Photoshop Elements > Navigation >
2 - Bigger & Smaller
(Zoom Tool & More)
Magnification
The image of your photograph, when it's life-sized, is at 100%
magnification.
If you make it smaller, the percentage drops below 100%.
If you make it bigger than life-size, then the percentage goes
above 100%.
The magnification percentage is located in the lower-left corner
of each image window.
Next, let's look at the ways you can make the image of your photograph
bigger and smaller.
Menus
Go to View, and select Zoom In (bigger) or Zoom Out (smaller).
Keyboard Shortcuts
The advantage of using the keyboard shortcuts is that you don't
have to switch to the Zoom tool.
You can be using any tool, and can zoom by using the keyboard
shortcuts below.
| Bigger |
Ctrl + |
| Smaller |
Ctrl – |
Or:
| Bigger |
Ctrl + Spacebar |
| Smaller |
Alt + Spacebar |
Zoom Tool
There are several ways you can use the Zoom tool.
Click the Pic
Do the following.
Select the Zoom tool in Tools, or press z.
Bigger
Make sure the plus (+) icon is selected in the options bar.
The cursor contains a plus (+).
Click, repeatedly if necessary, on your photograph to make it
bigger.
Smaller
Press and hold Alt.
The cursor now contains a minus (-).
Click, repeatedly if necessary, on your photograph to make it
smaller.
Draw a Box
Select the Zoom tool in Tools, or press z.
Click, hold, and draw (drag out) a box on your photograph where
you want to zoom.
Then, release the mouse button.
In the example below, a box was drawn around the boy's eyes.
When the mouse button was released, the image of the photograph
was enlarged according to the box that was drawn.
Options Bar Choices for the Zoom Tool
There are several methods in the options bar.
Scrubby Slider
Place the cursor over the word Zoom in the options bar.
The cursor will change to a finger with two arrows.
This is called a scrubby slider.
Click and hold, and move your mouse to the left and right, to
change the zoom percentage.
If you hold down Shift, the percentage changes by an increment
of ten.
Highlight
Click the word Zoom in the options bar.
The box will become highlighted.
Then, do one of the following.
• Enter a new zoom percentage.
• Use your mouse scroll wheel to change the percentage.
If you hold down Shift, the percentage changes by an increment
of ten.
• Use the up-and-down arrow keys to change the percentage.
If you hold down Shift, the percentage changes by an increment
of ten.
Slider
1) Click the arrow next to the box.
2) Release the mouse button.
A slider will appear below the box.
3) Then, do one of the following.
• Click on the pointer on the slider, hold, and drag the pointer
along the slider.
• Click on the pointer on the slider, and change the percentage
by using the arrow keys.
To change by an increment of ten, hold Shift down.
Other Settings
These options apply when you have more than one image open on
your screen.
Resize Windows to Fit
If you select Resize Windows To Fit, the window changes size
as you make the image of your photograph bigger and smaller.
This is the default setting.
When Resize Windows To Fit is deselected, the window remains
at a constant size as you make the image of your photograph bigger
and smaller.
That is, when you make the image larger, the window remains the
same size as the image inside the window gets bigger.
In other words, the window doesn't enlarge, and therefore won't
cover the other windows.
Zoom All Windows
Select Zoom All Windows to zoom several photographs by the same
percentage.
Fit on Screen
Fit on Screen means your photograph will fill the screen.
Do one of the following.
• Press Ctrl + 0 (zero).
• Double click the Hand tool icon in Tools.
Go to the next Beginner Highlight.
• Select the Zoom tool or the Hand tool, and click the Fit Screen
button in the options bar, or right click the photograph and select
Fit On Screen.
• Go to View > Fit On Screen.
Actual Pixels (100%)
When judging your photograph, especially when reducing noise
or sharpening, you must view the change at 100% magnification.
To go to 100% magnification, do one of the following.
• Double click the Zoom tool icon in Tools.
• Press Alt + Ctrl + 0 (zero).
Go to the next
Beginner Highlight.
• Select the Zoom tool or the Hand tool, and click the Actual
Pixels button in the options bar, or right click the photograph
and select Actual Pixels.
• Go to View > Actual Pixels.
Print Size
When Print Size is selected, the image is changed to its approximate
printed size, as specified in the Document Size section of the Image
Size window (Go to Image > Resize > Image Size).
The printed size that's displayed is affected by the size and
resolution of your monitor.
To go to Print Size, do one of the following.
• Select the Zoom tool or the Hand tool, and click the Fit Screen
button in the options bar, or right click the photograph and select
Print Size.
• Go to View > Print Size.
Next, let's look at moving the image of your photograph sideways
and up-and-down.
