As a general rule, you should never need to stretch an image in Photoshop. If an image is too small to begin with, it will likely look pixelated and low quality when enlarged. However, there are a few situations where stretching an image can be helpful.
For example, if you’re creating a composite image and need to match the perspective of two different photos, you may need to stretch one of the images. Or, if you’re designing a website or presentation and need an image to fill a specific space, you may need to stretch it to fit.
When stretching an image, it’s important to do so carefully to avoid introducing distortions. The best way to stretch an image is to use the Free Transform tool. To do this:
1. Select the layer you want to transform in the Layers panel. 2. Choose Edit > Free Transform, or press Command+T (Mac) or Control+T (Windows).
3. Drag one of the corner handles outward or inward while holding down the Shift key to constrain the proportions of the layer. As you drag a corner handle, both sides of the layer stretch inward or outward equally.
While stretching an image can be helpful in some situations, it’s generally best to avoid it if possible. If you start with a high-quality, high-resolution image, you won’t need to worry about stretching it later.
