Select, Move, and Edit Content With the Lasso Tool

Use the Lasso Tool to select handwriting, images, text boxes, Sticky Notes, and other page content. Some objects cannot use every Object Menu action; available actions depend on the selected content.

The selection filter is named “Included in Selection”.

Select content

Select the Lasso Tool from the Toolbar.
Draw a loop around the content.

Drawing a Lasso selection around content

To avoid selecting nearby content, make sure the loop or frame only touches the intended object.

The Lasso Tool uses freehand selection by default. Choose a rectangular lasso to drag a frame around content.

Use Circle to Lasso

With the Pen Tool, draw a circle around the content.
Lift the pen.
Touch and hold the circle with the pen.
Wait for it to become a dotted Lasso selection.

Move and align content

Select the content.
Drag it to a new location.
Release it when the desired alignment guideline appears.
Select outside the selection to apply the change.

Object Alignment shows dashed lines for center alignment and solid lines for edge alignment.

Object Alignment guidelines while moving selected content

Disable Object Alignment from More (…) > Align Objects in Document View.

Moving a Lasso selection across pages

Resize, rotate, or edit an object

Select the object.
Drag a resize handle, use the rotation control, or select a shape edge to edit the shape.
Select outside the selection to apply the change.

Resize handles around a selected object

Rotation control for a selected object

Hold Option or Alt while resizing to scale from the center. Shapes and Sticky Notes resize freely; hold Shift to keep their proportions. Images retain their aspect ratio by default.

Resizing an object from its center with Option or Alt

Selecting a shape edge to edit the shape

Use the Object Menu

Selecting content opens the Object Menu. Select More (…) for additional actions and labels.

General: Cut, copy, duplicate, delete, arrange, resize, rotate, recolor, take a screenshot, create an Element, or ask Goodnotes AI.
Handwriting: Convert to text or math, or edit as text.
Images: Share, save, or crop.
Sticky Notes: Edit text, collapse, manage the author name, or resolve a thread.

Customize selection behavior

Select the Lasso Tool twice.
Choose a freehand or rectangular Lasso Type.
Use Included in Selection to choose selectable content types.
If needed, choose Disconnect Apple Pencil to use your finger. Start writing to reconnect Apple Pencil.

Related to

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