They are not two versions of the same Photoshop tool: Free Transform is a Photoshop command, while Transform Each is an Illustrator command. Use Photoshop Free Transform to reshape selected Photoshop content; use Illustrator Transform Each when separate objects should transform relative to their own reference points.
What is the difference?
The key distinction is the application and the point around which objects transform. Adobe’s Photoshop desktop help says Free Transform combines multiple transformation types into one operation. Illustrator’s reference documentation describes Transform Each as a way to apply transformations to selected objects individually—for example, rotating each around its own center rather than rotating the whole selection around one shared point.
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So the choice is not between two interchangeable Photoshop commands. Choose based on whether you are working in Photoshop or Illustrator, what content is selected, and whether you want one shared transformation or per-object behavior.
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| Task | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Resize, rotate, skew, distort, apply perspective, or warp selected Photoshop content | Photoshop Free Transform | It brings multiple transformation types into one operation. |
| Transform several Photoshop layers together | Select the layers, then use Photoshop’s transform workflow | Photoshop supports transforming multiple selected layers; that does not make Transform Each a Photoshop command. |
| Rotate selected Illustrator objects around their individual centers | Illustrator Transform Each | It can use each object’s own center instead of the shared selection reference point used by ordinary multi-object rotation. |
| Repeat a transformation you already applied in Photoshop | Edit > Transform > Again | This is Photoshop’s separate repeat command, available after a Transform or Free Transform operation. |
How to use Free Transform in Photoshop
- Select the layer, shape, path, or selection you want to change.
- Choose Edit > Free Transform, or press Ctrl+T on Windows or Command+T on macOS.
- Use the Options bar to enter width, height, or rotation values, or drag the content to transform it. The reference point locator sets the origin around which the transformation occurs.
- Drag a corner to resize. Adobe’s current desktop help says proportional scaling is the default when Maintain aspect ratio is on; change that setting in the Options bar if you need a different behavior.
- Commit with Enter/Return, the Options bar’s commit button, or by clicking outside the canvas area. Press Esc or use the cancel button to discard the transformation.
Photoshop also supports modifier-based controls for rotation increments, skew, distortion, and perspective. Exact interface details and shortcut behavior can vary by version, so check the controls in your installed release if a modifier does not behave as expected.
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Protect bitmap sharpness when transforming repeatedly
Adobe warns that committing transformations on bitmap content can make it slightly less sharp each time. If you expect to resize or rotate raster artwork more than once, use a Smart Object: Adobe says Smart Objects preserve image quality through repeated transformations. Another option is to make several adjustments during one Free Transform operation before committing.
What does Transform Each do in Illustrator?
When multiple Illustrator objects are selected, a standard rotation uses one reference point, typically the center of the selection or its bounding box. Transform Each lets you apply a transformation with each selected object’s own reference point; Adobe’s example is rotating each object around its own center.
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To open the Transform Each dialog, Adobe’s Illustrator keyboard-shortcuts page lists Alt+Shift+Ctrl+D on Windows and Option+Shift+Command+D on macOS. Shortcuts can vary with app version or keyboard customization, so use Illustrator’s menus if the listed combination is unavailable.
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Can Photoshop transform multiple layers?
Yes. Photoshop allows multiple layers to be selected, and Adobe notes that operations such as moving, aligning, and transforming can involve multiple selected layers. Select the layers you want and use Photoshop’s transform workflow to act on them together. This still differs from Illustrator Transform Each: multiple Photoshop layers can be transformed as a selection without using Illustrator’s per-object Transform Each command.
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How do you repeat a transformation in Photoshop?
If you want to apply the previous transformation again, choose Edit > Transform > Again. Adobe documents Again separately from Free Transform, and it becomes available only after at least one Transform or Free Transform operation has been applied.
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Sources
- Adobe Photoshop desktop help: transform images, shapes, and paths
- Adobe Photoshop desktop help: transforming objects
- Adobe Photoshop desktop help: layer basics
- Adobe Illustrator reference: transforming objects
- Adobe Illustrator keyboard shortcuts
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