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Point transform tool

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
May 20, 2025
2 replies
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I'm trying to switch from a competitor program to illustrator. I am not a pro just a hobbyist trying to do graphic art. I'm trying to learn geometric constructions to use in creating graphics. In the other program I use a tool called the point transform tool that allows you to to rotate and scale objects at the same time. I use it a lot to create tangent and inscribed circles. I can't seem to find an equivalent tool or set of tools in Illustrator. Can someone help point me in the right direction. Thanks so much for your help.

How-to

Correct answer Jacob Bugge

jimac,

As I (mis)understand it, you can use the normal options for the Rotate and Scale Tools.

To Rotate round any spot on the Artboard, including an Anchor Point on any object which you can snap to with the help of Smart Guides, you can:

1) To rotate by ClickDragging: Click to select the object to rotate, then Click the Rotate Tool, then Click the desired rotation point, then ClickDrag the object to rotate.

2) To rotate a specific angle round the point: Click to select the object to rotate, then Click the Rotate Tool, then Alt/OptionClick the desired rotation point and enter the desired rotation angle and pres Enter; you can tick the Preview and see it before deciding..

You can do the same with the Scale Tool.

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

In addition to the tips from @Jacob Bugge:
The free-transform tool is probably the closest equivalent to the tool described.

Jacob Bugge

Correct answer

Community Expert

jimac,

As I (mis)understand it, you can use the normal options for the Rotate and Scale Tools.

To Rotate round any spot on the Artboard, including an Anchor Point on any object which you can snap to with the help of Smart Guides, you can:

1) To rotate by ClickDragging: Click to select the object to rotate, then Click the Rotate Tool, then Click the desired rotation point, then ClickDrag the object to rotate.

2) To rotate a specific angle round the point: Click to select the object to rotate, then Click the Rotate Tool, then Alt/OptionClick the desired rotation point and enter the desired rotation angle and pres Enter; you can tick the Preview and see it before deciding..

You can do the same with the Scale Tool.

J

jimac1953Author

Known Participant

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I'm just going to have to use Ai a little more to figure out how it does things.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

For my part you are welcome, jimac.

And what pixxxelschubser said.

I believe this may be helpful in connexion with the switch,

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/tools-in-illustrator.html

And to emphasize a good a tool for help with tasks like snapping to objects/Anchor Points/whatever and any other guiding tasks, you can look at Use Smart Guides, and specifically Set Smart Guides preferences here,

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/rulers-grids-guides-crop-marks.html

As you might have guessed, I believe the helpx pages offer good help, so here is an empty search page you can bookmark; rmember to add Illustrator to the search term to avoid to many hit about Photoshop, InDesign, and whatnot,

https://helpx.adobe.com/search-results.html?q=&scope=%5B%22helpx%22%5D&subscope=%5B%5D&limit=10&start_index=0&sort_orderby=relevancy&sort_order=desc&post_facet_filters=%7B%22applicable_products%22%3A%5B%5D%7D

And there is this,

https://helpx.adobe.com/support/illustrator.html

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