How to resize layer without changing the size of its content?

Question

Hi can I resize layer which contains some image, but leave the image size intact? In other words just change layer boundaries.

Solution 1

You can resize the canvas, but not the layers, unless the image itself is on a separate layer on top of the layer that needs resizing.

Solution 2

Layers don't have boundaries except for the image that is contained on them. This makes it difficult if you want to copy and paste a selected region of an image with much transparency, because, basically, photoshop will not copy extraneous transparent pixels. It will create the boundaries based on the furthermost corner pixels contained within the selected region. And if you try to copy only transparent pixels, it won't let you! If you're working with an image without transparency, then you probably wouldn't have this problem.

Solution 3

I personally use GIMP for that one feature. If you open the image in GIMP and then right click on the layer you have an option that says 'Layer to Image Size' this will change the size of the layer's boundary to the size of the canvas. This is a very useful feature of gimp that I am yet to figure out how to do in Photoshop, I am using CS3 and it might be a feature added in a later version of Photoshop perhaps. Any way, happy hunting, namaste :)

Comments

[Pablo]

So I am looking for the way to resize the canvas of layer, even with placing additional layers, masks.

[fixer1234]

Can you expand your answer a little to explain how to do that? Thanks.

[Metafaniel]

Also useful in GIMP, you can adjust the layer boundaries to it's contents instead of resizing to the whole canvas size using this option: Layer / Autocrop layer. Greetings (=