How to zoom and pan images in Photoshop

How to Zoom and Whorl Images in Photoshop

This tutorial shows you lot how to zoom, scroll and navigate images in Photoshop similar a pro. You'll learn how to apply the Zoom Tool, the Hand Tool, the View commands and more, along with some neat tips and tricks to speed upwardly your workflow!

If y'all're new to Photoshop, 1 of the get-go things yous need to know is how to navigate an image, meaning how to zoom in and zoom out, and how to pan or curlicue an paradigm from 1 area to some other. And then in this tutorial, I show you the all-time ways to work. I cover the basics of zooming and panning images, including the tools and commands you need to know. Simply I also show you lots of great tips and tricks to speed things up!

I'm using Photoshop 2022 but any recent version volition work. This is lesson i of seven in Chapter 4 - Navigating Images in Photoshop.

Let's go started!

How to zoom in and zoom out in Photoshop

You can follow forth with your ain epitome. I'll utilize this epitome from Adobe Stock.

An image opened in Photoshop

Opening the image in Photoshop.

Where to find the electric current zoom level

When yous first open your image, Photoshop zooms the prototype out and then it fits entirely on the screen. And nosotros can see the current zoom level in the certificate tab at the top. In my case, information technology's 33.3%. Your value may be dissimilar.

Viewing the current zoom level in the Photoshop document tab.

Viewing the current zoom level in the tab.

Changing the zoom level

The zoom level is too displayed in the lower left of the certificate. Only the departure is that nosotros tin change the zoom level from hither.

The zoom level displayed in the lower left of the Photoshop document.

Viewing the zoom level in the bottom left corner.

Double-click on the current value to highlight it.

Highlighting the current zoom level.

Highlighting the current zoom level.

And then enter a new value, like 50 for 50%.

Entering a new zoom level for the Photoshop document.

Entering a new zoom level.

Press Enter on a Windows PC or Render on a Mac. And the image instantly jumps to the new zoom level.

The image is now zoomed in to 50 percent in Photoshop

The epitome is now zoomed to fifty%.

Zooming with the Scrubby Slider

And here's the outset tip. If you hover your cursor over the zoom level in the lower left, and hold downward the Ctrl key on your keyboard, or the Command key on a Mac, your cursor volition alter to a scrubby slider.

Hovering over the zoom level while holding the Ctrl (Win) / Command (Mac) key

Hover over the zoom level and hold Ctrl (Win) / Command (Mac).

You can then elevate to the right to zoom in, or drag to the left to zoom out. And if you add together the Shift central (so that's Shift+Ctrl in Windows or Shift+Command on a Mac) y'all'll zoom in or out in larger 10% increments.

Dragging with the scrubby slider to zoom in on the image.

Dragging with the scrubby slider to zoom in.

Photoshop'due south Zoom In and Zoom Out commands

Another way to zoom in and out of an paradigm is by going up to the View menu in the Menu Bar and using the Zoom In and Zoom Out commands.

Photoshop's Zoom In and Zoom Out commands under the View menu.

The Zoom In and Zoom Out commands under the View carte du jour.

I'll choose Zoom In, and Photoshop zooms the epitome in a fleck closer. The only problem with these commands is that you would need to keep going back to the View menu and reselecting them to zoom in or out further.

The result after selecting the Zoom In command.

The result after selecting the Zoom In command.

The Zoom In and Zoom Out keyboard shortcuts

Thankfully, each command has a keyboard shortcut. And these are 2 of the most useful shortcuts in Photoshop to memorize. To zoom in, press and agree the Ctrl key, or the Command key on a Mac, and then printing the plus sign (+). And to zoom out, agree the Ctrl key, or Command on a Mac, and press the minus sign (-).

The keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop's Zoom In and Zoom Out commands.

The keyboard shortcuts for the Zoom In and Zoom Out commands.

Photoshop'south zoom level presets

Proceed an center on the zoom level in the document tab every bit you press Ctrl++ (Win) / Command++ (Mac) to zoom in on the image, and Ctrl+- (Win) / Command+- (Mac) to zoom out. Observe that the zoom level jumps to specific values.

