How to Resize a Layer or Document Proportionally in Photoshop (All Versions)

Resizing is one of the most essential tasks for any Photoshop user. Whether you’re working on a full document or tweaking a single layer, knowing how to resize proportionally ensures that your content maintains its original aspect ratio—preventing stretched or distorted images.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

• How to resize an entire Photoshop document proportionally
• How to scale a layer proportionally in both Photoshop CC 2019 and newer and older versions

📏 Resize a Photoshop Document or Image Proportionally

If you want to resize the entire document or image without distorting it, follow these steps:

1. Go to Image > Image Size
2. In the dialog box:
   • Make sure the chain link icon between Width and Height is active. This keeps the aspect ratio locked.
   • Enter your desired width or height.
   • The other value will automatically adjust to keep the proportions intact.
3. Click OK to apply the change.

💡 Tip: If the width and height aren’t updating together, the link icon is disabled. Click it once to re-enable proportional scaling.

This method works for both standalone image files and multi-layer PSD documents.

🖼️ How to Resize a Layer Proportionally in Photoshop CC 2019 and Later

Starting from Photoshop CC 2019, Adobe made proportional layer resizing the default behavior—making things much simpler.

✅ To resize a layer proportionally:

1. Select the layer in the Layers panel.
2. Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to activate Free Transform.
3. Drag a corner handle — no need to hold Shift.
4. Press Enter to apply the transformation.

⚠️ Important: Holding Shift in newer versions like CC 2019+ will now disable proportional scaling (the opposite of older versions).

🕹️ Resize a Layer Proportionally in Photoshop Versions Before CC 2019

In older versions of Photoshop (pre-CC 2019), resizing a layer proportionally required manual intervention.

🔁 Steps:

1. Select the layer you want to scale.
2. Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to enter Free Transform mode.
3. While resizing, hold the Shift key and drag from a corner handle.
4. Continue holding Shift until you’ve finished resizing, then press Enter.

Holding Shift in these versions maintains the original aspect ratio.

🎯 Summary of Resize Behavior by Version

Photoshop Version	Resize Proportionally by Default?	Do You Hold Shift?
CC 2019 and newer	Yes	❌ No
Older than CC 2019	No	✅ Yes (hold Shift)

🚫 What Happens If You Don’t Resize Images Proportionally?

If you resize images or layers without maintaining their proportions, it can lead to:

• Distortion: Faces, logos, and objects can appear stretched, squashed, or unnatural.
• Unprofessional Designs: Uneven scaling breaks visual harmony, which can make your design look sloppy or amateurish.
• Brand Inconsistency: Logos and branded graphics lose their integrity if not scaled correctly.
• Poor Print Results: Distorted images may appear acceptable on screen but print poorly with pixelation or stretching.

🎯 Pro Tip: Always keep the aspect ratio locked when resizing—unless you have a creative reason to distort intentionally.