Select
Select, move, scale, rotate, shear. The default tool. Most workflows live here.
The Select tool is what you live in when not actively drawing or editing. Click to select, drag to move, drag the handles around the bounding box to transform.
Activate
- Hotkey:
Esc(also cancels any active drawing or text edit) - Toolbar: Creation Toolbar, first icon
- Auto-activates after most other tools complete
How to use
- Click an object to select it.
- Click empty canvas to deselect.
- Drag an object to move it.
- Drag a corner / edge handle to resize.
- Drag a rotation handle (corners, when activated) to rotate.
- Drag a shear handle (edges, when activated) to shear.
- Drag on empty canvas to rubber-band select.
Modifiers and interactions
- Shift + click: add to selection.
- Ctrl + click: toggle the clicked object in the selection. On macOS, use Command for this modifier.
- Shift + Ctrl + click: remove from selection.
- Shift + drag handle: constrain to square / 1:1 aspect ratio.
- Ctrl + drag handle: resize from center.
- Alt + click or a held click on overlapping artwork: open the overlap chooser.
- Drag left-to-right for containing selection, selecting objects fully inside the marquee.
- Drag right-to-left for crossing selection, selecting objects the marquee touches.
- Esc: clear the selection or exit text edit.
Working with locked objects
If any object in the selection has its transform locked, the handle drag is rejected and a notification explains why. Unlock the object in the Outliner or use the layer lock action in Layers.
Stacking and z-order
If multiple objects overlap under the cursor, a single click picks the topmost one. Use Alt + click or a held click to open the overlap chooser, then choose the object. Double-click a group to enter isolation and use the selection breadcrumbs to move back out.
To change z-order, use the Arrange commands (PageUp / PageDown / Ctrl+PageUp / Ctrl+PageDown).
Result on the canvas
No change. Select is non-destructive (until you drag a handle or move something).
Related
- Shape Properties panel: numeric editing of the selection
- Properties controls: position / size / rotation inputs
- Cuts / Layers panel: change layer of the selection
- Hotkeys: arrange, alignment, nudge