Lock Aspect Ratio not working in AD V2

[Joe Gattis]

I cannot get the Lock Aspect Ratio to work in the Transform panel. I have tried closing the program and restarting, but it doesn't work.

Thank for any help.

[MikeTO]

Hi @Joe Gattis and welcome to the forums. The lock aspect ratio feature of the Transform panel constrains the editing of the width and height with its text fields. It doesn't constrain scaling objects with the corner size handles. To do that, hold down Shift while scaling the object.

Cheers,

Mike

[affuser9001]

Bumping this up... I have tried locking TRANSFORM - multiple layers when selected together still distort when trying to maintain ALL PROPORTIONS.  

Also same issue while attempting to TRANSFORM a simple png.  Holding Shift down.

Affinity Designer 2.1.1   [Note - using Macally keyboard] macOS Monterey V 12.6.7 

No Designer wants their images or text distorted ....   There should be a very simple way to do this command.  If it's holding down shift key, it is not working for me.

This is costing me time.

Suggestions? Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by affuser9001

[affuser9001]

Updating | Changed to Mac Wireless Keyboard. Opened Transform dialogue box, selected "Lock" for each option. Without holding shift, dragged corner and the png scaled properly.

I tried several ways with the MacAlly keyboard. So, will use wireless for the time being to see if "option keys" on keyboard work better.

That was easy! As it should be!

 

 

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, affuser9001 said:

Without holding shift, dragged corner and the png scaled properly.

Maintaining the aspect ratio is what would usually happen, for that kind of object and that kind of transformation, by default. And holding Shift would make it ignore the aspect ratio. 

Look in your application Settings, Tools for a setting named something like "Move Tool aspect constrain". It can be set to:

* constrain by default, and Shift will un-constrain; or

* not constrain by default, and Shift will constrain; or

* examine the kind of object, and let that determine how the constraining and the Shift key operate.

The first two of those options are easier to understand and work with for many users. The third one is the default, if I remember correctly.

[affuser9001]

Thank you, Walt!

It's the simplest things sometimes!

However, fyi, I tried many different ways.  And also had Transformed many layers before in other docs, no issue. So, this for me is an intermittent issue because I had never changed the default option on Settings here. 

Took a look at settings and made the change you recommended! Hope this does it!

[Matthew Taylor]

I was having the same problem. It gets a little hard to build up muscle memory with shortcuts when a modifier key does the opposite of what your are expecting sometimes.
I would resize a curve layer and it's not constrained, but a group of curve layers is.  Consistency is important. Imagine if you had to turn a doorknob in the opposite direction if it's evening.
I'm primarily posting so someone that ends up here doesn't waste time looking for "Preferences". The panel is now called "Settings".

Affinity, please stop moving things and renaming things. That makes it harder to learn and work.

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, Matthew Taylor said:

Affinity, please stop moving things and renaming things. That makes it harder to learn and work.

That change was instigated by Apple, I think. As I understand it it's still Preferences in older macOS releases. Affinity is just being consistent with Apple's usage