Edit Object Position, Size, Orientation, and Shape with Precision
Transform Controls allow you to edit objects directly in your Workspace by manipulating control handles to adjust their position, size, rotation, and shape. Here's a comprehensive guide to using these essential tools.
Control Handles Overview
Control handles appear around the selection area of any object or group of objects. The selection area is visualized as the smallest rectangle that can contain all selected items.
- Move Handle: Located in the center of the selection area.
- Size Handles: Found at the corners and midpoints of the selection area.
- Rotate Handles: Located at the corners with curved arrow icons.
- Shear Handles: Positioned near corners for skewing objects.
Move
Function
Move your selection by dragging the central Move handle or specific snapping points.
How to Move
- Hover over the Move handle until the four-arrow cursor appears.
- Click, hold, and drag to reposition the selection.
- Release to place the selection.
- Press Esc to cancel and return to the original position before releasing.
Snapping Points
- Click and drag from snapping points (corners, midpoints, intersections) to reposition objects precisely.
- Snap selections to other points in your Workspace.
Modifier Keys
- Shift: Lock movement to 90° or 45° angles.
- Alt/Option: Show temporary alignment guides for snapping.
- Ctrl/Cmd: Disable snapping while moving.
Move Increment Hotkeys
- Arrow Keys: Move by 5mm.
- Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Move by 1mm.
- Shift + Arrow Keys: Move by 20mm.
Adjust these increments in the Units and Grids settings under Shape Move Increments.
Size
Function
Resize objects symmetrically or asymmetrically by dragging Size handles.
How to Resize
- Drag corner handles to resize proportionally.
- Drag midpoint handles to resize one dimension.
- Press Esc to cancel and revert to the original size.
Modifier Keys
- Shift: Resize asymmetrically from corner handles.
- Ctrl: Resize symmetrically from the center.
Rotate
Function
Rotate objects around their center point or custom pivot points.
Utilize the Two-Point Rotate/Scale feature to manipulate your selection from a custom pivot point rather than using a Rotate handle.
How to Rotate
- Drag Rotate handles (curved arrows) at the corners.
- Release to set the new orientation.
- Press Esc to cancel and return to the original angle.
Modifier Keys
- Shift: Lock rotation to 15° increments.
- Ctrl/Cmd: Lock rotation to 5° increments.
Rotate Hotkeys
| Action | Windows Shortcut | macOS Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Rotate 90° clockwise | . |
. |
| Rotate 90° counterclockwise | , |
, |
| Rotate 45° clockwise | Shift + . |
Shift + . |
| Rotate 45° counterclockwise | Shift + , |
Shift + , |
| Rotate 15° clockwise | Ctrl + . |
Cmd + . |
| Rotate 15° counterclockwise | Ctrl + , |
Cmd + , |
Shear
Function
Skew objects horizontally or vertically.
How to Shear
- Drag Shear handles (near corners) horizontally or vertically.
- Release to apply the new skew.
- Press Esc to cancel and revert to the original shape.
Transform Control Toggles
Use Transform Control Toggles (bottom-left of the LightBurn window) to enable or disable specific editing types.
| Toggle | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Move | Shift or reposition objects. |
| Size | Resize or scale objects. |
| Rotate | Spin or adjust object angles. |
| Shear | Skew or slant objects. |
- Tip: Use Lock Shapes to prevent accidental edits.
- Note: This feature is disabled in Beginner Mode.
Summary
Transform Controls provide precise and versatile tools for editing your Workspace. By combining Move, Size, Rotate, and Shear commands with modifier keys, toggles, and snapping features, you can optimize your design workflow with ease.