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Participant
May 5, 2023
Question

The rotate tool has unusual behavior with circles

  • May 5, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1151 views

I usually use Illustrator to create my technically designed logos. I recently noticed that when using the rotate tool (R) with circles, the edges of the object do not rotate together. This only happens with circles, not rectangles or other shapes. I don't know why Adobe programmed it that way, but I consider it an error, because if I rotate the circle without using the rotate tool, the edges follow normally. This error only happens exclusively with this tool. I think Adobe should do an update, because when the edges follow the circle it makes it easier for me to size it along the length of a line with the center located perfectly where I want it, with a technical drawing. Without that, the program loses a lot of its functionality for me.

Without using this tool correctly, I would have to approximate everything which is quite disappointing. In technical drawings, we need to be as accurate as possible.

I've used Illustrator for many years, but it's been a while since I've used it for technical drawings. I don't know when it started to work like this, but I'm sure that in versions prior to CC, this tool worked the right way.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 5, 2023

There are 2 ways to rotate a Shape like an Ellipse, the Shape rotation also changes the bounding box.

See the Transform panel.

Community Expert
May 7, 2023

I can't repeat the behavior the original poster describes, either by using the rotate tool or by simply drawing an perfect ellispe and then rotating it via its bounding box. The center of the shape stays in the same location either way.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 5, 2023

Can you show before and after rotating and point out in the screenshot what you are referring to? I don't get it.

Participant
May 5, 2023

Before

When I rotate, the anchors change position.

However, the edges of the circle, which I use to enlarge or reduce manually, remain intact..

Now, if I rotate the circle using the edges (not the rotate tool), the edges follow the rotation.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 5, 2023

Hmmm, strange. 

I'm not sure if that is a bug. You could try and report it here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com