Rotate and Scale
Rotate or resize a supported selection by dragging or entering exact values.
Rotate and ScaleThe Rotate and Scale tools let you transform selected objects with precision. Rotate spins a selection around a pivot point — either the selection center or a custom point you choose — by dragging or entering an exact degree value. Scale resizes the selection uniformly or independently on the X and Y axes, using a percentage value or by dragging corner handles. Both tools are ideal for aligning structures to plot boundaries, matching imported plan scales, or testing size variations in your design.
Select the objects to transform
Click an object to select it, or drag a selection box over multiple objects. Applying either tool requires an eligible selection. Locked objects and objects on locked layers cannot be transformed; check the object, group and layer locks before editing.
Activate the Rotate tool
Click the Rotate tool in the modification toolbar, or press its keyboard shortcut. The Tool Guide opens with an Angle field and preset buttons for 45°, 90°, 180°, and -90°. The pivot is automatically placed at the center of your selection.
Rotate by dragging or using a preset
Click and drag to rotate the selection. When angle snapping is enabled, rotation uses the configured steps (15° by default). Hold Shift for a free angle. The Tool Guide presets apply common angles, and its Angle field accepts an exact relative rotation.
Rotate by an exact angle
Type the desired angle in degrees into the Angle field in the tool panel, then click Apply. The selection rotates by that amount relative to its current orientation — for example, entering 30 adds 30° to whatever angle the object is already at. Use negative values (such as -45) to rotate clockwise.
Set a custom pivot point
Use Alt+click to start rotation around a chosen point: click the center, click a reference direction, then click the required angle. Check the preview before completing the rotation.
Alt+click a corner of a deck or patio to rotate it around that corner, keeping one edge anchored to a wall or boundary.
Quick-rotate 90° with a keyboard shortcut
Press Alt+R to rotate the selection 90° clockwise without opening the Rotate tool. Press Alt+Shift+R for 90° counter-clockwise. These shortcuts apply in their supported editing context; focused text inputs or an active operation can handle the key first.
Scale the selection uniformly
Activate the Scale tool from the modification toolbar. With Uniform scaling on (the default), enter a percentage in the Scale field — 100 keeps the current size, 200 doubles it, 50 halves it — and click Apply. Preset buttons for 50%, 75%, 150%, and 200% are available for common size changes. You can also drag a corner handle on the canvas to resize freely.
Scale independently on X and Y axes
Toggle off Uniform scaling in the tool panel to reveal separate X Scale and Y Scale percentage fields. Enter different values to stretch or compress the selection on one axis only — useful for adjusting a path width without changing its length, or adapting a plan to a non-square site. Hold Shift while dragging to lock proportions even with the toggle off.
Non-uniform scaling also works with a custom pivot — Alt+click a point to fix one edge while stretching from the other.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt+R | Rotate 90° clockwise |
| Alt+Shift+R | Rotate 90° counter-clockwise |
| Shift (hold while dragging) | Free rotation angle while dragging |
| Alt+click on canvas | Set custom pivot point |
| Escape | Cancel operation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Rotate and Scale buttons greyed out?
Both tools require at least one object to be selected. If nothing is selected, the Apply button is disabled. Also check the Layers panel — objects on locked layers cannot be transformed.
Does the Scale field accept a factor or a percentage?
A percentage. Enter 100 to keep the current size, 200 to double it, or 50 to halve it. With Uniform scaling off, you enter separate X Scale and Y Scale percentages to stretch or compress on each axis independently.
What direction does a positive angle rotate?
Positive angle values rotate counter-clockwise. Negative values rotate clockwise. The preset button labeled -90 is a convenient shortcut for a 90° clockwise turn.
Can I rotate or scale multiple objects at once?
Yes. Select multiple objects first — either by clicking with Shift held, or by dragging a selection box — then activate the tool. All selected objects are treated as one group and rotate or scale around the combined selection's pivot point.