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How to zoom, pan and rotate the view in Lil Cactus

Beginner5 minutesUpdated

Quick answer

In Lil Cactus, choose View then Fit on Screen to see the whole image, or View then Actual Size (100%) to inspect pixel detail. Hold Space and drag to pan, or choose Window then Navigator and click the area you want in its thumbnail. Rotate View tilts the workspace; Reset view returns it upright. These controls change your view without resizing or rotating the image itself.

Navigator panel with its thumbnail ringed and a smaller viewport outline around the coffee cup at 200% zoom
The rectangle inside the Navigator thumbnail marks the part of the photo currently visible in the workspace. Here the view is at 200%.
Time
5 minutes
Level
Beginner
You need
An image or project open in the editor
Works with
Any document you can open in Lil Cactus
Open the sample in Lil CactusUse your own photo

Free, no sign-up. Your photo stays on your computer.

Use a fitted view to judge the composition and 100% to inspect details such as the edge of the cup. Pan to reach parts outside the workspace. A tilted view can put an edge at a more comfortable angle for painting.

Inspect and navigate a photo in six steps

  1. Fit the whole photo on screen

    Open the sample from this page. Choose View then Fit on Screen. The editor centers the photo and chooses a zoom level that fits it in the available workspace.

    View menu with Fit on Screen ringed
    Fit on Screen brings the full image into view.
    The whole coffee photo, fitted to the workspace
    You can see the full 1536 × 1024 px photo.

  2. Inspect detail at 100%

    Choose View then Actual Size (100%). The photo now extends beyond the workspace, so only part of it is visible. Inspect the foam and the rim of the cup at this scale.

    View menu with Actual Size (100%) ringed
    Actual Size sets the editor’s view to 100%.
    A portion of the coffee photo at the editor’s 100% zoom, with the cup at the right edge
    At 100%, this workspace shows only part of the photo.

  3. Pan to the cup handle

    Hold Space and drag the photo to the left until the cup’s handle comes into view. Release Space to return to your previous tool. The zoom level stays at 100%.

    The 100% view panned to the right-hand part of the photo, showing the cup handle
    Dragging left brings more of the right side into view.

  4. Find an area with the Navigator

    Choose Window then Navigator. Click the cup in the thumbnail to center that area in the workspace. You can also drag within the thumbnail to move the view. The rectangle in the thumbnail marks the visible area.

    Window menu with Navigator ringed
    Open Navigator from the Window menu.

  5. Rotate the view to a useful angle

    Press R to select Rotate View. You can also right-click (or press and hold) the Hand button in the left toolbar and choose Rotate View. To match the example exactly, type 30 in View angle and press Enter.

    To tilt freely, drag around the center of the workspace; hold Shift during the drag for 15° steps. Choose View then Fit on Screen again to include the rotated corners.

    The Hand toolbar button beside its open flyout, with the button and Rotate View ringed
    Rotate View shares a toolbar group with Hand.
    Rotate View options bar with View angle set to 30 degrees, ringed
    Type 30 for the same clockwise angle as this example.
    The coffee photo shown at a 30 degree clockwise view rotation with all four image corners visible
    The photo is tilted 30° in the workspace. The dark corners are the editor background.

  6. Reset and return to the whole image

    Click Reset view in the options bar, then choose View then Fit on Screen. The view is upright and centered again.

    Rotate View options showing View angle at zero and the Reset view button ringed
    Reset view returns the viewing angle to 0°.

Other ways to zoom and pan

ControlWhat it does
Ctrl+= or ⌘= / Ctrl+- or ⌘-Zoom in or out.
Ctrl+0 or ⌘0 / Ctrl+1 or ⌘1Fit on Screen or Actual Size (100%).
ZSelect the Zoom tool. Click to zoom in, or Alt-click (Option-click on Mac) to zoom out. Drag right to zoom in and left to zoom out.
Zoom field (bottom-left of the window)Shows the current zoom. Choose Fit on screen or a preset level from 5% to 800%.
Mouse wheel or trackpadScroll or move two fingers to pan. Hold Shift for horizontal movement. Hold Ctrl (Command on Mac) and scroll, or pinch, to zoom.
Navigator arrow keysClick the thumbnail, then use arrow keys to pan. Shift makes the step larger.

Use the View menu if a browser handles a key combination before the editor receives it.

What to do next

Zoom and navigation: questions and answers

Does zooming change my photo’s size?

No. In Lil Cactus, zoom changes the view of the photo. Its pixel dimensions stay the same. Use Image › Image Size… when you want to resize the image itself.

Why does Fit on Screen use a different percentage?

In Lil Cactus, Fit on Screen chooses a zoom level from the image size, viewing angle and available workspace. The percentage can change when the workspace changes. Actual Size (100%) always sets the view to 100%.

How do I reset a rotated view?

In Lil Cactus, press Esc while Rotate View is active to return the view to 0°, or click Reset view in the options bar. Esc does not reset the view while you are typing in a field.

Does the Navigator move a layer?

No. In Lil Cactus, clicking or dragging the Navigator thumbnail centers the view on that area. It leaves the layers and their contents in place.

Does zooming above 100% add detail?

No. In Lil Cactus, a zoom above 100% magnifies existing image pixels. It can help you see individual pixels, but it does not add detail to the image.

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