4.8. Perspective

Figure 14.141. Perspective tool

The Perspective Tool is used to change the “perspective” of the active layer content, of a selection content or of a path. When you click on the image, according to the Preview type you have selected, a rectangular frame or a grid pops up around the selection (or around the whole layer if there is no selection), with a handle on each of the four corners. By moving these handles by click-and-drag, you can modify the perspective. At the same time, a “Transformation information” pops up, which lets you valid the transformation. At the center of the element, a circle lets you move the element by click-and-drag.

	Note
	This tool is not actually a perspective tool, as it doesn’t impose perspective rules. It is better described as a distort tool.

4.8.1. Activating the Tool

You can access the Perspective tool in different ways:

• From the image menu bar Tools/ Transform Tools Perspective,

• By clicking the tool icon: in Toolbox,

• By using the Shift+P key combination.

4.8.2. Options

Figure 14.142. “Perspective” tool options

Normally, tool options are displayed in a window attached under the Toolbox as soon as you activate a tool. If they are not, you can access them from the image menu bar through Windows → Dockable Windows → Tool Options which opens the option window of the selected tool.

Transform; Interpolation; Direction; Clipping; Show image preview; Guides

	Note
	These options are described in Transform tools common options.

Constrain handles (Shift)

Constrain handles to move along edges and diagonal.

Around center (Ctrl)

Transform around the center point.

4.8.3. The Shear adjustment dialog

Figure 14.143. The Shear adjustment dialog

Matrix

The information window shows a mathematical representation of the perspective transformation. You can find more information about transformation matrices on Wikipedia.

Readjust button

With this button, available since GIMP 2.10.10, you can reset the transform handles back to the original square shape, while keeping the current transformation and zoom level. This enables you to create more complex transformations by making the transformation in several steps.