Rotating objects
Rotating an object turns it around a fixed point that you designate. The default reference point 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. Note: If you have multiple objects in a selection, the objects will rotate around a single reference point, which is the center point of the selection or bounding box by default. To rotate each object around its own center point, use the Transform Each command instead. Results of Rotate tool (left) compared to Transform Each command (right)
To rotate with an object's bounding box: - Select the object.
- With the Selection tool
, move the pointer outside the bounding box and near a bounding box handle so that the pointer changes to , and then drag.
To rotate with the Free Transform tool: - Select the object or objects to rotate.
- Select the Free Transform tool
. - Position the pointer anywhere outside the bounding box so that the pointer changes to
, and then drag.
To rotate with the Rotate tool: - Select the object or objects to rotate.
- Select the Rotate tool
. - Do any of the following:
- To rotate the object around its center point, drag in a circular motion anywhere in the document window.
- To rotate the object around a different reference point, click once anywhere in the document window to reposition the reference point. Then move the pointer away from the reference point and drag in a circular motion.
- Shift-drag to constrain the rotation to multiples of 45°.
- 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 reference point.
To rotate by specifying an angle with the Rotate command: - With the Selection tool, select the object or objects to rotate.
- Do one of the following:
- To rotate the object around its center point, choose Object > Transform > Rotate, or double-click the Rotate tool.
- To rotate the object around a different reference point, select the Rotate tool. Then Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) where you want the reference point to be in the document window.
- If the object contains a pattern fill, select Patterns to rotate the pattern, select Objects to rotate the object, or deselect either option.
- Enter the rotation angle in the Angle text box. Enter a negative angle to rotate the object clockwise; enter a positive angle to rotate the object counterclockwise.
- To preview the effect before you apply it, select Preview.
- Do one of the following:
- To rotate the object, click OK.
- To rotate a copy of the object, click Copy.
To place multiple copies of the object in a circular pattern around a reference point, move the reference point away from the center of the object, click Copy, and then repeatedly choose Object > Transform > Transform Again.
To rotate an object or pattern by specifying an angle in the Transform palette: - Select the object or objects to rotate.
- If the object uses a pattern fill, choose any of the following from the Transform palette menu:
- Transform Object Only to rotate the object and not its pattern.
- Transform Pattern Only to rotate the pattern and not the object.
- Transform Both to rotate both the object and its pattern.
- Do one of the following:
- To rotate the object around its center point, enter a value for the Angle option.
- To rotate the object around a different reference point, select a white square on the reference point locator
in the palette, and enter a value for the Angle option.
(For more information on using the Transform palette, see Using the Transform palette.)
To rotate each object individually in a selection of objects: - Select the objects to rotate.
- Choose Object > Transform > Transform Each.
- Do any of the following in the Rotate section of the Transform Each dialog box:
- Click on the angle icon or drag the angle line around the icon.
- In the Angle text box, enter an angle between -360° and 360°.
- To preview the effect before you apply it, select Preview.
- Do one of the following:
- To rotate the objects, click OK.
- To rotate a copy of the objects, click Copy.
|