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You are here: Home / Photoshop / How to Extend the Canvas Size in Adobe Photoshop

How to Extend the Canvas Size in Adobe Photoshop

October 10, 2019

Have you ever wondered if there’s an easy method for enlarging or extending the size of your canvas in Adobe Photoshop? If I had to guess, most people would probably head straight for the Image > Canvas Size menu item and then adjust the settings in the dialog box that appears. If you’ve never seen this dialog, take a look at these screenshots.

Image > Canvas Size Menu Item in Adobe Photoshop

Canvas Size Dialog Box in Adobe Photoshop

It’s pretty simple to make your canvas size either larger or smaller. All you have to do is adjust the variables in this box. The problem with this method is that the user doesn’t always know what numbers to fill the fields with. Sometimes, they’re eyeballing their project and they simply need to stretch the canvas to fit an element. It’s not worth it to take the time to take out the calculator to figure out how large to make the working area.

In today’s post, I’d like to show you two methods for extending the canvas size in Adobe Photoshop. You’re going to love both of these tricks because they’re just so easy to pull off. I’ll begin with using a menu item first.

I’ve gone ahead and launched three separate files into one Photoshop file as layers. The three layers are equal in size (6000px x 4000px) and instead of keeping the canvas the same dimensions as it opened as, I’d like to extend it to show all three layers as if they were stacked on top of one another. Sort of like a three image layout for a magazine or something.

Okay, here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll click on one layer to activate it. Then, I’ll drag that layer’s image above the existing canvas, so it’s just out of view, being hidden by the dark gray work area. Then, I’ll do the same thing to another layer, but this time, I’ll drag it down underneath the existing canvas, so it’s just out of view.

Next, I’ll go to the Image > Reveal All menu item and click. Miraculously, anything that’s outside of the current canvas will appear. And the canvas size will automatically extend to fit those items.

Image > Reveal All Menu Item in Adobe Photoshop

Take a look at the result. Well, the top and bottom are cut off, but you get the idea of the layout I was going for.


Three-Photo Layout in Photoshop

The next trick has to do with using the Crop Tool to extend the canvas size inside of Photoshop. This one is a snap. I’ll click on the Crop Tool in the left toolbar and then make sure to uncheck the Delete Cropped Pixels box from the options bar up top. Then, I’ll just click and drag one of the handles that exists on the edges of the tool and drag outward. When I let go, the canvas will have been extended. Take a look at the result.

Extended Canvas in Photoshop with Crop Tool

And it’s that easy! Let me know what you think of these quick methods. Do you have any others up your sleeve? Thanks for reading!

Related posts:

  1. What’s the Easiest Way to Align Layers in Photoshop?
  2. Cropping a Measurement in Adobe Photoshop
  3. How to Add a Customizable Background Color in Adobe Photoshop
  4. Organizing & Matching Location in the Adobe Photoshop Workspace
  5. How to Change the Canvas Checkerboard in Adobe Photoshop

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