Rotating Objects

Rotating Objects

Another type of transformation is rotation. Rotation allows you to change the orientation of an object.

To rotate an object by eye:

Select the object you want to rotate.

Choose the Rotate tool in the Tools panel

Figure 10. The Rotate tool in the Tools panel.

Move your cursor to the page. Your cursor turns into a star.

Position the star on the spot around which you would like the object to rotate . This is the transformation point.

Figure 11. Position the Rotate tool cursor to create the transformation point. The object will rotate around this point.

Press on the point you have chosen. Do not release the mouse button. A line extends out from the transformation point. This is the rotation axis

Figure 12. Press with the Rotate tool to see the rotation axis - the line that will rotate the object.

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You can transform an object around a point anywhere in the document.

Still pressing, drag the cursor away from the transformation point. Then move the rotation axis. The object rotates as you move the rotation axis

Figure 13. The rotation axis and the preview show the position to which the object will be rotated.

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Hold the Shift key to constrain the rotation to 45° increments.

Release the mouse button when you are satisfied with the position of the object.

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The farther you drag your cursor away from the transformation point during rotation or reflection, the easier it is to control the transformation.

To copy as you rotate an object:

Hold the Opt/Alt key as you drag to rotate the object. A plus sign (+) appears next to the star cursor.

Release the mouse button first and then the Opt/Alt key to create a copy of the object rotated to the position you chose.

To rotate using the Transform panel:

Choose the object you want to rotate.

Click the Rotate icon in the Transform panel

Figure 14. The Transform dialog box set to the Rotate controls.

Enter the number of degrees you want to rotate the object in the Rotation angle field.

To change the Center of the rotation, enter the coordinates you want in the x and y fields.

or

With the Rotate tool active, hold the Opt/Alt key and click to select a transformation point.

Select Contents to rotate any items pasted inside along with the object (see page 109)

Figure 15. When Rotate Contents is on the lines pasted in rotate along with the whale. When Rotate Contents is off the horizontal lines pasted in do not rotate with the whale.

Select Fills to rotate any fills such as tiled fills (see page 188).

Click the Apply (Mac) or Rotate (Win) button or press Return or Enter to apply the rotation.