Graphicxtras

Rotate Custom Shapes

Youtube video on subject

Vectors

Tutorial assumes you have a vector Photoshop custom shape to rotate. To add a vector (CSH, rectangle, ellipse, star etc), go to the tools bar and select the custom shape tool or the ellipse or rectangle or polygon tool and add the vector using the layer option set in the top left of the application (no use if you are using the pixel option)

Transform controls

Make certain the transform controls are on - you can see them above, they are those squares at the corner. The transform controls option is along the top bar. With that set to ON or checked, go to the vector and hover just slightly away from the square corners and the cursor will change to a curved arrow and you can then revolve the design. Hold down the shift key to constrain to 30 / 45 / etc degrees and release and press return and it has been gyrated.

properties panel

Select the design and then go to the window menu and properties and then go to the angle field in the transform section and enter 45 degrees or 90 etc

Edit menu and transform path

You can also gyrate it using the edit menu and transform command : scale, shear etc. Go to the top of the application and enter the angle

Moving the center point

Above, all the transformations have been rotating about the center of the artwork. You can also move the center point to a different location, perhaps at the top of the bounding box but you can also move it outside of that and perhaps have the design pivot about the center of the document say. During the operation, drag the center point and move to a new location. Sadly, the center point is not remembered so next time you come to wheel a design, you have to do it again. I generally always rotate using a grid or use smart guides and I know the position to place the center point again and again.

3D

There is no real 3D turning feature but you can fake it with the use of the smart objects and 3D. Convert the vector layer to a smart object via the layer menu and smart objects and convert and once you have that go to the 3D menu and new mesh from layer and depth map to plane. You are now into 3D space and you can spin your design and scale etc in that 3D space and you can rasterize the layer or just flatten the layer via the flatten image command in the layer menu or just leave it as a 3D object

Multiple designs

Create multiple vectors, select them all in the layers panel or use the move tool to select them all. Position the center point to set a rotation point for the stars or other designs. Turn using the bounding box etc