4.6. Scale
| 4. Transform Tools |

### 4.6. Scale

Figure 13.108. The Scale tool in Toolbox

#### 4.6.1. Overview

The Scale Tool is used to scale layers, selections or paths (the Object).

When you click on image with the tool the Scaling Information dialog box is opened, allowing to change separately Width and Height. At the same time a Preview (possibly with a grid or an outline) is superimposed on the object and handles appear on corners and borders that you can click and drag to change dimensions. A small circle appears at center of the Preview allowing to move this preview.

#### 4.6.2. Activating the Tool

You can access to the Scale Tool in different ways:

- from the image menu bar Tools → Transform Tools → Scale,

- by clicking the tool icon: in the Toolbox,

- by using the Shift+T key combination.

#### 4.6.3. Key modifiers (Defaults)

Ctrl

  Holding the Ctrl key down will toggle the Keep Aspect option.

#### 4.6.4. Tool Options

Figure 13.109. Tool options for the Scale tool

Normally, tool options are displayed in a window attached under the Toolbox as soon as you activate a tool. If they are not, you can access them from the image menu bar through Windows → Dockable Windows → Tool Options which opens the option window of the selected tool.

Transform; Interpolation; Direction; Clipping; Preview

  | Note
  The Transform mode works on the active layer only. To work on all layers of the image, use Scale image.

  | Note
  These options are described in Transform tools common options.

Keep Aspect (Ctrl)

  Keep Aspect: when you move a corner of the selection frame, this option will constrain the scale such as the Height/Width ratio of the layer will remain constant. Note that this doesn't work with border handles. Note also that it toggles the linking chain in the dialog.

#### 4.6.5. The Scaling Information dialog window

Figure 13.110. The Scaling Information dialog window

Width/Height

  Here, you can set Width and Height you want to give to the object. The default unit of measurement is pixel. You can change it by using the drop-down list. These values are also automatically changed when you drag handles in the image. If the associated linking chain is broken, you can change Width and Height separately.

4.5. Rotate |  | 4.7. Shear