Can't disengage from aspect lock ratio

[TitasPaper]

Hello, 

In the last few days or so, I am no longer able to create a rectangle from a square element. I initially thought I accidentally clicked on "lock aspect ration" in the settings but it remains unchecked:

Is there anything else I need to do to be able to stretch the square element into a rectangle?

I screen recorded a small video but I don't know if I can add it to this forum so I also took a screenshot of me trying to stretch the square:

- I highlighted where I clicked on the cursor bc I realize you can't see it well since my background is black. 

I am using Chrome browser and prefer to stay on this browser...any advice is appreciated! 🙂

[Cat · Accepted solution]

They changed the way it works. Now you have to hold down the shift key while dragging the handles in order to change the shape. 

[TitasPaper]

THANK YOU!!!! Just tried it and it works! You've saved my sanity - much appreciated!

[AlyMarie]

I am having this same issue. Any ideas how to do this from an ipad?

[tamirazdesigns]

Same, but with my Samsung devices. 

[DanaCh]

Hello! Please I respectfully ask You to tell me if You have success with this big problem on iPads?

Thank You so much!

[Fantabuloustef]

I had the same problem and here’s a workaround I found on my iPad. To me it’s not a completely satisfying solution and I expect a real solution from Zazzle teams to come, but I’m not stuck any more: insert a picture in the current design where you want to add a rectangle. Then crop the picture. Remove it, and come back to your rectangle. This manipulation unlocks the proportional resizing of the square shape, I have no idea why, I found it by chance. 

[DanaCh]

Hello and thanks so much for the complex answer!Clearly you have discovered something, in the combination with crop it works.It happened to me once but I didn’t make the connection and i was happy and then in other projects again didn’t work.I was blocked and stupidly though i have to buy apple Magic Keyboard for iPad and here it costs almost as much as the minimum wage….was not on my list…Today I finally had the idea and tried to connect my husband’s old regular keyboard from the pc and it worked perfectly.It is not fun to have something extra near iPad but for now it is a necessity for me…I hope you enjoy again too designing for Zazzle and I wish you great success!

[Connie]

On ipad, Safari browser at least, keep Lock Aspect Ratio UN-checked, and make sure the browser is set to "Request mobile site." It works for me to free-form both images using the crop tool, and Elements using the side handles.

[tamirazdesigns]

This new feature of now having to hold down the Shift Key while dragging the handles, in order to change the shape and size of an element like a circle to an oval, and a square to a rectangle, is not good.  Why did this change when before it worked great on various types of tablets and smartphones?

I now can no longer just use my S-Pens to move around, or change Element Shapes to different shapes and sizes while on my Samsung tablet (unless the keyboard is attached to now hold down the shift key), or via my Samsung smartphone (which I can only use my S-Pen on).  I've used the S-Pen on various Samsung smartphones that I've had over the years for majority of my artwork designs, and also to change things like the element shapes while designing on Zazzle. 

Today I again tried to just move an element from one place to another with my S-Pen via my Samsung smartphone and cannot even do that anymore (so had to wait until I could get to my Samsung tablet).  And since this update change, I can no longer use my S-Pen anymore on either device to resize a text box to take away the extra length, or to say make text appear on one or two lines by stretching the handles, and so that it fits inside the safe area (I do not have lock aspect ratio on), unless I'm on my tablet with keyboard attached.  So that was affected too, and the old way was better.

Please make it so that it works the old way again so we can use our S-Pen stylus pens on our tablets and smartphones (without needing a keyboard and having to hold down the shift key).  And so that it also works with the shift key for those who may need the shift key for this.

Thank you 

[James]

Thanks for your feedback and use case of the older way this feature worked. I will be happy to pass this onto our dev team for consideration. Thank you so much and sorry this change has affected you.

I'm not sure if this will help you, but you should be able to turn on gestures which might help you emulate holding down the shift key on your tablet while using your stylus to adjust your image. 

Thank you. 

[tamirazdesigns]

Thank you James.

Yes, please let them know.  Hoping they can change it back to the "old way" before this recent change of having to hold down the shift key.   Before this update I didn't have a problem in the design tool area using my S-Pen (Samsung devices) , or as others have said via their pencil (Apple) regarding this issue.  

No, I can't access a shift key with my S-Pen while in the Zazzle design tool area via my Samsung smartphone, which I use for basically everything from creating artwork and doing things in Zazzle's design tool, etc.,  and  also other things outside of that since it's like a mini tablet/computer and phone on-the-go.  But with this new shift key thing it's like being locked out of it regarding the design tool area issue, unless you're on a computer or a tablet and have a keyboard you can attach to it, which I would of thought if I did this on my regular PC I could have put say elements on a design via Zazzle's design tool and would have just needed the mouse to change the shape, etc. without needing to hold down a shift key.  But it's been sometime since I've used my PC but that's what I seem to remember doing.

Thank you.  And have a very Happy and Healthy New Year to you and everyone!

[DanaCh]

Hello James! I wish to You and all Zazzle team a great New Year 2025! 
Please can you tell me how to solve this situation on iPad, I am very sad and concerned because I only get to work on a great iPad bought especially for opening my Zazzle store….I used to work with my fingers directly in designer tool,but now I will be happy to make it work even with the apple pencil…
I really hope I will succeed eventually….i have unsuccessfully tried so far
Thank you so much in advance!

[Connie]

I tried it out on my ipad, and if you keep "Lock aspect ratio" UN-checked, you can free-form crop, and if it is checked, it keeps the aspect ratio.

[Cat]

I'm not a fan of this new system either. I use a PC so the keyboard is readily available, my problem is that I tend to get careless and accidentally hit the control key instead of the shift key and then I can't figure out why it's not working! I'm hoping I can eventually train myself out of it, but in the meantime it's super frustrating!

[Connie]

The only thing I'm having trouble with is remembering to use the Shift key to adjust the text tool boxes. The crop tool is working fine. However, I'm a huge fan of having a free-form crop tool, so if people like keeping the aspect ratio, it might not work so well for them to now need to hold down the shift key to keep the aspect ratio.