User guides

Zone 5 - Pointer and Hand Tools

When you perform operations on objects on the canvas, Pixso Whiteboard defaults to the pointer selection tool (shortcut key: V). At this time, the left toolbar will display the style of the pointer tool being selected. You can click on it to switch to the hand tool, or press the shortcut key V to switch.

The pointer tool and the move tool allow you to select any element on the canvas or drag the canvas to view elements in different positions.

Pointer Tool

When creating or opening a Pixso Whiteboard file, the pointer tool is selected by default. Use the pointer tool to select and move elements on the canvas, and to adjust the size, rotation, and other properties of elements.

To use the pointer tool:

  1. Select a single object.
  2. Click and drag the cursor over the blank area to select multiple objects.
  3. Click and hold an object, then drag the cursor to move it.
  4. Click on a single object, then hold the control points around it and drag the cursor to stretch it.
  5. Select objects to change their properties. The selected object will display a blue boundary box and control points as an operation area. After interacting with the object, you can click on the blank canvas to deselect the object.

You can choose multiple objects to:

  1. Group selected object.
  2. Move a group of selected objects.
  3. Change properties, such as color, across multiple objects.
  4. Align, distribute spacing, and rearrange objects.
  5. Resize objects in bulk.
  6. Lock/unlock multiple objects.

There are several ways to select multiple objects:

  1. Select one object on the canvas.
  2. Hold down Shift and click on another object.
  3. Repeat this operation for each object you want to select.

Note: Press Shift while clicking on a selected object to remove it from the current selection.

Click and Drag

Click and drag the cursor to create a selection box and select all objects within a specific area on the canvas. Any objects touched by the selection box will be selected.

  1. Click and hold on a blank space on the canvas.
  2. Drag the cursor to the area where you want to select objects.
  3. A blue box will appear around each object in the selection.
  4. To remove an object from the selection, hold down the Shift key and click on the object.

Note: Clicking and dragging will not select locked objects.

Select All

To select all objects on the canvas, use the shortcut keys below:

  • macOS: ⌘ Command A
  • Windows: Ctrl A

Unselect Object

To unselect an object or multiple objects in 2 ways:

  1. Press the Esc key.
  2. Click the blank place on the canvas.
  3. To unselect one object from multiple objects, press Shift and click the object you want to unselect.

Group Object

After selecting 2 or more objects, you can group them in several ways:

  1. Use shortcut keys:
  • macOS: ⌘ Command + G
  • Windows: Control + G

2. Click the group icon in the floating menu bar.

Ungroup Object

You can also ungroup several objects in several ways:

  1. Use shortcut keys:
  • macOS: ⌘ Command + Shift + G
  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + G

2. Click the ungroup icon in the floating menu bar.

3. Right click the group and choose Ungroup in the menu.

Copy Object

You can select and copy an object with shortcut keys:

  • macOS: ⌘ Command + D
  • Windows: Ctrl + D

You can also click the object while pressing Alt or Option key to copy it.

Add Object to Group

You can add objects to a group by copying them. However, you can also do it by following steps below:

  1. Create a new object and select it.
  2. Select a group and the new object and click Group option.

Move Object out of Group

To do it:

  1. Select the object you want to move.
  2. Copy it with shortcut keys ⌘ Command and X or Ctrl and X.
  3. Paste the object to the place outside the group.

Arrange Object

You can arrange objects on the canvas in the way you like. Please note that an object will only be aligned to another object.

There are 8 alignment options for you to choose from:

  1. Align left
  2. Align right
  3. Align top
  4. Align bottom
  5. Align center
  6. Align vertical center
  7. Horizontal equal spacing
  8. Vertical equal spacing

Change Hierarchical Order of Object

Sometimes, an object on your canvas may be overlapping with other objects, making it difficult to see the objects underneath, or an object may be hidden behind other objects. Changing the hierarchical order of the object can move it forward or backward on the canvas. Currently, in Pixso Whiteboard, there are only two options to adjust the front-to-back order, which are to move an object to the top or bottom layer. Right-click on an object and select one of the two options from the menu:

  • Bring to front: Move the object to the top.
  • Send to back: Move the object to the bottom.

Shortcut keys:

  • Bring to front: Ctrl+Shift+]
  • Send to back: Ctrl+Shift+[

Hand Tool

The hand tool allows you to move the canvas coordinates freely in a Pixso Whiteboard file and display the elements at the corresponding coordinates without accidentally triggering selection or moving object elements, etc.

To use it, you can press shortcut key V or click the hand tool icon in the tool bar. Then you can move the canvas in the way you like.

If you are using a mouse:

  • Long press the right button and move to adjust the position of the canvas.
  • Use the mouse scroll wheel to achieve vertical movement of the canvas.
  • Use the mouse scroll wheel and hold down the Shift key to achieve horizontal movement of the canvas.

If you are using a touchpad:

  • Tap and drag an object to move it.
  • Use two fingers to slide and move the canvas or object.

Scale Canvas

When you create a new Pixso Whiteboard file, the default zoom scale is set to 100%, which is a suitable size for you to start creating content quickly.

You may want to set it to a specific ratio, then you can follow the steps below:

  • Press ⌘ Command/Ctrl and scroll the wheel to zoom in or out.
  • Click the scale icon in the navigation map.
  • Click the icon and use the locate feature, then press Shift and 1 to display the selected area in the most suitable proportion.
  • If you are using the touchpad, pinch two fingers together to zoom out or spread two fingers apart to zoom in.