Two-Point Rotate & Scale
Transform the selection using two reference points: a pivot and a target. Rotation always, scaling with Shift.
The Two-Point Rotate & Scale tool transforms the selection using a pivot point and a draggable target. Pick a pivot, then drag from a second point to rotate (and optionally scale) the selection.
Use this when you need to align selected geometry to a specific axis defined by two physical reference points in your design, for example, rotating a group to align with an existing line.
Activate
- Hotkey: no default
- Toolbar: Modifiers Toolbar
How to use
- Select one or more objects.
- Activate the tool.
- Click once to set the pivot point. The status bar updates: "drag second point".
- Click and drag from a second point. As you drag, the selection rotates (and optionally scales) so that the second point follows the cursor while the pivot stays fixed.
- Release to commit the transform.
Modifiers and interactions
- Shift held during release: enable scaling. Without Shift, only rotation is applied.
- Esc: cancel and restore the original bounds (no transform applied).
What happens
- Rotation is the angle between (pivot → initial target) and (pivot → current cursor).
- Scale (with Shift) is the ratio of (pivot → cursor distance) to (pivot → initial target distance).
- Only applied if the angle difference is greater than 0.01° (negligible rotation is dropped).
Group behavior
Selected groups are expanded to their members before transforming. The transform applies per-object.
Locked objects
Objects with transform locks are silently excluded from the transformed set.
What gets modified
The position and rotation (and bounds, with Shift) of each object in the selection. No new objects are created.
Related
- Select tool: single-handle transforms
- Properties Toolbar: numeric rotation input
- Warp and Deform, more aggressive shape changes