Hey there! I’m Cara and through my work as a product photographer, I’m often blending elements from different images together. They have to be the right size, otherwise, they look out of whack and it’s easy to tell the image is fake.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to resize or scale a layer in Photoshop so you can have fun adding elements to images as well!

You might be thinking if resizing layers and scaling layers is the same thing. Basically yes, but with one key difference – the aspect ratio is maintained as you resize. This means that the proportion of height to width doesn’t change, though the overall size of the layer does.

Note: the screenshots below are taken from the Windows version of Adobe Photoshop, if you’re using the Mac version, the navigations may look slightly different.

In order to change the size of a layer in Photoshop, you need more than one layer in a document, unless you want to resize only the background layer. I’ll be working within h this off-the-wall image I created as an example. I shot the cup on the wall from the top down in a separate image.

These two images go together to make the final one. So we need to add the wall cup as a new layer on top of the main image.

With the wall cup image active, select the Move tool. Click anywhere in the image and drag up to the image tabs at the top. Hover over the main image tab until it appears, then drag the mouse down into the image.

The cursor should turn into a little box with a plus sign. Let go and the wall cup will drop on top of the main image.

When you create your new layer using the method I just showed you, it appears with the Transform tool already active. You can skip down to step 3.

If you got your layer differently, you’ll have to select the Transform tool or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + T (Command + T on a Mac) to resize an image or selection in Photoshop. If that doesn’t work, go to Edit in the menu bar at the top and choose Free Transform.

You’ll know the tool is active when you see a blue box with squares in the corners and on the sides appearing around the layer.

From here, resizing is easy! Simply grab one of the squares and drag it with the mouse to resize.

By default, the layer will maintain the same aspect ratio as you drag. If you want to change the aspect ratio (adjust the height independently of the width) hold down the Shift key while dragging.

You can also rotate the layer by clicking at the corners and dragging around the layer.

To better see what you’re doing if you’re trying to line something up, you can reduce the opacity of the layer. Once you’re happy with the positioning, accept the changes by hitting the Enter key or clicking the checkmark at the top.

That’s it! Now you can bring in elements and match their size and positioning into your base image. Get creative with it and have fun!

Method 2: Transform > Scale

Now let’s take a look at how to use the Scale tool to scale a layer in Photoshop.

Step 1: Select a layer, go to the overhead menu Edit > Transform > Scale.

You’ll get the same blue box around the layer. Click and drag a handle to resize the image proportionately. Again, hold Shift if you don’t want to maintain the aspect ratio.

If the layer isn’t maintaining its aspect ratio as you expect, check the link between the height and width boxes in the options bar. It should be dark to indicate that it is active.

That’s it! Adobe has made scaling layers super easy now, though old-timers with Photoshop are grumbling about the change.

FAQs

Here are more questions related to how to resize in Photoshop.

How to move and resize an object in Photoshop?

If you want to resize an object on a layer, you’ll need to select the object and use the Free Transform or Scale tool to resize it using the methods above. While the transform tool is active, you can click and drag the box to move the object.

How to select and resize an image in Photoshop?

Once you select the image layer, you can use the Free Transform tool to change the image size in Photoshop, or you can go to the overhead menu and choose Image > Image Size to resize the image.

How to resize a layer to fit a canvas in Photoshop?

Similar method to resizing an image in Photoshop. For example, if you want to resize an image layer to be the same size as the canvas, go to the overhead menu Image > Canva Size and change the canvas size to the same size as the image.

Did you enjoy this quick explanation of how to resize a layer in Photoshop? Check out more of our stuff such as how to move a selection to learn more!

In this article, I will show you how to enable Bluetooth tethering on Android and connect it to other devices.

Why Bluetooth tethering is better than traditional hotspot

There are a few things that make Bluetooth tethering superior to the traditional WiFi hotspot.

