Reset object rotation back to 0 degrees

Question

When I rotate a text or other object in InkScape manually (by clicking on it twice, slowly) I can't seem to be able to rotate it back to 0 degrees exactly.

When I access Transformation menu (Ctrl + Shift + M), there is just relative rotation option. But the absolute rotation must be known, when the text is rotated!

So where do I edit absolute object rotation?

Answer 1

I'm not aware of any elegant solution, but it can be done with the XML Editor.

1. Select the rotated object.

2. Click the XML Editor button on the toolbar or Shift + Ctrl + X.

   

3. Selected element will also be selected in the XML Editor. Find the transform property on the right and click it.

   ㅤ

   Inkscape v1.3 and later

   

ㅤ 4. Change the value to matrix(1,0,0,1,0,0) and click Set.

This will reset all transformations applied to the selected object.

Note: Path objects might not have the transform attribute in the XML when transforms are set to "Optimized" in preferences.

Answer 2

Instead of setting it to the identity matrix, simply delete the "transform" attribute by clicking to the red "x" icon above the attribute view.

Answer 3

Here's a tip: paths need to be "grouped" before you try to rotate, or there is no transform property applied. Rotating a path without grouping it simply changes the coordinates of all the path's points.

So in order to see the "transform" property in the XML editor, select the path and hit CTRL-G before rotating. Then any rotations will be applied to the group, not the individual path, thus creating the "transform" property in the XML editor.

Hope this helps!