For example, if you zoom out to 25%:

Zooming the image out to 25 percent.

Zoomed out to 25%.

And and so press Ctrl++ (Win) / Command++ (Mac) to zoom in, the zoom level will jump to 33.3%.

Photoshop jumps the zoom level from 25 percent to 33.3 percent

The zoom level jumps from 25% to 33.3%.

Continue zooming in and the zoom level jumps to 50%, then 66.7%, and and then 100%. And if y'all press Ctrl+- (Win) / Command+- (Mac) repeatedly to zoom out, the zoom level jumps from 100% back to 66.7%, then 50%, 33.3%, and and then dorsum to 25%.

These are not random values. These are the zoom levels that give us the nigh authentic view of the image. Any time we're viewing the image at a zoom level less than 100%, nosotros're not seeing all of the pixels. And then Photoshop needs to redraw the image with fewer pixels while still trying to go far look every bit authentic every bit possible.

Merely if you're zoomed in at a value other than i of these presets, the epitome volition look softer on your screen than information technology actually is.

For case, on the left is the image zoomed in to an odd value, like 51.25%. And on the right is the paradigm zoomed in to fifty% (one of the presets). Notice how her eyelashes look softer on the left and sharper on the right. That'south considering the 50% zoom level on the right is giving us a more than accurate view.

A comparison of the sharpness at two different zoom levels in Photoshop.

A sharpness comparison with the zoom level at 51.25% (left) and 50% (right).

And so whenever yous need a sharper view of your image, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl++ (Win) / Command++ (Mac) to zoom in, or Ctrl+- (Win) / Command+- (Mac) to zoom out to the nearest preset level (25%, 33.3%, l%, 66.7%, 100% and so on).

The Fit on Screen command

To go dorsum to viewing the entire image at one time, go up to the View menu and choose the Fit on Screen command. And notice that information technology has a keyboard shortcut, Ctrl+0 or Command+0 on a Mac.

Choosing the Fit on Screen command from the View menu in Photoshop.

Going to View > Fit on Screen.

I'll choose Fit on Screen, and now the unabridged image is once again visible.

The zoom level after choosing the Fit on Screen command in Photoshop.

The outcome after choosing Fit on Screen.

The 100% view

But to become the most accurate view possible, we need to view the image at a zoom level of 100%. And you lot tin jump to 100% at any time by going upwardly to the View menu and choosing 100%. Or by pressing the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl+one or Control+i on a Mac.

Choosing the 100 percent command from Photoshop's View menu.

Going to View > 100%.

While we have the View card open, notice that all of the master zoom commands share the same key for their shortcut. Information technology'south the Ctrl key on a Windows PC and the Command cardinal on a Mac. Once yous know that, all you need to retrieve is to add together the plus sign to zoom in, the minus sign to zoom out, 0 to fit the image on screen, and one to jump to 100%.

The zoom command keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop.

The zoom command shortcuts.

I'll choose 100%, and the image jumps to the 100% zoom level.

Viewing the image at the 100 percent zoom level in Photoshop.

Viewing the image at the 100% zoom level.

It's very important to understand that viewing the epitome at 100% is the only mode to see a truly authentic view of your prototype with all of its item. At 100%, each pixel in the image is displayed by a single pixel on your screen. And that is not true with whatsoever other zoom level.

So if you are sharpening the image or doing annihilation where yous need the most accurate view possible, be sure to view it at 100%.

For at present, I'll become back to fitting it on the screen by pressing Ctrl+0 (Win) / Command+0 (Mac).

Fitting the image on screen.

Plumbing fixtures the paradigm on screen.

Using the Zoom Tool

So far, nosotros've learned that we tin zoom in and out using the Zoom in and Zoom Out commands. And you'll use these commands all the time. Just they exercise have one big drawback. They can simply zoom on the center of the document window.

To command which part of the image we're zooming in to, we utilise Photoshop's Zoom Tool, institute well-nigh the bottom of the toolbar. Yous can also select the Zoom Tool from your keyboard by pressing the alphabetic character Z.

