4.10. Unified Transform

Figure 14.145. Unified Transform tool

Unified Transform tool

This tool combines several tools: Rotate, Scale, Shear and Perspective, performing one or several of these actions at once in one single operation. Combining two or more options gives you almost infinite possibilities of transformation.

As the other transformation tools, this tool works on the active layer (default).

After selecting the Unified Transform tool in the toolbox, click on the image window. Several elements appear on the image window:

4.10.1.  Activating the Tool

There are different possibilities to activate the tool:

  • From the image-menu: ToolsTransform ToolsUnified transform

  • The Tool can also be called by clicking the tool icon:

  • or by clicking on the Shift+L keyboard shortcut.

4.10.2. Options

Figure 14.146. Unified Transform Tool Options

Unified Transform Tool Options

The available tool options can be accessed by double clicking the Unified Transform tool icon.

Shared options
[Note] Note

See Section 4.1, “Common Features” for a description of tool options that apply to many or all transform tools.

Constrain

Move: when this option is unchecked, moving the layer is smooth. Checking the option constrains movement to 45° from center.

Scale: when this option is checked, the aspect ratio is preserved.

Figure 14.147. Scale Constraint Option

Scale Constraint Option

Constrain not checked (no pivot)

Scale Constraint Option

Constrain checked (no pivot)


Rotate: default rotation is smooth. When this option is checked, rotation goes by 15° steps.

Shear: normally, to shear the layer, you drag the corresponding icon along a layer edge. If this option is unchecked (default), you may move away from this edge. If this option is checked, shear handles remain on this edge.

Perspective: normally, to change perspective, you drag the corresponding icon along a layer edge. If this option is unchecked (default), you may move away from this edge. If this option is checked, perspective handles remain on this edge or on a diagonal.

Figure 14.148. Perspective Constraint Option

Perspective Constraint Option

Constrain not checked

Perspective Constraint Option

Constrain checked


From pivot

Scale:

Figure 14.149. Scale from pivot

Scale from pivot

From pivot not checked, constrain checked

Scale from pivot

From pivot and constrain checked


Shear: When this option is unchecked (default), the opposite edge is fixed and the pivot moves with shearing. When the option is checked, shearing is performed around a fixed pivot and the opposite side is sheared by the same amount, but in the opposite direction.

Perspective: when this option is checked, the position of pivot is maintained.

Figure 14.150. Perspective from pivot

Perspective from pivot

From pivot not checked, constrain checked

Perspective from pivot

From pivot and constrain checked


Pivot

Snap: if this option is checked, the pivot snaps to center or to corners when it comes close to them.

Lock: locks pivot.

4.10.3. Key modifiers

Key modifiers are active when an action (move, scale, rotate...) is selected. Hold on:

  • Shift to check all Constrain unchecked options and uncheck already checked ones if a transformation handle is selected, or, if the pivot is selected, to snap pivot to center or corner,

  • Ctrl to check all From pivot unchecked options and uncheck already checked ones.