Select and hold the Hand tool and then select the and select the Rotate View tool or press Shift + H.
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to rotate your canvas view at any angle when creating logos, typography, packaging designs, and illustrations that require working at various angles.
The Rotate View tool in Illustrator lets you adjust the orientation of your canvas to any angle, making it easier to work on designs from different perspectives.
All your artboards and visible objects rotate with the canvas view, allowing you to continue working naturally from any angle.
Rotate the canvas using the Rotate View tool
Drag anywhere on the canvas to change the orientation of the canvas.
To navigate between different angles, use the widget that appears when you rotate the canvas view.
Rotate canvas view using the Rotate View tool
To rotate the canvas to a specific angle, select the angle from the Rotate View dropdown menu in the status bar or from the View > Roate View menu.
To align canvas view to the rotated object, select the object or text and then select View > Rotate View to Selection.
Rotate the canvas using a trackpad
Position your cursor anywhere on the canvas to set your reference point.
Use a two-finger rotation gesture on your trackpad to rotate the canvas view around that reference point.
Tip
Alternatively, press and hold Space + Shift while dragging to temporarily switch to the Rotate View tool from any other tool.
Note
Grids will rotate with your view, while artboard dimensions remain unchanged. Also, Guides and Rulers can still be used in the rotated view.
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