Control the movement of a selection

Last updated on Jan 27, 2026

Learn to control selection movement with constrained angles and pixel-precise nudging in Adobe Photoshop.

Before you begin

Select the Move tool to reposition your selection on the canvas.

Choose the Select tool and then select the area you want to move.

Select the Move tool to reposition your selection on the canvas. To move the selected area, do one of the following:

  • Constrain the direction to multiples of 45° by beginning to drag, then holding Shift while you continue to drag.
  • Move the selection in 1-pixel increments by pressing an arrow key.
  • Move the selection in 10-pixel increments by holding Shift and pressing an arrow key.