How do I force the select tool to resize an object instead of moving it?

I'm trying to manually align an image to a map grid (the automated tools won't work due to the dimensions) and I can't get the thing to resize reliably. I click on the corners but it's totally random if it will start moving the object or resizing it. I can't rely on the cursor turning into the appropriate double-arrow icon because no matter what, the icon is always the compass rose style icon regardless of whether or not clicking there will indicate that the object needs to be moved or resized.

Here’s my standard walkthrough for aligning maps in Roll20:

1. Make sure the map image is on the map layer
2. Make sure the map image is set as a ‘drawing’ (right click on the image)
3. Make sure the Roll20 grid is nice and visible - adjust the color to red and turn the transparency up to like 100%
4. Use the ‘align to grid’ feature to get the size close (optional)
5. Move the top left grid on the map image to align with the Roll20 grid
6. Stretch the map image horizontally to the right to align the grid. You may have to repeat 5&6 a couple times
7. Stretch the map image vertically down to align to the Roll20 grid
8. Turn the grid color back to whatever you want (light grey and more transparent, or just off if the map image has grid lines already)

Jarren said:

Here’s my standard walkthrough for aligning maps in Roll20:

1. Make sure the map image is on the map layer
2. Make sure the map image is set as a ‘drawing’ (right click on the image)
3. Make sure the Roll20 grid is nice and visible - adjust the color to red and turn the transparency up to like 100%
4. Use the ‘align to grid’ feature to get the size close (optional)
5. Move the top left grid on the map image to align with the Roll20 grid
6. Stretch the map image horizontally to the right to align the grid. You may have to repeat 5&6 a couple times
7. Stretch the map image vertically down to align to the Roll20 grid
8. Turn the grid color back to whatever you want (light grey and more transparent, or just off if the map image has grid lines already)

Step 6 and 7 are the problem. It's randomly interpreting my attempts to stretch as attempts to move instead and I don't know of any way to force it to stretch.

This exactly. The cursor used to switch between the move stretch icons depending on where it hovered over the image. It stopped doing that somewhere during the various recent VTT changes. Many times I can only get the image to stretch if I zoom in very tight to a corner or edge. I can resize by typing in the size in pixels or grid squares but that can be cumbersome.

houselyrander said:

Step 6 and 7 are the problem. It's randomly interpreting my attempts to stretch as attempts to move instead and I don't know of any way to force it to stretch.

I never use the corner to adjust the dimensions.  The middle of each side will have a small blue square 'handle' when the image is selected, and that is the best way to stretch the image. If the image is set as a 'drawing' then you don't have to worry about it automatically snapping to the grid lines (or you can hold down the Alt/Option key to have the same effect).

Also, if the image already has a grid on it, then turning off the visibility of the Roll20 grid and letting tokens be slightly off won't likely be noticeable for your players, and if the image doesn't have a grid, then you get to put the Roll20 grid wherever you like. :) 

Here's a video on YouTube (not mine) that shows the process pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho-cYftUyDw

It seems the issue is selecting the handle and not the graphic? That can be tricky and takes some practice. Since it is largely muscle memory for me now, I consulted my fingers and asked them how they do it. The best way to select the handle only is to approach the handle slowly, from the outside of the selected graphic. The cursor should change from arrow to crosshairs.* The moment that the cursor changes, you should be in the handle area, not the graphic area.

*If it does not, here is the workaround I have discovered: move the graphic and then move it back. The cursor should respond correctly to that graphic for the rest of the session.

Zooming in may help grab the handle. 

Jarren said:

I never use the corner to adjust the dimensions.  The middle of each side will have a small blue square 'handle' when the image is selected, and that is the best way to stretch the image.

Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work any better. Also, when it does work it doesn't keep the original dimensions, which I want for my maps.

keithcurtis said:

It seems the issue is selecting the handle and not the graphic? That can be tricky and takes some practice. Since it is largely muscle memory for me now, I consulted my fingers and asked them how they do it. The best way to select the handle only is to approach the handle slowly, from the outside of the selected graphic. The cursor should change from arrow to crosshairs.* The moment that the cursor changes, you should be in the handle area, not the graphic area.

---

*If it does not, here is the workaround I have discovered: move the graphic and then move it back. The cursor should respond correctly to that graphic for the rest of the session.

That's pretty much the problem. Doing it pixel by pixel sorta works, but it gets weirdly unreliable sometimes when the map image gets too big. The map I was trying to resize and align is at least set up for now.

Another option is to type in the dimensions manually.  Right-click the token, and under the "Advanced" menu item, there will be a "Set Dimensions" item.  Can be a little tedious, but this is really the best option for precision size-setting.