Resize, rotate, and flip objects in Pages on Mac

You can resize an object freely, to modify its proportions any way you like, or proportionally, to make it larger or smaller without changing its essential shape. You can also set it to have specific dimensions. You can rotate or flip any object except a table, chart, or image gallery.

Resize an object

  1. Click an object or group of objects to select it.

    If you don’t see white squares around the object, the object is locked; you must unlock it before you can resize it.

  2. To choose whether the object resizes freely or proportionally, in the Format  sidebar, click the Arrange tab, then do one of the following:

    • Resize freely: Make sure the “Constrain proportions” checkbox (below Size) is unselected.

    • Resize proportionally: Make sure the “Constrain proportions” checkbox (below Size) is selected.

    Note: Groups containing certain objects can only be resized proportionally. These objects include images and movies that have been rotated, and shapes that have a green dot when selected.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • Resize manually: Drag any selection handle.

      An object with white squares on its border for changing the object’s size.

    • Resize to specific dimensions: In the Arrange tab at the top of the sidebar on the right, enter values in the Width and Height fields, or click the arrows next to the fields.

Rotate an object

Note: You can’t rotate a table, chart, or image gallery.

  1. Click the object to select it, or select multiple objects.

  2. In the Format  sidebar, click the Arrange tab.

  3. Drag the Rotate wheel, or enter a degree value in the adjacent field to specify the angle at which you want to rotate the object.

    Tip: You can also press the Command key while your pointer is over a white square on the object, then drag to rotate.

Flip an object

Note: You can’t flip a table, chart, or image gallery.

  1. Click the object to select it, or select multiple objects.

  2. In the Format  sidebar, click the Arrange tab.

  3. Click a Flip button (near the Rotate wheel) to flip the object vertically or horizontally.

Tip: You can add these buttons to the toolbar: Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical.

When you rotate or flip a shape that has text in it, the text moves with the shape. To make only the text horizontal again, choose Format > Reset Text and Object Handles.

See alsoMask (crop) a photoPosition and align objects in Pages on Mac