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Rotate view

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  9. Automate tasks
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  10. Troubleshooting 
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    12. Preferences file issues
    13. Font issues
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    15. Share crash report with Adobe
    16. Improve Illustrator performance

Learn how to rotate the view of your canvas using the Rotate View tool.

The Rotate view feature lets you conveniently design your logos, packaging, page layouts, typography, and other illustrations by changing the canvas view at any angle.

All your artboards and other visible objects are moved according to the specified angle. You can then continue your work just like the way you do in the normal view.

Adobe Illustrator deeplink

Try it in the app
Rotate the view of the canvas in a few simple steps.

Rotate canvas view using the Rotate View tool

To rotate canvas view using the Rotate View tool, follow the below steps:

  1. Click and hold the Hand tool   and select the Rotate View tool   or press Shift+H. 
  2. Drag the Rotate View tool anywhere on the canvas to change the orientation of the canvas.
  3. To navigate between different angles, use the widget that appears when you rotate the canvas view.

Rotate canvas view using trackpad

To rotate canvas view using a trackpad, follow the below steps:

  1. Place the cursor anywhere on the canvas to position your reference point.
  2. Use the two-finger gesture to rotate the view of your canvas around the reference point.

Currently, the two-finger gesture is only available on the Apple trackpad.

 Press and hold Space+Shift to toggle from the selected tool to the Rotate View tool and drag anywhere on the canvas to rotate the canvas view. 

Points to note

When the canvas view is rotated: 

  • Grids rotate.
  • Artboard dimensions remain unchanged.
  • Guides and rulers can be viewed and used.

Rotate canvas view to an angle

Rotate view
Rotate View drop-down

Use any of these options to rotate the canvas view at a specified angle:

  • Select an angle from the Rotate View drop-down in the status bar or:
    • Type a value in Rotate View drop-down to change the canvas view to any angle. 
    • Click the value in Rotate View drop-down and use the mouse scroll to change the canvas view to any angle. 
  • Choose View > Rotate View and select an angle from the menu.

Rotate canvas view to an object

To align canvas view to the rotated object:

  1. Select the object or text.
  2. Choose View > Rotate View to Selection.

Reset the rotated canvas view

Reset the canvas view
Reset Rotate View

Use any of these options to bring the rotated view of the canvas to its original position:

  • Choose View > Reset Rotate View.
  • Press Shift+Cmd+1 (macOS), press Shift+Ctrl+1 (Windows).
  • Press Esc.

 If you are using another tool or feature in rotated view, press Esc to deselect and press Esc again to reset the rotated view.

To fit the selected artboard in rotated view to the Document window, press Cmd+0 (macOS) and Ctrl+0 (Windows).

Save the rotated CANVAS view 

To save the rotated canvas view as a preset:

  1. Choose View > New View.
  2. To save the preset, type a name in the dialog and click OK.
  3. To reuse the preset, click View and select the saved preset.
Save the rotated canvas view
New View

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