> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/design-and-customize-graphics/chapter-index-1/designer-workspace-overview.md).
# Designer Workspace panel
The Workspace canvas is the Designer’s main view and a direct, visual editor: you build a graphic by working on it with the mouse. Click a layer to select it, drag to move it, drag its handles to resize or rotate it, and double-click text to edit it in place. The [Properties panel](/design-and-customize-graphics/chapter-index-1/designer-properties-panel.md) and the [Timeline](/design-and-customize-graphics/chapter-index-1/designer-timeline-overview.md) give you precise, numeric control, but most of the design happens right on the canvas.
## Work directly on the canvas
Every visual layer — text, shape, or image — can be selected and shaped on the canvas:
* **Select** — click a layer. A selection box appears around it. Click an empty area to deselect.
* **Move** — drag the body of the selected layer to reposition it.
* **Resize** — drag the handles on the selection box. The corner handles scale both dimensions at once; the edge handles scale one.
* **Rotate in 2D** — drag the rotate handle above the selection box.
* **Rotate in 3D** — click the globe to turn on 3D rotation, then drag to spin the layer in three dimensions. Click the globe or an empty area to turn it off.
* **Edit text** — double-click a text layer to place a cursor and type. You can also select individual letters to move, scale, or rotate them on their own.
* **Nudge** — with a layer selected, use the arrow keys to move it a pixel at a time.
{% hint style="info" %}
For exact values, the **Properties > Transform** tab holds numeric position, scale, and rotation in both 2D and 3D.
{% endhint %}
**💡 TIP**\
Press Ctrl/Cmd + H to hide or show the selected layer’s bounding box.
## Select multiple layers at once
To work on several layers together, lasso-select them by dragging from an empty area:
* On the canvas, start the drag away from any layer, then drag across the layers you want.
* In the Timeline, start the drag near a layer and drag across the others.
Hold Shift while clicking to add or remove individual layers from the selection.
## Align with grids, guidelines, and safe margins
The Workspace includes alignment aids at the top of the canvas.
Layers snap to grids and guidelines when those are on; hold Alt to disable snapping temporarily.
### Marking grid
Click the **Marking Grid** button to show a grid across the canvas.
### Rules and guidelines
1. Click the **Guidelines** button to show the horizontal and vertical rules.
2. To add a guideline, drag from the side rule (for a horizontal guideline) or the top rule (for a vertical one) into the canvas.
3. To move a guideline, drag its end. To remove one, drag its end back to the rule. To clear them all, choose **View > Clear Guidelines**.
### Safe margins and crosshairs
Click the **Safe Margins** button to show the title-safe areas.
To choose the aspect ratio and turn crosshairs on, choose **View > Margins setup** and select **Crosshairs**, **16:9 Margins**, **16:9 HD Margins**, or **4:3 Margins**.
## Zoom and pan the canvas
Choose a percentage from the **Zoom** dropdown in the top-right corner of the Workspace.
When the zoom is above 100%, move around the canvas by dragging the scrollbars or the panning square at the bottom-right corner. You can also **hold Ctrl (Cmd on macOS) and drag** an empty part of the canvas to pan directly — the pointer becomes a hand while you drag.
To reverse the drag direction when panning, turn on **Invert Pan Behavior** in the Designer’s **Preferences**.
## Arrange the Designer’s panels
The Designer’s panels — the canvas, Library, Properties, and Timeline — dock, tab, float, and pin exactly like the playout workspace’s panels, and the arrangement is saved automatically and restored the next time you open the Designer. Designer panels are never closed outright: the **View** menu hides and shows them, and the canvas itself is always on screen. See [Customize Captivate’s layout](/get-started/chapter-index-2/customize-your-layout.md) for the drag, pin, and float mechanics.
## Get help inside the Designer
The Designer has its own **Help Center**. Choose **Help** > **Help Center** to open a docked panel — it opens on the right — that shows this help site without leaving the Designer. It stays where you dock it and reopens the next time you open the Designer.
## Related
* [Designer Timeline panel](/design-and-customize-graphics/chapter-index-1/designer-timeline-overview.md)
* [Designer Properties panel](/design-and-customize-graphics/chapter-index-1/designer-properties-panel.md)
---
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