• It consumes less power: From my experience, Bluetooth tethering consumes 50% less power compared to a regular hotspot.
• People can’t steal it: Other people can’t easily connect to your phone because it requires a pairing process in which both devices have to agree.
• Less prone to interference: Bluetooth is designed to be more resistant to signal interference compared to a WiFi hotspot.
• Ideal for personal use: If there is no one else piggybacking your internet, then Bluetooth tethering is the most ideal choice for personal use.

How to enable Bluetooth tethering

The following guide is for the phone that provides the internet, basically the Bluetooth hotspot. I’m using Google Pixel 5 running Android 13 as a reference but the process is more or less the same as other Android versions.

1. Navigate to Android Settings.

2. Tap the Network & internet menu.

3. Head to Hotspot & tethering.

4. Lastly, enable Bluetooth tethering. If this option is unavailable, make sure to turn off the Data saver mode.

Now that Bluetooth tethering is enabled, the next step is to connect another device to this phone. Let’s take a look at the next guide.

How to connect to a Bluetooth hotspot device

The process is the same as when you are pairing a regular Bluetooth device. In this example, I’m using Redmi 8A Pro running Android 10.

1. Open Android Settings.

2. Navigate to the Bluetooth menu.

3. Turn on Bluetooth. This option is also available on the notification bar menu.

4. Wait for the hotspot device to be detected and then tap on it.

5. Tap Pair. You may enter the pairing code when asked but most of the time this process can be skipped.

6. Now the device is connected to the Bluetooth hotspot. You can start browsing the internet without WiFi as long as the hotspot device remains online.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this guide, you will learn how to add a background photo to the Android virtual keyboard, particularly Gboard. Make sure you have a photo with enough resolution to avoid a pixelated result. You may try these free tools to upscale photos.

Anyway, check out the guide below!

1. Launch the keyboard, then hit Settings. Or you can go through Android Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Gboard.

2. Select the Theme menu.

3. Under My theme, tap add theme.

4. It will trigger gallery to open. Select the photo you want to set as a background.

5. Adjust the position and scale, then tap Next.

6. Now, adjust the level of brightness. Make sure all the characters can be seen. Then, tap Done.

7. Feel free to enable/disable Key borders. Finally, click Apply.

8. The keyboard has a beautiful background now!

You may create as many themes as you want by reproducing the steps above. In addition, Gboard provides plenty of other beautiful themes ranging from landscapes, colors, and gradients.

Adding a background photo to a keyboard is one way to enjoy the beautiful memories from the past. But you can also set your favorite photo as a desktop background, display it on a digital photo frame, or print it as wall tiles using a service like Wallpics. The options are endless!

Additionally, Google has changed its storage policy, citing that now every photo and video will be counted against the default 15GB cloud storage of the Google account. This is unfortunately too low for most people given the gigantic nature of photos and videos these days.

In this article, I will show you how to disable the automatic backup on Google Photos. But first, let’s take a look at the benefits of not using the feature.

Why you should disable automatic backup Google Photos

Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider disabling Google Photo’s automatic backup:

• Limited Drive Space: If you have limited storage space in your Google account or if you don’t want to use it for photo storage, disabling automatic backup can prevent unnecessary usage of storage.
• Battery Drain: The continuous process of uploading photos in the background can contribute to battery drain on your device. Turning off automatic backup can extend your phone’s battery life.
• Data Usage: Similarly, automatic backup of photos can consume a significant amount of data, especially if you have many high-resolution pictures or videos. Disabling it can help conserve your mobile or WiFi usage.
• Privacy Concerns: Some users may have privacy concerns about their photos being uploaded to cloud storage automatically. Disabling the feature gives them more control over what photos are uploaded.

How to disable Google Photos’ automatic backup

1. Launch the Google Photos app on your phone.

2. Then, tap the profile picture in the top right corner.

3. Go to Photo settings.

4. Navigate to the Backup menu.

5. Now, toggle off the Backup feature.

6. If you go back to the main screen, you will notice there is a cloud icon crossed, meaning the automatic backup for photos and videos is turned off.

How to manually backup to Google Photos

Just because the automatic backup has been disabled doesn’t mean the backup feature is shut down entirely. You may upload select photos and videos to Google Photos at any time.

