Select and Transform Objects

Cytosketch provides a tool to select and transform objects. The Selection Tool is the default tool. If another tool is active, click the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or press Esc to activate the Selection Tool.

Controls are available in the Selection Tool box to adjust the position, dimension and rotation of the selection.

Table of Content

Selection Controls Overview

This section provides a quick overview of the Selection Tool controls. Move the mouse over the screen shot below to see a short description of the individual controls or over the description to see the corresponding controls on the screen shot.

Selection Tool Controls
  1. Controls to adjust the position of the image on the canvas.
  2. Controls to adjust the dimension of the image. The controls can be locked Locked to adjust the image proportionally or unlocked Lock to adjust the image un-proportionally. Click the lock button Lock to lock and unlock the controls.
  3. Indicates the unit.
  4. Control to adjust the rotation of the image.
  5. Determines if the topmost image becomes transparent when dragging it over another image. This function is useful if you want to stich images together. Have a look at the short movies below for an example.

Selecting Objects

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Click on the object to select it.
  3. To select multiple objects keep Ctrl pressed or press Ctrl + A simultaneously to select all objects on the canvas.
  4. Click outside the selection to remove the selection.
Tip:

To quickly select multiple objects, activate the Selection Tool Selection Tool and drag around the objects. A rectangle is drawn and upon finishing the drag all the objects that are enclosed by the rectangle are selected.

Moving a Selection

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Select the objects to move.
  3. Click and drag the selection.
  4. To move the selection in small increments use the arrow keys or the controls in the Selection Tool box.
  5. Position

How to Resize a Selection Proportionally

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Select the objects to resize.
  3. Resize the selection by dragging the resizing handles to the desired position.
  4. For fine adjusting the size of the selection proportionally:
    • Make sure that the width w and height h controls are locked Lock. If the controls are not locked click the lock button Lock in the Selection Tool box.
    • Then use the controls to adjust the size of the selection.
  5. Width and Height

How to Resize a Selection Un-Proportionally

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Select the objects to resize.
  3. Resize the selection by keeping Ctrl pressed while dragging the resize handles to the desired position.
  4. For fine adjusting the size of the selection un-proportionally:
    • Make sure that the width w and height h controls are unlocked Lock. If it is not unlocked click the lock button Lock in the Selection Tool Box.
    • Then use the controls to adjust the size of the selection.
    Width and Height

Rotating a Selection

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Select the objects to rotate.
  3. Drag the rotation handle until the desired rotation is reached.
  4. Rotation handle
  5. For fine adjusting the rotation use the rotation control in the Selection Tool box.
  6. Rotation Controls
Tip: Quick Rotation

To rotate the image in steps of 15 degrees, keep Ctrl pressed while dragging the rotation handle.

Rotating Objects Within a Selection

  1. Activate the tool by clicking the Selection Tool button Selection Tool or pressing Esc.
  2. Select the objects to rotate.
  3. Drag the rotation handle to the desired rotation while keeping Shift pressed.
  4. Rotation handle
Tip: Quick Rotation

To rotate the image in steps of 15 degrees, keep Ctrl pressed while dragging the rotation handle.