Selecting Photoshop's Zoom Tool from the toolbar.

Selecting the Zoom Tool from the toolbar.

With the Zoom Tool active, your mouse cursor changes to a magnifying glass with a plus sign in the middle.

The Zoom Tool's magnifying glass icon.

The Zoom Tool's magnifying glass icon.

Click on the area with the Zoom Tool to zoom in, and click repeatedly to zoom in closer. The Zoom Tool uses the same preset values equally the Zoom In and Zoom Out commands that we looked at earlier (similar 25%, 33.iii%, l%, 66.7%, 100%) and then y'all're getting the about authentic view.

Zooming in closer to the woman's eye with Photoshop's Zoom Tool.

Clicking with the Zoom Tool to zoom in on her eye.

To zoom out with the Zoom Tool, printing and concord the Alt key on your keyboard, or the Pick key on a Mac. The plus sign will change to a minus sign.

Holding Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) to zoom out with the Zoom Tool.

Holding Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) to zoom out with the Zoom Tool.

Then click on an area to zoom out, and click repeatedly to zoom out further.

Clicking with the Zoom Tool to zoom out from the click point.

Clicking with the Zoom Tool to zoom out.

Zooming in beyond 100%

You can zoom in beyond 100%. In fact, these days Photoshop lets yous zoom all the mode in to 12800%, although you lot may want to get your eyes checked if you need to zoom in that close. Merely in one case we go across 100%, nosotros're not seeing whatever more particular. We're only making the pixels larger.

Here I'k zoomed in to 800% and the image is looking quite blocky:

Zooming in beyond 100 percent in Photoshop only makes the pixels bigger.

Zooming in beyond 100% simply makes the pixels bigger.

The Pixel Grid

If you keep zooming in closer and closer beyond 100%, you lot'll eventually meet an outline around the pixels known as the Pixel Grid. The grid won't exist visible when you lot relieve or impress the paradigm. It'south but for reference. And it will disappear when you lot zoom back out.

The Pixel Grid in Photoshop.

The Pixel Filigree appears when you zoom in far across 100%.

Y'all can disable the Pixel Filigree by going upwards to the View carte du jour, choosing Prove, and then Pixel Filigree to deselect it. To turn it back on later, just go dorsum to the View menu and reselect it. Personally I just leave it on considering I rarely zoom in close plenty for it to appear.

Turning the Pixel Grid off in Photoshop.

Go to View > Show > Pixel Filigree to turn the grid on and off.

How to temporarily switch to the Zoom Tool from your keyboard

And so the Zoom Tool is peachy for zooming in on a specific expanse. But rather than selecting it from the toolbar every time you need to zoom in or out, a ameliorate way is to access the Zoom Tool temporarily from your keyboard.

Just concord down the spacebar and the Ctrl key on a Windows PC, or the spacebar and the Command key on a Mac. Mac users may demand to hold the spacebar first, then the Command key, to avoid a conflict with the MacOS operating organisation.

You'll accept admission to the Zoom Tool for as long as the keys are held downwards so you can click on an surface area to zoom in. To zoom out, add the Alt key, or the Option key on a Mac. Release the Alt or Selection key to switch back to zooming in, and release all the keys to switch back to the previous tool so you can keep on working.

Continuous Zoom

Another way to utilize the Zoom Tool is with a feature known equally Continuous Zoom. With the Zoom Tool active, click on an expanse where yous want to zoom in and go on your mouse push button held down. After a second or so, Photoshop will start zooming in continuously until y'all release your mouse button. To zoom out continuously, add the Alt central or the Option cardinal, and then click and hold.

Scrubby Zoom

But my favorite way, and the fastest way, to use the Zoom Tool is with a feature called Scrubby Zoom. This feature should be turned on by default. Merely but to make sure, select the Zoom Tool from the toolbar.

Selecting the Zoom Tool in Photoshop.

Selecting the Zoom Tool.

And in the Options Bar, make certain Scrubby Zoom is checked.