To manually back up your media, tap and hold a media file, select more items you want to back up, and then tap the Back up button. It will automatically upload the content to Google Photos.

Please keep in mind that this action will be counted towards your Google account cloud storage. However, Pixel 5 and all the way to the first Pixel owners may enjoy unlimited backup storage without worrying about the limit.

Moreover, I still encourage you to regularly backup important videos and photos to the cloud storage as it would be helpful in case the phone got lost or stolen.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to follow along with our tutorial, you can download the image of the woman with the sword from Pexels, and the image of the forest also from Pexels.

Before you begin, note that we’ve removed the woman from the original background as well as completely removed the subject in the forest image in order to composite the two together. We begin with a brand new composite in order to present this tutorial.

Step 1: Mask the Subject and the Object From the Background

An important part of adding a glow effect in Photoshop is to separate each component onto its own layer by way of masking. In our example, we’ll be using just three components. We have our background (the forest), our subject (the woman), and the object which will have the glow effect (the sword).

We cover how to mask a subject in Photoshop if you need a refresher on basic masking. Essentially, we want three layers to which we can apply different effects without affecting other parts of the image. For most images where a glow effect is desired, three layers will be the minimum needed to successfully apply the glow. Once you master this technique, you’ll be able to apply multiple glow effects in more complex scenarios.

A glow effect in Photoshop will be more powerful if the background and subject are darkened. In this step, we’ll create a Curves adjustment layer for the background and subject layers. Then we’ll apply each Curves layer to its respective partner layer. We also have a complete guide on how to use Curves in Photoshop.

1. Make the Background layer active. Then, click on the adjustment layer menu and select Curves.

   

2. Click on the Highlights handle and drag it down until the background layer is sufficiently darkened.

3. Make the Subject layer active. Once more, create a Curves adjustment layer.
4. Click on the clipping icon to clip the Curves layer to the Subject layer.

   

5. Lower the Highlights handle to sufficiently darken the subject.

Now, we’re ready to add the glow effect to the sword.

Step 3: Add a Glow Effect to the Object

In this step, we’ll access the Layer Style menu of the object (sword) layer. There, we will adjust the properties of several of the layer styles. Note that the settings we apply to the sword are image-specific, meaning that if you’re following along with us on your own image then you’ll need to experiment with the settings to find the best results.

1. Double-click on the right-side of the sword layer to access the Layer Style menu. Alternatively, go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options.

   

2. Tick the box for the Color Overlay option. Be sure to also single-click on the name once more to summon the menu box. Change the Blend Mode to Hard Light.

   

3. Change the Opacity to 44. Then, click on the color option and change the color to red (#f88b98) as shown. Press OK.

   

4. Tick the Inner Glow option and open the menu. You can enter the adjustments as shown below.

   

5. Tick the Outer Glow option and open the menu. Change the Blend Mode to Screen. Set Opacity to 67.

   

6. Continue in Outer Glow. Single-click on the color and change it to red (#f92f2f). Press OK.

   

7. Continue in Outer Glow. Change Technique to Softer, Spread to 0, Size to 202, Range to 78, and Jitter to 0.

   

8. Tick the Drop Shadow box and open the menu. Then, open the Color menu. Change the color to red (#fd3030). Press OK.

   

9. Continue in Drop Shadow. You can enter the adjustments as shown below. Press OK to close the Layer Style menu.

   

We’ve now added a cool glow effect to the sword. But we’re not done yet.

Step 4: Add a Residue Glow Effect to the Background and Subject

Adding a glow effect in Photoshop isn’t complete unless the glow interacts realistically with its surrounding environment. In this case, the glow from the sword would realistically fall onto our subject as well as onto the background ever so slightly.

1. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the Curves 2 layer.

   

2. Clip the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to the layer below.

   

3. In the Hue/Saturation menu, change the Saturation to 50, Lightness to +20, and tick the Colorize box.

   

4. Click on the Hue/Saturation mask. Press Ctrl + I to invert the mask. The mask should turn black, and the subject will no longer be red.

