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Navigate the canvas

Canvas navigation changes what you can see without moving your design objects.

The representative video demonstrates this exact workflow: Reset the canvas to 100 percent zoom, then turn on the pixel grid.

Verified result: The canvas is at 100 percent zoom with the pixel grid turned on.

Reset zoom and show the gridReset the canvas to 100 percent zoom, then turn on the pixel grid.Result: The canvas is at 100 percent zoom with the pixel grid turned on.

Transcript

  1. Reset the zoomChoose the zoom percentage to reset the canvas to one hundred percent.
  2. Show the gridTurn on the pixel grid from the toolbar for detailed placement.
Download the tutorial videoDownload English captions

Before you start

Section titled “Before you start”

Open a design in Editor v2. You can pan, zoom, and inspect guides in either editing or viewing mode. Creating or moving guides requires edit access.

Pan without moving objects

Section titled “Pan without moving objects”

Use whichever method fits your device:

  • Choose Hand, or press H, then drag the canvas.
  • Hold Space and drag to pan temporarily while another tool is active.
  • Scroll with a mouse wheel or trackpad to move around the canvas.

Release Space to return to the previous tool. If dragging moves an object, undo the move, click a blank area, and switch to Hand before trying again. Keyboard shortcuts do not apply while you are typing in a text field.

Zoom and fit the design

Section titled “Zoom and fit the design”

Use the zoom controls near the canvas edge to zoom in, zoom out, or choose a fitting option. Common shortcuts are:

  • Ctrl or ⌘ with = to zoom in.
  • Ctrl or ⌘ with - to zoom out.
  • Ctrl or ⌘ with 0 to fit the design.
  • Ctrl or ⌘ with 1 to return to actual size.
  • Ctrl or ⌘ + Shift + 2 to fit the current selection.

Hold Ctrl on Windows or ⌘ on macOS while using the wheel or trackpad to zoom around the pointer. If you lose the design, use Fit design. If a selected object is too small to edit, use Fit selection and zoom in further.

Show the pixel grid

Section titled “Show the pixel grid”

Turn on the grid from the toolbar when you need pixel-level placement. You can also press Ctrl or ⌘ + ’. The grid is a viewing aid; it does not become part of an export.

At low zoom, individual grid lines may be hidden to keep the canvas readable. Zoom in if the grid is enabled but not visible.

Create and move ruler guides

Section titled “Create and move ruler guides”
  1. Show rulers from the canvas controls or press Shift + R.
  2. Drag from the top ruler to create a horizontal guide, or from the left ruler to create a vertical guide.
  3. Select a guide and drag it to a new position.
  4. Press Delete or Backspace to remove the selected guide.

Press Escape to cancel a guide move before releasing it. Guides stay attached to document positions as you pan and zoom. If a guide disappears after a drag, hold G to keep guides visible, or turn guide visibility back on from the canvas controls.

Align and measure while you work

Section titled “Align and measure while you work”

Alignment guides appear while you move or resize objects near useful edges, centers, and spacing positions. Hold Alt on Windows or Option on macOS when you need to bypass snapping for a precise free move.

Open Measure from the canvas controls, or press Shift + M, to inspect distances. Measurement labels and guides help you work but do not appear in the exported design.