Rotation: Clockwise or Counter-clockwise?

Have you ever had that moment of doubt as to which direction InDesign’s rotation angle is going to move your object? Are positive numbers clockwise or counter-clockwise?

I can’t remember myself, but there’s a little cheat that helps me look smart in front of a class. Just take a quick peek at the Rotation tool in the Tools panel. Notice that it indicates a counter-clockwise direction.



That’s your clue that positive numbers rotate objects counter-clockwise.



Negative numbers go clockwise.



This half-second glance saves me a lot of undos.