   

5. Set the Foreground Color to White. Press D and then toggle the X key if necessary.

   

6. Press B for the Brush tool. Make sure you have a Soft Round brush selected.

   

7. Change the Flow to 2%.

   

8. Carefully brush the glow effect onto the woman where the glow from the sword would naturally fall. Take your time! See our beginner’s guide to using the Brush tool in Photoshop if you need help.

   

9. Access the Layers Style menu. Go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options.
10. In the Blend If section, click on the shadows handle and press Alt. Move the right slider to the right as shown below. This will remove the red glow from the dark areas where it shouldn’t be.

    

11. With the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer still active, press Ctrl + J to duplicate the layer.
12. Click and drag the Hue/Saturation copy layer to just above the Curves layer.

    

13. Click on the Hue/Saturation copy layer’s mask. Press Ctrl + Backspace to turn the mask completely black.

    

14. Press B for the Brush tool. With the same Brush settings as before, paint onto the ground where the glow might reflect.

    

15. If the glow effect is too strong, simply reduce the Opacity. We changed ours to 61%.

With the basic glow effects applied, we can now examine our image and see what needs to be adjusted further. Fortunately, we’ve used several adjustment layers and the glow can be modified to be more bold or subtle.

Step 5: The Final Touches

Once the basics are taken care of, we can revisit as many of the adjustments as we like and make changes.

For this image, we revisited all the adjustment layers, including the Layers Style panel, and made some adjustments. We also added three additional Curves layers at the top to build a custom vignette, with the final layer on top serving as a global adjustment to add overall brightness and contrast.

Most of the layers we’ve created can be changed at any time. How far you push the glow effects is up to you.

Create a Cool Glow Effect With Photoshop

We hope that you followed along and learned how easy it is to create glow effects in Photoshop. It may seem like there are a lot of steps, but once you know the general method, you can create an image like this one in just a matter of a few minutes. Practice makes perfect!

Step 01 Open the Adobe Photoshop software.

Go to the “File” menu and click on the “Open” option.

Select the “Image” which you want to edit and click on the “Open” option.

Select the “Pen Tool” from the “Tools Bar”.

Make a selection around the “Globe”. You can use any “Selection Tool” from the “Tools Bar”.

After the selection “Right Click” at the center of the selection and click on the “Make Selection” option.

Step 02

Then press “Ctrl+J” to make a copy of the selected object.

Now “Right Click” on the “Object” Layer and click on the “Convert to Smart Object”.

Again press “Ctrl+J” to make another copy of the “Object Layer”.

Change the “Blending Mode” to the “Screen” option.

Hold “Down” the “Ctrl Key” and select both the “Objects” layers. Press “Ctrl+G” to group the layers of the object.

Step 03

Select the the “Upper-Layer” of the “Object”.

Go to the “Filter” menu then to the “Blur” and click on the “Gaussian Blur” option.

A “Gaussian Blur” window will be opened, keep the “Radius” 5 pixels.

Press “Ctrl+J” to make another copy of the object 2 layer.

Double click on the “Smart Filters” option under the “Object Layer”.

Change the “Radius” to 150 pixels in the “Gaussian Blur” option.

Make another copy and change the radius to 300 pixels.
Step 04

Open the “Adjustment Layer” menu and click on the “Hue/saturation” option.

Click on the “Adjustment Affects all Layers Below” button.

Change the “Hue, Saturation & Lightness” sliders to adjust the color.

Now select the “Orignal Image Layer” and open the “Adjustment Layer” menu.

Click on the “Exposure” option and change the sliders according to your requirement.

Take the “Brush Tool” from the “Tools Bar”, Make sure that the color you selected is black.

Now start brushing around the “Glowing” object. Press “Ctrl+J” to make a copy of the “Exposure Layer” and select the “White” color.

Again start brushing around the glowing object to create a lighting effect around the object, Finally, your image is ready with a glowing effect.

This is how the final result looks like

Source File zip password “hybridlearning”

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