Painting and Drawing - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 341

Elements automatically creates a new layer and places the picture element on the canvas.
From this point you can rotate, size and distort the shape/graphic using the handles situated
on its edges. Apply the changes by clicking the green tick or Commit button that appears at
the bottom edge.
To scale proportionately - Click and drag a corner handle.
To squish or stretch non-proportionately - Click and drag a side handle.
To scale or squish from the center - Hold down the Alt key whilst dragging a handle.
To rotate - Click and drag the rotate handle located in the middle of the bottom edge of the
graphic/shape. Alternatively, move the mouse cursor outside the edges of the graphic and
then click-drag to rotate.
To distort or twist - Ctrl-click side or corner handles to distort or change perspective.
Click-drag graphics and shapes from the Effects panel to an open document before
repositioning, sizing and adding layer styles.
Shapes added to the document from the Content panel (Window > Content) are stored in a
standard shape layer whereas graphics are stored in a new Smart Object layer. The Smart
Object layer is similar to a Frame layer in that it is resolution independent and must be sim-
plified before you can edit it directly. Simplifying the layer loses its ability to be scaled and
distorted non-destructively.
Adding shapes or graphics from the new Effects panel is an easy task. Follow the steps on the
next page to place, size and position one of these picture elements.