How to change portrait to landscape on photoshop: A simple guide to transforming your images from portrait to landscape orientation in Photoshop

Changing an image from portrait to landscape orientation in Photoshop is a common task for graphic designers, content creators, and anyone wanting more layout flexibility. To achieve this, you need to rotate the canvas and creatively extend the background or adapt the composition to fill the new horizontal space. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your image in Photoshop (File > Open).
2. Go to Image > Image Rotation, and select 90° Clockwise or 90° Counter Clockwise (depending on the desired direction). This will rotate the entire image from portrait (vertical) to landscape (horizontal) orientation.
3. If you want to keep the original content and add more space to the sides, instead of rotating, go to Image > Canvas Size. Set your width larger than the height (for landscape), and anchor your image to the center to add space equally on each side.
4. Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool and choose parts of the background to copy, paste, and stretch to fill the new space. You may use the Content-Aware Fill (Edit > Content-Aware Fill) to intelligently extend the background.
5. Refine the composition by retouching or blending any duplicated areas to make your image seamless in its new landscape format.

Switching orientation isn’t always simple, especially if the original image content is tightly composed. As a designer, I often recommend anticipating your final format when planning a photoshoot or creating digital assets, making use of advanced AI photo shoot tools to generate images in both portrait and landscape for flexibility—this saves a lot of post-production time and results in higher quality outputs.

Tips 1:

When extending images into landscape, use layer masks and gentle brushwork to blend edges, or introduce new visual elements (like plants, furniture, or décor) to enhance the natural look. This mirrors real-world design—sometimes, adding purposeful detail is better than stretching existing content too far.

FAQ

Q: Can I change orientation without distorting the main subject?

A: Yes! Use Canvas Size to add space, then blend background areas or add new design elements rather than stretching the subject itself.

Q: What’s the difference between rotating and resizing the canvas?

A: Rotating rotates the whole image; resizing canvas changes the working area without altering content—ideal for changing orientation while keeping image integrity.

Q: How do I fill empty space after expanding canvas to landscape?

A: Use the Content-Aware Fill, clone stamp, or import matching backgrounds. Designers often blend in custom elements for a seamless look.

Q: Will changing from portrait to landscape affect image quality?

A: Not directly, unless you also rescale the image or overuse stretching tools. Always work with the highest resolution possible for best results.

Q: Are there tools that automate this process?

A: Some AI-powered design tools and plugins can assist in extending backgrounds and reformatting images efficiently. These are particularly useful when working with multiple images or complex compositions.