CertiPort Practice Exam

What step is necessary before increasing the dimensions of an image while keeping proportions unchanged?

1. Change the resolution

2. Uncheck the Constrain Proportions box

3. Use the Layer Mask

4. Select Free Transform

The correct answer is: Uncheck the Constrain Proportions box

Keeping the proportions of an image unchanged while increasing its dimensions requires that the aspect ratio remains consistent. This typically involves maintaining the relationship between the width and the height of the image. The correct practice in most image editing software involves ensuring that the "Constrain Proportions" option is checked before making any adjustments to the dimensions. This setting locks the ratio of width to height, which means any increase you apply to one dimension will automatically adjust the other dimension proportionately. By ensuring that proportions are constrained, the image will not appear stretched or distorted, which preserves its original visual characteristics. The other options relate to different functionalities or actions that don't directly ensure that the proportions are maintained while resizing. For example, changing the resolution affects the pixel density but not the aspect ratio. Using a layer mask is a technique for non-destructive editing, and selecting Free Transform is a step in the resizing process but does not automatically maintain proportions unless the right settings are applied.