Selection Tool
There are two selection options in Vectornator available: The first one selects the shape as a whole. The second option allows you to select individual points (Nodes) of your shape.
How to Select Elements
The Selection Tool is your go-to tool in Vectornator. It allows you to select objects but also enables you to rotate, duplicate, and perform additional transformations with the selected object.
1 – The Selection Tool allows you to select the shape itself.
2 – The Direct Selection or Node Tool allows you to select individual points (Nodes) of your shape.
How to Activate the Selection Tool
The Selection Tool (1) is the first tool at the top of the Vectornator Toolbar. Click on the Tool icon to activate it. Once the Selection Tool is activated, you can click on any object on the canvas to select it. As soon as the object is selected, it will be contained within a bounding box.
The controls of the bounding box will enable you to move, rotate or scale the object.
How to Multi Select Objects
You can select a group of objects by clicking outside of the shapes and dragging a box around them or you can use the Multi Select Mode. To enter the Multi Select Mode, hold ~key~ ⇧ ~key~ or ~key~ ⌘ ~key~ key while selecting the objects.
How to Select Nested Elements
You can select nested elements by activating the Click-Through Mode ~ic-click-through~~ic-click-through~. When you have many nested groups, it can be difficult to select a single element of a group. The Click-Through Mode circumvents the layer hierarchy while selecting an element.
Once activated, this button allows you to select directly what you see or tap onto, any parent element of your selected object will be bypassed. The Click-Through Mode ~ic-click-through~~ic-click-through~ comes in handy while working with masks.
How to Duplicate Shapes
You can duplicate objects in Vectornator by copy-pasting them (~key~ ⌘C + ⌘V ~key~), or you can use the Duplicate Mode. To enter the Duplicate Mode, hold ~key~ ⌥ ~key~ while dragging your selected object.
After having duplicated a shape or group, you can press ~key~ ⌘D ~key~ to create another duplicate, that has the identical offset value as your first duplicate.
You can also combine those modes to speed up your workflow and create Rotational or Scalable Copies.
In a Rotational Copy, you copy the shape while simultaneously rotating it. To activate it, simply click on the Rotate Mode button while holding the ~key~ ⌥ ~key~ key simultaneously.
In a Scalable Copy, you copy the shape while simultaneously scaling it. To activate it, simply click on the Scale Mode button while holding the ~key~ ⌥ ~key~ key simultaneously.
How to Nudge Elements on the Canvas
If you want to move an object on the canvas to the top, down, left, or right, you can select it and use the arrow keys (before 4.11.4 update, you had to hold shift and use the arrow keys to perform the operation).
By holding shift ~key~⇧~key~ and using the arrow ←⇅→, you can move selected elements or objects by 10 px to the top, down, left or right.
Disclaimer: The document interface will vary if you don't have the macOS 13.0.1 update or later versions installed.
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