User Guide

Chapter 4: Drawing And Vector Effects
Resizing and reshaping vector objects
You can resize and reshape a vector object by changing the size and shape of the object’s bounding
box. You can also change the length of arc segments and the corner radius of rounded rectangles.
These techniques are described in the following section.
You can also edit most vector objects by changing the anchor points and segments that form their
paths. For information on these editing techniques, see "Editing object paths" on page 324.
To resize an object’s bounding box:
When you drag a handle on a vector object’s bounding box, you change the height or width (or both)
of the bounding box. This also changes the size (and possibly the shape) of the object; e.g., if you
select a circle and drag a side handle to make the bounding box wider, the circle becomes an oval
that is wider than it is tall.
1. Choose a Selection tool.
Use the filled arrow to select a single object (including a group object).
Use the hollow arrow to select an individual object within a group object.
2. Click the object to select it. Handles appear on the object’s bounding box.
3. Drag a handle, as described below, to resize the object.
To change Do this
Height Drag the top or bottom handle
Width Drag a side handle
Height and width Drag a corner handle
Height and width
proportionally
Press Shift and drag a corner handle
Symmetrically (from center) Press Ctrl and drag a handle
Symmetrically and
proportionally
Press Ctrl-Shift and drag a corner handle
Maintaining object proportions
When you resize vector objects and want to maintain the object’s height-to-width ratio, you have the
following options:
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