Photoshop's Scrubby Zoom option in the Options Bar.

The Scrubby Zoom option in the Options Bar.

Then only click and drag to the correct to zoom in on an area, or drag to the left to zoom out. The faster you drag, the faster the zooming will exist.

The only catch with Scrubby Zoom is that y'all need to kickoff dragging immediately later on you click. If yous wait too long, Photoshop volition presume you want to use Continuous Zoom instead. And once Continuous Zoom starts, dragging has no effect. So to apply Scrubby Zoom, brand certain you beginning dragging as soon as your mouse push is down.

Clicking and dragging left or right with the Zoom Tool to use Scrubby Zoom in Photoshop.

Click and drag left or right with the Zoom Tool to employ Scrubby Zoom.

Dragging a selection outline to zoom in

If you turn Scrubby Zoom off past unchecking it in the Options Bar:

Turning Scrubby Zoom off in Photoshop's Options Bar.

Turning Scrubby Zoom off.

And so the Zoom Tool behaves more like the Rectangular Marquee Tool. You tin can click and drag a pick outline around an surface area:

Clicking and dragging a selection outline with the Zoom Tool in Photoshop.

With Scrubby Zoom off, click and drag a selection outline with the Zoom Tool.

And when you release your mouse button, Photoshop instantly zooms in on that surface area. If you adopt to work this way, y'all can exit Scrubby Zoom unchecked. Only if you like Scrubby Zoom better, just reselect it in the Options Bar.

Photoshop zooms in on the selected area when you release your mouse button.

Photoshop zooms in on the selected surface area when yous release your mouse button.

Zooming with the scroll wheel

Finally, one more way to zoom in and out is past using the curl wheel on your mouse. And this works with any tool active, non just the Zoom Tool.

Hover your cursor over the area where you desire to zoom in. Press and hold the Alt cardinal or the Option fundamental on a Mac, and scroll the cycle up to zoom in or down to zoom out.

And if y'all add the Shift key, you lot'll limit the zoom values to just those presets we looked at earlier that give you the sharpest and nearly accurate view. And that's the basics of zooming in and zooming out in Photoshop.

Scrolling in and out of the image in Photoshop using the mouse scroll wheel.

Hold Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) and scroll upwards or downwardly to zoom in or out.

How to pan or scroll an prototype in Photoshop

Next, let's wait at how to pan or scroll an image from one area to another. Panning or scrolling is most useful when we're zoomed in and can't see everything at once.

So I'll zoom my image in to 100% by going up to the View menu and choosing 100%. Or by pressing that keyboard shortcut nosotros learned in the previous section, Ctrl+1 or Command+i on a Mac.

Viewing the image at the 100 percent zoom level in Photoshop.

Viewing the image at 100%.

Using the Manus Tool

To pan the image from i area to another, we utilize Photoshop's Mitt Tool which is found in the toolbar directly to a higher place the Zoom Tool. Yous can besides select the Hand Tool from the keyboard by pressing the letter of the alphabet H.

Selecting Photoshop's Hand Tool from the toolbar.

Selecting the Manus Tool from the toolbar.

With the Manus Tool active, your mouse cursor changes to a hand icon.

Photoshop's Hand Tool icon.

The Mitt Tool icon.

Then simply click on the image, keep your mouse push held down, and drag the image around to view and inspect unlike areas. Release your mouse push to let go.

Panning the image with the Hand Tool in Photoshop.

Panning the image with the Hand Tool.

Flick Panning

If you release your mouse push while you are in the centre of a drag, you will toss or throw the paradigm in that management. And it will keep moving until it gradually comes to a stop. Or you tin can stop it manually by clicking on the epitome again. This is known as Picture show Panning.

Flick panning the image with the Hand Tool in Photoshop.

Release your mouse button in the middle of a drag to throw the image in that direction.

If Moving-picture show Panning is non working, check to make certain information technology's enabled in Photoshop'southward Preferences. On a Windows PC, go up to the Edit card. On a Mac, get up to the Photoshop card. From at that place, choose Preferences, and and then Tools.

