The Move Tool allows you to select objects on your page. Once selected, the Move Tool allows you to move, rotate, and resize your selected object, as well as change its properties.
Settings
The following settings are available on the context toolbar when no objects are selected:
Auto-select—when enabled, automatic selection is made on both the page and the Layers panel; when disabled, selection is made from the Layers panel only. When enabled, several auto-select options are available from an adjacent menu.
Default—objects and groups can be selected on the page or Layers panel.
Objects—only objects can be selected on the page, while grouped items will be selected as if ungrouped; both groups and layers can be selected from Layers panel.
Groups—only groups can be selected on the page; both groups and layers can be selected from Layers panel.
Document Setup—displays a pop-up panel for adjusting document settings.
Settings (or Preferences)—provides access to the Settings dialog for advanced app settings.
The following settings are available on the context toolbar when individual objects are selected (other settings are shown conditional on the type of object selected):
Fill—click the color swatch to display a pop-up panel to update fill color.
Stroke—click the color swatch to display a pop-up panel to update stroke color.
Stroke properties—set the stroke style, width, joins, cap ends, order and arrowhead settings via a pop-up panel.
Line style—click to display a pop-up panel to set the Width and line style.
Lock Children—when unchecked, a child object will proportionally transform as its parent is transformed. When checked, any child object(s) will not be affected by a transformed parent. The latter is great for maintaining the size, position and aspect ratio of a clipped picture when resizing its parent. Use the to temporarily override the current Lock Children state while the key remains pressed.
Group—converts selected objects into a group for easier selection and modification.*
Ungroup—splits selected group into individual objects for focused manipulation.*
Enable Transform Origin—displays a movable transform origin about which the object can be rotated.
Hide Selection while Dragging—when selected, the object's selection box is temporarily hidden when transforming the object. If this option is off, the selection box remains visible during transformation. The selected behavior persists across all objects unless it is manually switched.
Show Alignment Handles—when selected, displays alignment handles at the center and edges of the selected object. Hovering over these handles displays a floating guideline across the page. You can drag the handles to position the center or edges of the selected object in line with this guide.
Transform Objects Separately—when selected, where multiple objects are selected, they can be be resized, rotated and sheared independently of each other instead of transforming the bounding box.
Convert to Curves—converts the selected object into a series of connected lines and nodes.
Align Horizontal—align objects according to Left or Right edges, or by Center. Single objects align in relation to page edge.
Align Vertical—align objects according to Top or Bottom edges, or by Middle. Single objects align in relation to page edge.
The following settings are available on the context toolbar when a placed image or document is selected:
Image/document Info—Displays the image's or document's native dimensions and its placed DPI and percentage scaling; use the arrow to edit DPI or scaling, or reset to original size (100% scaling).
PageBox—choose from the following:
TrimBox—the page displayed to the page edge.
BleedBox—the page with bleed or printer marks shown.
Minimum Content—the bounding box of the object(s) in the document.
Minimum Visible Content—As for Minimum Content but the bounds of any hidden objects are also taken into account.
Maximum Content—the bounding box of the object(s) including the object's control handles outside the box.
Maximum Visible Content—As for Maximum Content but the bounds of any hidden objects are also taken into account.
Artboard—select an artboard to display (Designer document).
Spread—select a spread to display (PDF or Publisher document).
Edit Image/Edit Document—click to open a separate window from which you can edit your placed (or framed) image or document.
Replace Image/Replace Document—click to display a pop-up panel from which you can select a file to replace the current placed (or framed) image or document.
K Only—when enabled, recoloring your placed image (either standalone or framed) will produce tints of the color you apply. If the color is a Spot color, then, on PDF export, the image will print using a single color palette. If K Only is disabled, then an HSL algorithm is used to recolor that preserves black. This works for both RGB and CMYK documents. On placement, grayscale images will have K only set.
Move Tool
Enable Transform Origin—displays a movable transform origin about which the object can be rotated.
Hide Selection while Dragging—when selected, the object's selection box is temporarily hidden when transforming the object. If this option is off, the selection box remains visible during transformation. The selected behavior persists across all objects unless it is manually switched.
Show Alignment Handles—when selected, displays alignment handles at the center and edges of the selected object. Hovering over these handles displays a floating guideline across the page. You can drag the handles to position the center or edges of the selected object in line with this guide.
Transform Objects Separately—when selected, where multiple objects are selected, they can be be resized, rotated and sheared independently of each other instead of transforming the bounding box.
Convert to Curves—converts the selected object into a series of connected lines and nodes.