in Photoshop?

[Free...@adobeforums.com]

Since one is vector and the other raster there's really no reason there should, but... 8-/

If you turn the layer to be scaled into a Smart Object first, you at least don't risk extra degradation as you go. Setting opacity to 50% lets you see what you're doing.

Anyone else?

[Myle...@adobeforums.com]

As Freeagent pointed out - for rasterized pixels you can only use the bounding box and even that is affected by the interpolation sub-sampling, so there is never any guarantee that resized items will match up 100%. Not really much you can do but eyeball it as best as you can.

Mylenium

[James_Luca...@adobeforums.com]

I know I'm not going to be getting pixel-perfect results, but it seems crazy that one can't dynamically resize with respect to a specific, chosen origin point. The process of dragging a corner on the left, then dragging a corner on the right, then nudging a little, and then repeating seems like something out of MS Paint!

Thanks for the help though. It's good to know when to stop looking for non-existant answers.

[Curvem...@adobeforums.com]

I think the functionality you are asking for is there.

Set the upper layer's transparency to 50%, then activate
Image>Edit>Transform and drag the transform rectangle until point A is over
its target point. Drag the scale origin to the same location. This will
keep point A in the same location. You can then use the handles to rotate
and scale point B to match the location of your second target point.

For sub pixel alignment, zoom in. You cannot hide layers during a
transform operation, but you can use the layer palette to change the
opacity of the active layer.

[James_Luca...@adobeforums.com]

Curvemeister, looks like you're right. I thought I had already tried Alt+Shift+drag, but I guess not. That seems to do the trick. I might need to dust off my big monitor so that I can see the detail that I'm aligning at the same time I can see the corner handles. It's not great, but it's good enough. Thanks!

[Curvem...@adobeforums.com]

Glad that helped. Re seeing the handles and alignment points at the same
time, there is an alternative to using a large monitor that might be
useful. Create a new view, resize the window to a convenient size, use the
hand tool to drag the alignment point to the center, and zoom in as far as
you need to.

That way you can drag the handles while still seeing the information you
need for an accurate alignment. The numeric fields may also provide you
with more accuracy.

[James_Luca...@adobeforums.com]

This is a clever approach, but unfortunately it fails (at least in CS3) because the nonactive window doesn't refresh itself until the corner-handle is released. This reduces the method to the same guess-and-check situation I've been in. I can't find a way to dynamically refresh extra views of the same file, but if you know how, I'll be very happy.

[Free...@adobeforums.com]

But with a smart object you can at least afford trial and error without degradation. Perhaps not elegant; but workable.

[Curvem...@adobeforums.com]

This might help: use the arrow keys for horizontal alignment. The zoomed
view will move interactively. Click on the angle numeric value and you can
use the arrow keys to rotate.

[Free...@adobeforums.com]

I just tried Curvemeister's method with new window and arrow keys.

It works beautifully. Great tip.

[James_Luca...@adobeforums.com]

Seems to be the best method so far! The reference point has an annoying habit of resetting itself if I switch windows to tweak the view, but that's small potatoes. Thanks!