SpyreStudios

Web Design and Development Magazine

  • Design
  • Resources
  • Showcase
  • Inspirational
  • Tutorials
  • CSS
  • Resources
  • Tools
  • UX
  • More
    • Mobile
    • Usability
    • HTML5
    • Business
    • Freebies
    • Giveaway
    • About SpyreStudios
    • Advertise On SpyreStudios
    • Get In Touch With Us

Photoshop Basics: How to Rotate an Image in Photoshop

July 13, 2020 by Sangalang Kristine

Changing the orientation of an image may be necessary when editing in Photoshop. There are different ways on how to rotate an image in Photoshop. There are straightforward ways to rotate an image, while there are other clever tricks to do the same. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to rotate an image in Photoshop:

Easy: Image Rotation Option

This may be the simplest and most straight forward manner of flipping an image in Photoshop. The Image Rotation command rotates the entire image in precise angles either clockwise or counterclockwise. Options include ‘Flip Vertical’, ‘Flip Horizontal’, Rotate 90deg Counterclockwise, Rotate 180deg, and Rotate 90deg Clockwise. Here are the steps:

  • Go to the Options Bar and Choose Image
  • Choose the Image Rotation Option
  • Choose from the different rotate options (see description above)
  • Click OK.

NOTE: There is an ‘Arbitrary’ rotate option here where the image is allowed to be rotated in varying angles between 360deg to -360deg.

Edit images using Photoshop. Image Source: PickPik

Moderate: Crop Tool to Rotate Images

Other rotation options allow for the flipping of images as a whole. There is another option of rotating the image but only in parts. This is through the use of the Crop Tool and here are the steps:

  • Select the Crop Icon on the ToolBar. This will show an editable ‘Crop Border’ on the image.
  • Click outside of the Crop Border until the cursor changes to the rotate icon. This rotate icon looks like a semi-circle with arrows on each end.
  • Click and hold the mouse while dragging the image to the desired direction of rotation. Do so until the desired orientation is reached.
  • Press enter to finalize the rotation of the image.

Sometimes, the rotation of an image is too much and a slight re-orientation of an image is enough. This could be done either by the Straighten Tool or the Ruler Tool. Both options are under the crop option. Here are the steps:

  • Straighten Tool: After clicking the Crop Option on the ToolBar, click on the ‘Straighten Tool’ on the Options Bar. A keyboard shortcut would be to press the CTRL key (Windows) or the COMMAND key (Mac), when the Crop option is active. This will allow the ‘straightening’ or re-orientation of the image with the basis of either a horizontal or vertical line.
  • Choose either a horizontal or vertical line by simply drawing through the image.
  • Once the mouse is released, the photo will reorient itself based on the drawn line.

Advanced: How to Rotate an Image in Photoshop Transform tool

Rotating images usually entail the movement of the entire photo. However, there are options that allow the possibility of rotating objects within an image. This is done through the Transform Tool. This particular command allows for editing only specific objects within an image. More than the rotation, it allows scaling, warping, skewing, and even distorting an object. Here is how to use the ‘Transform Tool’ in rotating an object within an image:

  • The first step is to select an object desired to be transformed. It could be a layer, a shape, or more.
  • Once an object or a part of the image is selected, a ‘Transformation boundary’ will appear. This is a box containing the part of the image or object that was selected.
  • Choose a reference point by clicking on any area or location (within or outside the object). The reference point icon looks like a reticle.
  • Choose Edit from the Menu Bar then select Transform. Choose a Transformation Command. In this case, choose Rotate.
  • Outside the Transformation Boundary, the mouse pointer will become a semi-circle with arrows on either end. Click the mouse then drag to the desired orientation or direction of rotation.
  • To control the rotation by increments of 15 degrees, press shift while dragging the mouse.

Tips to Remember on How to Rotate an Image in Photoshop

Pro-tip #1: Rotate View Vs. Rotate Image

It is important to remember that any precise rotations of images change the pixel makeup of a photo. One precise rotation of the IMAGE will rearrange the pixel sizes. This means that the image will be slightly less sharp than its original version. Even if the image is rotated back to its original orientation, it will not go back to its original pixelation.

Because of this, a better option would be to ROTATE VIEW of the image. This means that the image’s orientation will be rotated without damaging the pixel sizes.

Pro-tip #2: Rotating with a reference point

Out of all the rotation options, the Transform tool may be the only option that allows rotation where a reference point is arbitrary and is set by the user. This allows rotation from the center of the image, within the image, or outside of the image. This is great for small objects or design elements within an image.

Also Read: Photoshop Basics: How to Undo in Photoshop

Filed Under: Photoshop, Tutorial Tagged With: adobe photoshop tutorials, Photoshop tutorial, tutorial

Recent Posts

  • How to Choose a Stunning Font Package for Your Brand
  • 31 Fresh Design Elements for Spring and Easter
  • 10 Templates for Music Concert Flyers
  • How to Build a Web Scraper Using Node.js
  • Best PHP Books, Courses and Tutorials in 2022

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Accessibility
  • Android
  • Apps
  • Art
  • Article
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • Bootstrap
  • Business
  • CSS
  • Design
  • Development
  • Ecommerce
  • Fireworks
  • Flash
  • Freebies
  • Freelance
  • General
  • Giveaway
  • Graphic Design
  • HTML5
  • Icons
  • Illustrator
  • InDesign
  • Infographics
  • Inspirational
  • Interview
  • Jobs
  • jQuery
  • Learning
  • Logos
  • Matrix
  • Minimalism
  • Mobile
  • Motion Graphics
  • Music
  • News
  • Photoshop
  • PHP
  • Promoted
  • Rails
  • Resources
  • Showcase
  • Tools
  • Tutorial
  • Twitter
  • Typography
  • Uncategorized
  • Usability
  • UX
  • Wallpapers
  • Wireframing
  • WordPress
  • Work

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

SpyreStudios © 2022