Motion 2D transform tools
Use the 2D transform tools to adjust and manipulate objects in the Canvas. To select a tool, click the 2D transform tools control in the toolbar and, holding down the mouse button, choose a different tool from the pop-up menu. 
When you choose a 2D transform tool and then select a layer or group, handles appear in the Canvas. Drag the handles to move or transform an object in the Canvas.
Tip: Press S to select the Select/Transform tool. To quickly cycle through tools, press Tab. Press Shift-Tab to cycle through the tools in reverse.
Some of the tools are activated automatically when specific layers are selected. For example, the Edit Points tool is selected after you create a complex shape or mask layer, so you can immediately adjust the Bezier or B-Spline control points.
Icon | Tool | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Select/Transform tool (arrow) | Activates selection and transform controls in the Canvas for the selected object. Scale objects by dragging a corner point; rotate objects by dragging the center point. This is the default tool in the 2D transform tools pop-up menu. See Change a layer’s position, scale, or rotation. |
 | Anchor Point tool | Activates an anchor point control (the point around which an object scales or rotates) in the Canvas for the selected object. Modify the anchor point by dragging it to a new position. See Move a layer’s anchor point. |
 | Drop Shadow tool | Activates a drop shadow control in the Canvas for the selected object. Drag a corner handle to change the direction and offset of an object’s drop shadow. (This control doesn’t move the object.) See Add a drop shadow to a layer. |
 | Distort tool | Activates shear and distortion handles in the Canvas for the selected object. Drag a midpoint handle to shear two adjacent corners at the same time, leaving the other two corners locked into place; drag a corner handle to distort a corner, leaving the other three corners locked into place. See Distort or shear a layer. |
 | Crop tool | Activates crop handles in the Canvas for the selected object. Drag the edge or corner of the object to crop (hide) a portion of the object. See Crop a layer. |
 | Edit Points tool | Activates points and Bezier handles in the Canvas for complex masks, shapes, and motion paths. See Modify the control points of a shape or mask. |
 | Edit Shape tool | Activates points and curvature handles in the Canvas for simple shapes. See Draw simple shapes. |
 | Transform Glyph tool | Activates handles in the Canvas for selected text characters (glyphs). See Transform text glyphs and other object attributes. |
 | Adjust Item tool | Activates handles in the Canvas that modify specific parameters such as the amount or angle of a Directional Blur, the shape of a particle emitter, or the start and end points of a gradient. See Transform text glyphs and other object attributes. |