Flash glossary: Free Transform tool

You can transform graphic objects in Adobe Flash Professional—as well as groups, text blocks, and instances—by using the Free Transform tool or the options in the Modify > Transform menu. Depending on the type of element you select, you can transform, rotate, skew, scale, or distort the element. You can change or add to a selection during a transformation operation.

When you transform an object, group, text box, or instance, the Property inspector for that item displays any changes made to the item's dimensions or position.

A bounding box appears during transform operations that involve dragging. The bounding box is rectangular (unless it was modified with the Distort command or the Envelope modifier), with its edges initially aligned parallel to the edges of the Stage. Transformation handles are located on each corner and in the middle of each side. As you drag, the bounding box previews the transformations.

You can perform individual transformations or combine several transformations, such as moving, rotating, scaling, skewing, and distorting.

Note: The Free Transform tool cannot transform symbols, bitmaps, video objects, sounds, gradients, or text. If a multiple selection contains any of these items, only the shape objects are distorted. To transform a text block, first convert the characters to shape objects.

During a transformation, a transformation point appears at the center of a selected element. The transformation point is initially aligned with the object's center point. You can move the transformation point, return it to its default location, and move the default point of origin.

For scaling, skewing, or rotating graphic objects, groups, and text blocks, the point opposite the point you drag is the point of origin by default. For instances, the transformation point is the point of origin by default. You can move the default point of origin for a transformation.

To transform objects, select the Free Transform tool in the Tools panel, or select one of the Modify > Transform commands.

To edit a motion path with the Free Transform tool, follow these steps:

1. Click the Free Transform tool in the Tools panel.
2. With the Free Transform tool, click the motion path. Do not click the tween target instance.
3. Scale, skew, or rotate the path with the Free Transform tool.

Note: You can also perform free transformations on the path by selecting it with the Subselection tool and then pressing the Control (Windows) or Command (Mac) modifier key. Pressing the modifier key displays the same controls as the Free Transform tool. You can then drag the handles in the bounding box to perform transformations while pressing the modifier key.

To learn more about working with the Free Transform tool, see the section titled Transforming objects in the Flash documentation.