Affinity publisher - rotate object

[Iztok]

I can't find rotate in transform palette data, when I rotate object in picture frame is it anywhere else to write exact data?

[GarryP]

This is not a bug.

You can rotate the layer itself by selecting the layer and then using the R field in the Transform Panel.

For Picture Frames you can select the layer inside the Picture Frame and then use the R field in the Transform Panel.

[Alfred]

10 minutes ago, Iztok said:

I can't find rotate in transform palette data, when I rotate object in picture frame is it anywhere else to write exact data?

If you want to ask a question about something you’re unable to find, it’s best to post to the Questions section of the forums in the first instance. Only post to the Bugs section if someone (who could be you!) can confirm that there’s a bug to be addressed.

[Iztok]

When I rotate picture in frame in transforma panel result is zero but in reality is not, I don't now what angle I set, I think this is bug. If I make angle in transform palette, then picture rotate and  in transform palette is number I wish.

[Iztok]

Example, I write angle in transform palette, so, when I rotae with handle in picture I expect angle in transforma palette should be visible

[thomaso]

4 hours ago, Iztok said:

when I rotae with handle in picture I expect angle in transforma palette should be visible

No, the Transform panel refers to currently selected layers. Keep an eye on your Layers panel and its highlighted (= selected) layers.

If you use the Picture Frame interface ('handle') for image rotation then the Picture Frame layer is selected in the Layers panel while the image layer is unselected. Since the Picture Frame is not rotated the Transform panel reports 0º.

If you then select the image layer in the Layers panel you will see the value of its rotation angle in the Transform panel:

[Iztok]

But picture is rotatet and nowwhere is data for which angle is, that is the problem- I need this data. Now if I rotate as first exaple you have you don't know for what angle you rotate, nowwhere in app this data is not visible, you think this is OK? I know all you tell me, I show both example, but this is not the answere. Answere is if I rotate in frame, where is exact angle - now is nowwhere, hiden somewhere. That data is important.

[thomaso]

6 minutes ago, Iztok said:

But picture is rotatet and nowwhere is data for which angle is, that is the problem- I need this data.

The data is there twice. See my screenshots:
1.) the image gets rotated via Picture Frame -> angle shown as 'Tooltip' ( R: 15.0 º ).
2.) the image gets selected in the Layers panel -> angle shown in the Transform panel. (20,4 º)

[Iztok]

Your example - user logic is, that when I set picture in frame, i need information yust if I select picture in frame, what angle is it, don' concentrate in one picture I have 10 pictures and i need to look at them later and look for information of angle and if I set angle manualy in picture frame, there is no data in transfere panel

[Latens]

4 minutes ago, Iztok said:

Your example

No, again you need to select the image inside the pictureframe not the container itself by either selecting it in the layers panel or by ctrl + clicking it on the canvas.

[Alfred]

5 minutes ago, Iztok said:

Your example

What about Thomas’s example? The (oblong) image is rotated by 15° and the (square) picture frame is rotated by 0°.

[Iztok]

So, I think in transform panel is missing data for angle of picture inside frame, now I need to open group layer and select picture in layer to get data. If I look for angles forinstance 10 of photos is not user friendly, I suggest in transform panel another data for that info

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, Iztok said:

don' concentrate in one picture I have 10 pictures and i need to look at them later and look for information of angle and if I set angle manualy in picture frame, there is no data in transfere panel

Don't concentrate on the Picture Frame's interface. Especially if you want to rotate multiple images, each inside a Picture Frame, it is easier and more efficient to select the various image layers + use the Transform Panel for the rotation.

[Iztok]

YEs if I select in layer panel and write in transform panel, now I have select picure in frame, I work with picture, but in transform panel show me state of frame and not picture, which I rotate, that is not logical, data must be shown of selected object and  if I rotate picture, pictire inside frame is selected.

[Latens]

No, you don't have the image inside the pictureframe selected, you have the tools from the pictureframe selected.
But yes I think this rotator for the pictureframe should show the info as it actually applies to the image inside the pictureframe.
and it should also show the actual size and position too.
But for now it is as expected and you need to have the object selected that is a child of the pictureframe.

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, Circulus said:

But yes I think this rotator for the pictureframe should show the info as it actually applies to the image inside the pictureframe.
and it should also show the actual size and position too.

This can lead to another confusion (or complaints about UI inconsistency) because currently the highlighted (selected) layer in the Layers panel is not rotated by this handle and therefore its value is displayed correctly in the Transform panel.

