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It appears that the latest Adobe update (Photoshop CC 2019) has changed the way proportions are done. Previously I would use Shift + Drag to constrain proportions in Free Transform mode. Photoshop now defaults to only Drag to keep proportions in Free Transform and uses Shift + Drag to size at any ratio.

I could manual click the proportion lock in the toolbar but after more than a decade of using Shift + Drag, it's really cumbersome to have to take this extra step and it's disrupting the workflow that's been ingrained in my head since I started using Ps.

Has anyone found a way to enable Shift + Drag to constrain proportions in the latest Photoshop CC 2019?

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    FYI, instead of manually clicking proportion lock, you can just drag the transform box and it defaults to keep proportion. They just reversed the function so shift + drag is to do free form and only dragging keeps proportion.
    – AndrewH
    Oct 24, 2018 at 16:45
  • @AndrewH, I saw that in the link you posted. Just doesn't make sense for me since Photoshop isn't the only software I work in and Shift + Drag is the standard for everything else too. Plus, old habits die hard ;)
    – zeethreepio
    Oct 24, 2018 at 16:54
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    Adobe has had a history of making stupid "upgrades" but this has to be the worst in my 15+ years using it. Now, some objects are constrained and others are not. Who thought this was a good idea? ಠ_ಠ
    – Manly
    Nov 29, 2018 at 14:34

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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From Adobes Blog: What's new in Photoshop CC

To revert to the legacy transform behavior, do the following:

Use Notepad (Windows) or a text editor on Mac OS to create a plain text file (.txt). Type the text below in the text file:

TransformProportionalScale 0

Save the file as PSUserConfig.txt to your Photoshop settings folder:

Windows: [Installation Drive]:\Users[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings\

macOS: //Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Settings/

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    And this is under a heading "Usability improvements". Brilliant.
    – Jongware
    Oct 24, 2018 at 14:35
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    One more reason I'm so happy I'm still using CS6.
    – Vincent
    Oct 24, 2018 at 14:54
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    @AndrewH, thanks for the quick answer! I implemented this fix and it works. +1 √
    – zeethreepio
    Oct 24, 2018 at 15:45
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    @Vincent, I agree...I still run CS6 on my personal computers. I've had zero problems with my "out of the box" software, whereas my subscription experience with CC (on work computers) is riddled with these types of fixes.
    – zeethreepio
    Oct 24, 2018 at 15:50
  • I have found another irritating functional change. I used to be able to select a group label and modify all items in that group. Unless I merge the group, I can't get that to happen. Also, I select a layer to modify and, as I begin, another layer becomes active instead. I am forced to lock layers to prevent that from happening.
    – Norman Edward
    Oct 28, 2018 at 15:55
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I found this thread because I had the same issue. The thing I've just realised is that you don't need the modifier key - the free transform automatically constrains the proportions...

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  • I recovered my account just to be able to upvote this. I don't know why someone downvoted this answer. It is the correct answer for anyone who doesn't want to have to mess about in some config file.
    – Ar77
    Jan 13, 2019 at 12:37
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On macOS, it's now Control that replaces Shift in that case.

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