large image onto small image goes out of focus, windows shrink after any manipulation of image

[Reemie]

I did use CS6 which now won't open and I have had to go to a trial version of CC.

I have a 10" image that I have just pulled over to a 4" image of a shirt. I have done this a 100 times in CS6. The larger image free transformed as always to fit the shirt is now utterly out of focus. Why? This never happed in CS6 and I have no idea why it's happening or how to make it stop happening. So far I don't like CC at all.

This isn't the only problem. When I do anything to an image... add the second image to it, or add text... doesn't matter... the window shrinks to the size of a postage stamp and I have to pull it out of the upper corner of the screen and pull out and over to get it back to a workable size again. This is pretty annoying and obviously interferes with my getting any work done.

I am now on High Sierra, 10/13.3. Even though it was a bit problematic CS6 was infinitely superior to this nightmare.

Any ideas on why this happened, how to prevent it, and why the windows shrink to an inch in size which is insane.

No, I can't reinstall CS6 because they say my serial number, that I have used for years and years ... was reported pirated. I bought it from a student/teacher site that had been around for many years and from whom I had purchased other programs. Now I'm stuck and have no idea how to move forward with CC. I really want CS6 back.

I don't know if Gimp will work for me or not, but don't have time right now to learn it. It would be nice if it did because when this trial of CC is over I will have to pay for Lightroom which I already own and don't like and will never use as well as CC which I think is robbery. I have something else I prefer.

Thank you

 

[Nxxl]

Instead of Free Transform, why don't you try Resampling your Picture? Go to Image > Image Size [Alt+Ctrl+I] and adjust the size from there and use Bubic Sharper as the Resampling Preset.

I don't have Adobe CC so I'm not quite sure of all the options available.

 

[Eggy]

When reducing the size of an object on his layer always make it a smart object before free transform.
This enables you to scale it down and back without loosing quality.

 

[Reemie]

Thank you for the ideas. I will try them. I have been doing it this way for as mentioned 100 images over the last year... but CC is not easy. I don't know what they change but it doesn't work the same way and I find it incredibly frustrating .. not just in its use, but the fact that I have to pay for it, much less also pay for LR which I don't want.

I have other copies of the images I pull onto the shirt, so it's not that my 'real' image is being risked. It's just that now everything is a problem when there weren't problems before.