Lock Aspect Ratio When Scaling in Paint.NET

Scaling selections proportionally in Paint.NET prevents images from becoming stretched or distorted during the editing process. By using the Move Selected Pixels tool in combination with a single keyboard modifier, you can instantly lock the aspect ratio while resizing any active selection or layer content.

Step-by-Step Guide to Proportional Scaling

  1. Make a Selection: Use any selection tool (such as the Rectangle Select or Lasso Select) to outline the area you want to resize. If you want to scale the entire active layer, press Ctrl + A to select everything.
  2. Activate the Move Tool: Select the Move Selected Pixels tool from the Tools palette, or press the shortcut key M (press it twice if it toggles to the Move Selection tool instead).
  3. Hold the Shift Key: Locate the control nubs (small squares) at the corners and edges of the bounding box. Press and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
  4. Drag a Corner Handle: While continuing to hold Shift, click and drag any corner handle of the bounding box. The selection will scale uniformly, maintaining its original width-to-height ratio.
  5. Release to Apply: Release the mouse button first, then release the Shift key. Releasing the Shift key before the mouse button will cause the selection to snap back to freeform scaling.

Important Tips

  • Use Corner Handles: Always drag from the corner handles rather than the edge handles (top, bottom, left, or right) to ensure smooth scaling in both dimensions simultaneously.
  • Maintain Center Alignment: If you want to scale the selection from its center point rather than the opposite corner, hold both Ctrl and Shift simultaneously while dragging a corner handle.