Opening the Tools preferences in Photoshop.

Going to Edit (Win) / Photoshop (Mac) > Preferences > Tools.

Make sure Enable Picture Panning is checked, then click OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

Making sure the Enable Flick Panning option is turned on in Photoshop.

Making sure Enable Flick Panning is turned on.

How to admission the Hand Tool temporarily

Just similar with the Zoom Tool that we looked at earlier, you lot won't want to select the Mitt Tool from the toolbar every time you demand to pan to a different part of the image.

So a faster way to work is to access the Hand Tool temporarily from your keyboard. And you can do that past pressing and holding the spacebar. Then holding the spacebar along with the Ctrl (Win) / Control (Mac) key lets you access the Zoom Tool temporarily, and holding the spacebar on its own gives you access to the Hand Tool.

Release the spacebar when you are done panning to switch from the Hand Tool back to your previous tool.

Panning the prototype with the scroll bars

Yous can motility the image up or down using the gyre bar along the correct of the document window. And y'all can pan left or right using the scroll bar along the bottom.

Panning the image in Photoshop using the scroll bars along the right and bottom of the document window.

Panning the image with the scroll confined.

Panning with the scroll bicycle

Merely you can likewise pan the prototype upwards, down, left or correct using the curlicue bicycle on your mouse (if your mouse has 1). This works with any tool active, non but the Hand Tool. Scrolling the wheel up moves the image upwardly, and scrolling down moves it down.

Hold the Ctrl key, or the Control cardinal on a Mac, and scroll the cycle upwards to pan the image to the left, or scroll downwardly to pan it to the right.

And merely to recap from earlier, holding the Alt or Choice central while scrolling your mouse wheel upwards or down lets you zoom in and out.

Panning the image up, down, left or right in Photoshop using the mouse scroll wheel.

Panning the image up, down, left or right using the mouse scroll bicycle.

The Birds Eye View

Finally, a swell manner to pan an image is past using a feature called Bird's Eye View, which is not but useful but also a lot of fun.

I'll zoom in close to my prototype so we can really encounter how it works. Here I'k zoomed in to 200%.

Zooming in to 200 percent.

Zooming in on a specific part of the image.

Earlier, we learned that we can select the Manus Tool by pressing the letter H on the keyboard. To use the Bird's Middle View, press and agree the letter H. Information technology won't work past holding the spacebar to temporarily access the Manus Tool, and you need to agree H even if the Hand Tool is already active in the toolbar.

With the H key down, click and agree on your image. Photoshop will zoom the image out and so it fits entirely on the screen. And you'll meet a rectangle which represents the area yous'll zoom in to adjacent. Drag the rectangle over the new expanse you want to audit.

How to use Birds Eye View in Photoshop

Hold H, click and concord on the image to zoom out, and drag the rectangle over a unlike area.

Release your mouse button, and Photoshop instantly zooms in on that area, at the same zoom level you were at previously (so in my case, 200%).

As long as the H key is still down, you tin keep clicking and belongings on the image to zoom out, dragging the rectangle to a different area, and and so releasing your mouse button to zoom back in.

Zooming in on a different area using Birds Eye View in Photoshop.

Release your mouse button to zoom dorsum on.

Selecting the Fit on Screen and 100% views from the toolbar

Here's ane final tip. If you ever need to jump to the Fit on Screen or 100% views simply tin can't remember their keyboard shortcuts, y'all can quickly access them from the toolbar.

Double-click on the Mitt Tool in the toolbar for Fit on Screen. Or double-click on the Zoom Tool to jump to 100%.

Double-click the Hand Tool for the Fit on Screen view or the Zoom Tool for 100 percent.

Double-click the Mitt Tool for the Fit on Screen view or the Zoom Tool for 100%.

Where to go adjacent...

And in that location we have it! In this lesson, we learned how to zoom and pan a unmarried image in Photoshop. In the adjacent lesson, we'll larn how to navigate multiple open images at once!

You tin can spring to any of my other lessons in this Navigating Images in Photoshop chapter. Or visit my Photoshop Basics section for more than topics!