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Two-Point Rotate / Scale

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Two-Point Rotate / Scale allows you to turn and resize objects around custom pivot points in your Workspace. For example, it can be used to align a rectangle to the side of a hexagon and resize it so that the sides match perfectly, or resize an image to fit the known, real-life dimensions of an object pictured therein.

Using Two-Point Rotate/Scale

Select the objects you wish to edit and go to Arrange → Two-Point Rotate / Scale, or press Ctrl/Cmd+2.

Any object can be Rotated and Scaled using this tool, including images, Text Objects, Primary Shapes, and custom paths.

The Status Bar will prompt you to Select the first point - the center of rotation. Click anywhere in the Workspace to choose this point — you can choose a point on any object in your project (such as nodes, midpoints, intersections, corners), or even a point in empty space.

The Status Bar will then prompt you to Click and drag the 2nd point, where you will rotate from. As you click and drag, the object Rotates.

Hold Shift while dragging to also Scale the shape while rotating it.

As you drag, your cursor will Snap to existing objects in your Workspace, including lines, corner points, or other nodes.

Release the mouse to apply the previewed edits, or press Esc to discard the edits and return the object to its original position.

Demo of Two Point Rotate being used to resize and align a piece of text to a line

Matching the Sides of Two Objects

To align the sides of two objects and make their sides an equal length, start by aligning a node from each side of each object using the Select tool and Snapping. As the cursor hovers over a node, it will change to a crosshair, to assist in precise placement.

Next, select the object you wish to edit, open the Two-Point Rotate / Scale tool, and select the aligned node as the center of rotation.

Click and drag the node at the other end of the side on the edited shape to the point on the other end of the side on the stationary shape while holding Shift.

Release your mouse once it has snapped into place, to finalize the rotation.

Demo of Two Point Rotate being used to resize and align a rectangle to a hexagon

Calibrating an Image to Known Dimensions

You can use Two-Point Rotate / Scale to straighten and calibrate an image to its real-life dimensions. This is especially useful when designing to fit existing, tangible items.

Take a photo or scan of your object with a ruler (or other object of known-size) next to it, and import that image into LightBurn.

Create a line the length of your ruler.

Align one end of the line to one end of the ruler.

Run the Two-Point Rotate / Scale tool on the image, with the first point being the aligned end, and the second being clicked from the other end of the ruler in the image, and dragged to the other end of the line.

After that, you can use the calibrated image in your project — for example, by Tracing it — and your project will be made to the correct, real-life scale.

Demo of Two Point Rotate being used to resize and align an image to a known dimension based on the ruler photographed therein

For more help using LightBurn, please visit our forum to talk with LightBurn staff and users, or email support.