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Rotating


    Rotating an object turns it around a fixed point that you designate. The default point of origin is the object's center point. Copying while rotating is a useful way to create radially symmetrical objects, such as the petals of a flower.

To rotate with the bounding box:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to rotate.
  2. Move the pointer near a corner handle so that the pointer changes to  the rotate icon .
  3. Drag the handle.

To rotate with the free transform tool:

  1. With the selection tool  the selection tool , select the object or objects to rotate.
  2. Select the free transform tool  the free transform tool .
  3. Position the pointer anywhere outside the bounding box. The pointer changes to  the rotate icon .
  4. Drag until the selection is at the desired angle of rotation.

To rotate with the rotate tool:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to rotate.
  2. Select the rotate tool  the rotate tool .
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Drag to rotate around the object's center point.
    • Click once to set the point of origin around which you want the object to rotate. Then move the pointer away from the point of origin and drag in a circular motion. Shift-drag to constrain the tool to multiples of 45 degrees.
    • To rotate a copy of the object instead of the object itself, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) after you start to drag.
    • For finer control, drag farther from the object's point of origin.

To rotate by specifying an angle:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to rotate.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To use the default point of origin, choose Object > Transform > Rotate, or double-click the rotate tool.
    • To change the point of origin, select the rotate tool, and click where you want the new point of origin.
  3. Enter the rotation angle, in degrees, in the Angle text box. Enter a negative angle to rotate the object clockwise; enter a positive angle to rotate the object counterclockwise.
  4. To preview the effect before you apply it, select Preview.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • To rotate the object, click OK.
    • To rotate a copy of the object, click Copy.

    Note: To place multiple copies of the object in a circular pattern around a point of origin, move the point of origin away from the center of the object, click Copy, and then repeatedly choose Object > Transform > Transform Again.

To rotate each object individually in a selection:

  1. Select the object or objects to rotate. Then choose Object > Transform > Transform Each.
  2. In the Angle text box, enter the angle by which to rotate the selected objects, between -360 degrees and 360 degrees.
  3. To preview the effect before you apply it, select Preview, and then click OK.
  4. Rotate tool (left) and Transform Each command (right)
    Rotate tool (left) and Transform Each command (right)