1 hour ago, Iztok said:

now I need to open group layer and select picture in layer to get data.

You can avoid the ned to select the nested layer but the parent, unfolded layer instead with a different setup and workflow. Depending on specific needs and habits this can be a preferred way.

Instead of using a Picture Frame with an image as child layer you can use the image as parent layer and use a rectangle the Vector Crop Tool (or simply a rectangle or any other shape) to crop the image to the wanted detail. If you then want to rotate the image but without rotating its borders you just activate the option "Lock Children" in the Context Tolbar. And for rotation of multiple images in one angle you activate the option "Transform Objects Separately".

Advantages: • no need too unfold collapsed layers / • file name of image displayed in parent, collapsed layer
Disadvantages: • no special Picture Frame interface (rotation handle, scaling slider, center button) / • no layer thumbnail of uncropped image

[Latens]

It is also confusing now because you rotate the nested child and not the pictureframe itself.
In a way it should auto un-collapse so people would see that you are actually rotating the child.
For both ways there are pros and cons but it would still confuse people.
 

[thomaso]

9 minutes ago, Circulus said:

It is also confusing now

Yes. That's why I said another confusion. Means: a simple change would be different but not necessarily better.

Another option: If the Picture Frame handle is used then 1. the nested image layer gets highlighted, too, and 2. The Transform panel displays the angle.

Serif might argue: 1. If you use this handle, we already do show the angle in its popup tooltip when rotating, and 2. Two selected layers may confuse, too.

[Latens]

1 hour ago, Circulus said:

In a way it should auto un-collapse so people would see that you are actually rotating the child.

It was what I meant here;
By un-collapsing it should highlight the selected nested object and transform panel should show the transforming too.

[R C-R]

22 hours ago, Iztok said:

When I rotate picture in frame in transforma panel result is zero but in reality is not, I don't now what angle I set, I think this is bug.

It is not a bug, nor is it illogical.

If you use the rotator control inside the frame (the one that looks like a curve in a circle) you are rotating the content of the picture frame, not the picture frame itself. Note that the status bar says "Rotate Picture Frame content within the frame" when you place the pointer over that control's icon, so there should be no confusion about it if you pay attention to that helpful hint about how this works.

You also can confirm this is what you have done & see exactly by how much you have rotated it (the content!!!) if you select it (the content!!!) in the Layers  panel & refer to the Transform panel, where you can change the rotation by entering an exact rotation value there.

Note that you can also simply double-click anywhere in the picture frame in the document window except on its rotator & move control icons to automatically select the content instead of the frame.

All this & more is explained in great detail the Picture Frame help topic. In particular, the "To resize, position and rotate framed content:" section identifies these controls & how they work.

[R C-R]

On 1/19/2025 at 7:28 AM, Circulus said:

It is also confusing now because you rotate the nested child and not the pictureframe itself.

To me, the only possible confusing thing about it is that there can be several objects in the picture frame but only one of them (the one with a diagonal cross icon in the layers panel) will be rotated, scaled, or moves using the frame's controls.

Otherwise, the status bar makes clear what each of those controls affect.

[Latens]

39 minutes ago, R C-R said:

To me, the only possible confusing thing about it is that there can be several objects in the picture frame but only one of them (the one with a diagonal cross icon in the layers panel) will be rotated, scaled, or moves using the frame's controls.

Otherwise, the status bar makes clear what each of those controls affect.

I know how it works and have no problems with it and I'm not going endlessly debate it with you as you like to do as some sort of pastime.
It is only to show Serif and others that it may confuse users for using this tool.

[R C-R]

1 minute ago, Circulus said:

It is only to show Serif and others that it may confuse users for using this tool.

I understood that. But I am not sure there is any way they can make it less confusing. In particular, having the Layers panel automatically uncollapse the frame object & then highlight the child object the frame controls will affect (if that is what you meant) might be quite confusing, because then the frame's own positioning, scaling, rotating, & shearing controls & the Context Toolbar's frame-related options will no longer be available.

Basically, there just doesn't seem to be any way to make the Transform panel's context take into account that there are controls for both the frame & its children, if that makes any sense.

[prophet]

On 1/19/2025 at 6:10 AM, Iztok said:

now I need to open group layer and select picture in layer to get data

I use a quick CMD+click (on my Mac) to select the image inside the frame.

[thomaso]

7 minutes ago, prophet said:

I use a quick CMD+click (on my Mac) to select the image inside the frame.

... double-click may be even easier. – Nevertheless, the OP asked about the Picture Frame's tool/interface and does not want to change the current object selection.