4.4.  Rotate Tool

Revision History
Revision $Revision: 1941 $ 2006-06-12 j.h

Figure 12.50.  The Rotate tool in Toolbox

The Rotate tool in Toolbox

4.4.1.  Overview

This tool is used to rotate the active layer, a selection or a path. When you click on the image or the selection with this tool, a grid or an outline is superimposed and a Rotation Information dialog is opened. There, you can set the rotation axis, marked with a point, and the rotation angle. You can do the same by dragging the mouse pointer on the image or the rotation point.

4.4.2.  Activate Tool

  • You can call the Rotate tool in the following order, from the image-menu: ToolsTransform ToolsRotate

  • The Tool can also be called by clicking the tool icon: in the Toolbox.

  • or by using the Shift-R key combination.

4.4.3.  Key modifiers (Defaults)

Ctrl

Holding Ctrl will constrain the rotation angles to those only evenly divisible by 15 degrees.

4.4.4.  Options

Figure 12.51.  Rotation tool options

Rotation tool options

Overview

The available tool options for the Rotate Tool can be accessed by double clicking the Rotate Tool icon.

Affect; Interpolation; Supersampling; Clip Result; Preview
[Note] Note

These options are described in Transform tools common options.

Transform Direction

The Transform Direction sets which way or direction a layer is rotated. The Traditional mode will rotate the layer as one might expect. If a layer is rotated 10 degrees to the right, then the layer will be rendered as such. This behaviour is contrary to Corrective rotation.

Corrective Rotation is primarily used to repair digital images that are not straight. If the image is 13 degrees askew then you need not try to rotate by that angle. By using Corrective Rotation you can rotate visually and line up the layer with the image. Because the transformation is reversed, or performed backwards, the image will be rotated with sufficient angle to correct the error.

Constraints

15 Degrees will constrain the rotation to angles divisible by 15 degrees.

4.4.5.  The Rotation Information window

Figure 12.52.  The Rotation Information dialog window

The Rotation Information dialog window

Angle

Here you can set the rotation angle, from -180° to +180°, i.e 360°.

Center X/Y

This option allows you to set the position of the rotation center, represented by a large point in the image. A click-and-drag on this point also allows you to move this center. Default unit of measurement is pixel, but you can change it by using the drop-down list.