Resizing an item in Photoshop

Often when you are scrapping, items will be larger than maybe you want them on your layout.  There is a difference between making smaller and  making larger.

First of all, to make an item larger, you will compromise the quality of the item. It is kind of the same as if you had a pitcher of koolaid.  If you served most of it, but needed to have more, adding water would give you the quantity you were looking for, but what happens to the taste or the quality?  It is watered down and diluted.  It is the same with photos and elements and papers in photoshop.  So be very careful if you ever decide to expand an item and know that the quality will not be the same.

To make an item smaller, if done correctly, will not compromise quality at all!  It is no different than if you dumped out most of the Koolaid, leaving a small amount. You have less, but it tastes the same.

So, once your element is on your layout, check the little box at the top of the menu that says "show transform controls".  In order to see this menu item, you need to have selected the top move tool or click on "v" to select it.

It will look like this:

Now, place your arrow on one of the corners and holding down the shift key, slide in to the size you want.  Holding down the shift key while you do this is very key!  Otherwise it won't keep it in proper proportions.  Here are two screen shots showing the difference:

Without holding the shift key:

While holding the shift key: