If you have been following along with the Digital Scrapbooks and More blog articles, then you probably read the article yesterday on the basics of the MOVE TOOL. If not, and you are just tuning in, you might want to check out this blog: (In the Spotlight: The Move Tool Part 1)
The Move Tool is found in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. It one of the most essential tools used in digital scrapbooking and also used in photo editing.
In the spotlight today we will talk about the Move Tool and go beyond just the basics to provide information that some experienced users might not even know about!
Even though many of us use the Move Tool every day, we might not know all about the top menu items that coordinate with the Move Tool and how to use them. So, let’s quickly review the ideas behind these extra features of the Move Tool in order to get the most out of the Move Tool when using it, and to help speed up future digital scrapbooking or photo editing tasks.
First, let’s look at the top menu that appears after you select the Move Tool. The example below is in Photoshop, but Photoshop Elements has many of the same controls too. See the information below that goes with the numbers in the example.
1. This is the Move Tool (see 1) – Click on the Move Tool icon to select this tool. Once you click on the this tool, a top menu appears with additional options.
2. Auto Select Layer: If this is checked (see 2), then you can just click on the item in your digital scrapbooking page and then move it with the move tool. For example, if this is checked, then I can simply click on the car in my digital scrapbooking project and move it to the bottom of the page. However, if this button is unchecked then I must go to the layer panel and select the exact layer I can’t click on the car image to move it. I must click on the layer, then it is selected, and only then can I move it. (see 3B)
3. Auto Select Group: (Only in Photoshop) To use this option you must have both (2) check and drop down and select (group instead of layer) (see 3) once this is checked and the drop down group is selected then it allows one to select all the layers in a specific area to be grouped together and moved. Usually done by clicking and dragging a marquee around the part of the canvas that is common to the layers you want to select and move with the move tool.
Note: Photoshop Elements doesn’t have the Auto Select Option as drop down menu (see image below). But to get this effect in Elements, just hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on a Mac) and then click on the items you want to move as a group. I actually think that the Elements way is easier and works better too! Even though it doesn’t have a fancy drop menu!
4. Show Transformation Controls (Elements: Show Bounding Boxes). If this box is checked, then it means you can automatically click on your image and “pull” on the bounding boxes to resize or rotate it. (See the Photoshop Image #4). If this box is unchecked, then you can’t automatically do this. I find in digital scrapbooking that I mostly want these boxes checked, however, if I am trying to move a small digital scrapbooking embellishment around on my digital scrapbooking page and the bounding boxes are almost bigger than the item I am trying to move, then I usually turn the bounding boxes off so I can easily drag the item to the new location. This is one reason why you might want to turn this option off, however, remember to turn it on afterward or you will not be able to automatically resize or rotate anything!
5. Alignment and Distribution Options. This let’s you use the Move Tool to help you align and distribute your objects on your digital scrapbooking page. In Photoshop, the alignment options are at the top in little icons that you can click on (see the Photoshop Image #5). In Elements, they are in drop down menus with icons and text (See Elements image).
It is surprising how many avid digital scrapbookers or photo editors don’t know what these settings are and never use them. They just click on the Move Tool and ignore the extra settings at the top! However, once you try these extra Move Tool options then you probably will fall in love with a few of them, and wonder how you got along without them!
Ok, before we ended today’s blog article about the Move Tool let me throw out an interesting Move Tool tip!
Hot Move Tool Tip!
Tip: To get a selection to go in a straight line, press and hold the Shift key while you drag with the Move Tool. Doing this constrains the movement of your selection horizontally, vertically, or diagonally depending on the direction you move.
Hope you find one or more of these tips and information helpful! If you haven’t done so already, try these tips out on your next digital scrapbooking project!
Have a nice day!
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If you like the Digital Scrapbooking Supplies used in this Move Tool demonstration then check out the kit … The Race Car Digital Scrapbooking Kit is a rough and tough hot-rod kit for any car-enthusiast, and the perfect, masculine-kit to scrap all about your favorite guys! (Or Race Car Gals or Kids) This kit comes with 12×12″ digital paper and digital frame!
Also check out other Great Digital Scrapbooking Supplies at the Scrap Shop too!
Want photo editing training or digital scrapbook tutorials for either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements then check our Scrap Shop for all the video Tutorials and Training!
