Shearing with the Shear tool


    The Shear tool lets you shear a selected object by dragging anywhere in the document window. Objects shear relative to the object's center or you can move the reference point anywhere in the document window. You can also create a sheared copy of the selected object without changing the original.

    Shear tool shears relative to the center reference point by default (left); click with the shear tool to change the reference point (right)
    Shear tool shears relative to the center reference point by default (left); click with the shear tool to change the reference point (right).

To shear an object with the Shear tool:

  1. Select the object.
  2. Select the Shear tool Shear tool .
  3. Do one of the following:
    • To shear relative to the object's center, drag anywhere in the document window.
    • To shear relative to a different reference point Reference point icon , click anywhere in the document window to move the reference point, move the pointer away from the reference point, and then drag until the object is at the desired slant.
    • To shear along the object's vertical axis, drag anywhere in the document window in an up or down direction. To constrain the object to its original width, hold down Shift.
    • To shear along the object's horizontal axis, drag anywhere in the document window in a left or right direction. To constrain the object to its original height, hold down Shift.