Transform and align objects

Transforming changes an object's position, size, angle or slant. In PlexiiDraw you can do it by hand with the transform tools, exactly with the Object > Transform dialogs, or by typing numbers into the Transform panel. Transform Again repeats what you just did, and the Align panel lines objects up with each other.

Before you start

• Transforming and aligning are on every plan.
• Open an artwork with something on it. See Start an artwork and set up the artboard.
• On Windows, press Ctrl for ⌘ and Alt for ⌥.

The transform tools

Select (V) also moves, resizes and rotates objects with its handles. See Vector tools and Pathfinder.

Rotate by hand

1. Select a shape.
2. Press R for Rotate.
3. Drag on the artboard. The shape rotates.

Rotate by an exact angle

With Rotate chosen, hold ⌥ and click on the artboard. The Rotate dialog opens, and the rotation turns around the point you clicked.

You can also double-click Rotate in the toolbox to open its options. Other tools whose tooltip says "double-click for options" work the same way.

Repeat a transform with Transform Again

Transform Again (⌘ D, or Object > Transform > Transform Again) repeats your last transform.

To make a row of evenly spaced copies:

1. Select a shape.
2. Hold ⌥ and press an arrow key. A copy is nudged across.
3. Press ⌘ D. Another copy appears, one more step along. Keep pressing for more.

Transform with exact numbers

Object > Transform has a dialog for each kind of change: Move… (⇧ ⌘ M), Rotate…, Reflect…, Scale…, Shear… and Transform Each… (⌥ ⇧ ⌘ D).

1. Select what you want to change.
2. Choose the command. Its dialog opens.
3. Type the values. With Preview on, the artboard shows the change as you type.
4. Click OK to apply it, or Cancel to leave things as they were.

The Transform panel

With something selected, the Transform panel shows on the right. It shows the selection's position (X and Y) and its size (W and H), and you can type new values.

• Reference point. The grid of nine small squares chooses the point of the selection that the panel works from, such as its centre or a corner. Click a square to change it.
• Type sums and percentages. The fields do the arithmetic for you. Type "50%" into W to make the selection half as wide, or "100+20" into X to put it at 120.

Align and distribute

With objects selected, the Align panel shows on the right.

1. Select the objects. Hold ⇧ and click to add to the selection.
2. In Align to, choose Align to selection, Align to key object or Align to artboard.
3. Click an align or distribute button.

Rest the pointer on a button to see what it does, such as Horizontal align left or Vertical align center. Distributing needs three or more objects.

Align to a key object

A key object stays still while the others line up to it.

1. Select the objects.
2. In Align to, choose Align to key object.
3. Click one of the selected objects. It gets a bold outline: that is the key object.
4. Click an align button. The others move to line up with the key object, and the key object stays where it is.

Transform and align inside a group

You can work on one object inside a group, even after rotating the group. Double-click the group to go inside it, then select a member and align it to another shape. The member lines up as you see it on screen. See Groups, clipping masks and compound paths.

Common questions

⌘D does not duplicate. ⌘ D is Transform Again, as in Illustrator. To duplicate, use Edit > Duplicate. See Cut, copy and paste.

I cannot see the Transform or Align panel. They show only while something is selected. Select an object first.

The key object did not stay still. Make sure Align to is set to Align to key object, and click the object you want to keep still so it has a bold outline.

Related tasks

• Vector tools and Pathfinder
• Groups, clipping masks and compound paths
• PlexiiDraw keyboard shortcuts
• Cut, copy and paste
• Edit points and paths
• PlexiiDraw overview