Content Aware Scale is a feature of Photoshop CS5. It is particularly helpful for stretching the background of certain images without affecting the portion you do not want to be distorted.
Step 1 : I have opened this free stock image. You can download it here. It belongs to ~Victoria-Stock
Step 2 : ALT+DOUBLE CLICK the Background Layer. It will change the Background Layer to Layer 0.
Step 3 : Click the Crop Tool. In the top panel I have put the Width at 10 inches and left the boxes for Height and Resolution blank.
Step 4 : Drag with the CROP TOOL diagonally from the left top to the right bottom.
Notice that CS5 has grids when you crop with the Crop Tool.
Step 5 : Drag out the middle corner handles on the left and right. Press ENTER.
Step 6 : As Soon as you press enter, the image looks like this. The background is transparent. This is because we changed the Background Layer to Layer 0 at the outset.
Step 7 : Click the Lasso Tool. Note that the Feather in the top panel is set to 0.
Step 8 : Draw a selection around the couple with the Lasso Tool. You need not be too accurate.
Step 9 : After I completed drawing with the Lasso Tool a selection of marching ants surround the couple.
Step 10 : Go over to the Channels palette. Click the Save Selection as Channel button at the bottom of the Channels palette. An Alpha1 channel forms. Press CTRL+D to deselect.
Step 11 : Go to Edit>Content Aware Scale.
Step 12 : In the top panel you will find Protect. From the drop down select Alpha1.
Step 13 : Grab the middle centre handle on the right and drag out till it fills the transparent background.
Step 14 : Drag the left corner handle to the left till it covers the transparent background. Press Enter and you are done. Now look at the top photo and this. Easy was it not?
Other photoshop tutorials are here
