myPoint
Beginner Intermediate Expert
General Menu Shade Mouse locator Coordinates Crosshair Grille

1. Change the size of the grille with hotkeys

There are four hotkeys to change the grille's size:
  • ⌥⌘ →     increase the aperture Horizontally (aperture width).
  • ⌥⌘ ←     decrease the aperture Horizontally (aperture width).
  • ⌥⌘ ↑     increase the aperture Vertically (aperture height).
  • ⌥⌘ ↓     decrease the aperture Vertically (aperture height).
The change depends on the Precise mode and can be 1 or 10 pixels.
  • ⌃⌥⌘ .     toggle the Precise mode.
Try out:
  • Pin the grille: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • Change the aperture once or twice just to find out the current precision mode.
  • Toggle off the Precise mode if necessary: ⌃⌥⌘ .
  • Change the aperture to an approximate value.
  • Toggle on the Precise mode.
  • Change the aperture to the final value.

2. Aligning and sizing a group of identical objects

Position objects:
  • Turn off the Pin mode: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • Move the grille until mouse gauges align to the first object.
    for example, the grille may align to:
    • The left and the bottom borders of a button.
    • The left border and the baseline of a text field.
  • Turn on the Pin mode.
  • Change the grille step to fit the Layout step.
  • Align other objects to the grille, following the alignment pattern of the first object.
Resize objects:
  • Turn off the Pin mode: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • Move the grille until gauges align in respect of the size of the first object.
    for example, the grille may align to:
    • The right and the top borders of a button.
    • The right border and the baseline of a text field.
  • Turn on the Pin mode.
  • Resize all other objects.
Tip:
When objects are close (1 to 20 points):
  • First, adjust the gauge thickness to the same value.
  • And set the grille step.
This way, the grille will represent the size and distance of the Layout template. So positioning and resizing of objects can be accomplished in one step.

3. The grille jump

When you need to check the alignment, size, or offset of objects, but the current grille position should be preserved, it's time for the grille jump:
  • Keep the grille pinned to preserve its position.
  • Select the "Grille jump" checkbox.
    There is no hotkey, so use myPoint menu or myPoint panel.
  • Move the mouse to the target point.
    The Crosshair or Coordinates can be utilized to get the right point.
  • Unpin the grille: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • The grille jumps to the new mouse position.
    Note: It will respect the current offset from the mouse.
  • Preview the alignment, size, or offset.
  • Pin the grille: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • The grille jumps back to its old position.
Tricks:
  • Do not move the mouse until the grille is pinned back to its old position.
  • When the Crosshair is used, set its offset from the mouse to be the same as the grille's offset.
  • When Coordinates are used, toggle off the grille's offset from the mouse.

4. Grille from bands

Often the grille should be constructed according to a virtual frame divided by a few bands horizontally and vertically..
Try out:
  • Open myPoint panel and select the Grid view.
  • Set the gauge thickness (in Grille section).
  • Set the number of horizontal and vertical bands (in Grille from bands section).
  • Memorize the Pin grille and the Apply bands hotkeys (in Hotkeys section).
  • Turn off the Pin mode: clear the checkbox or press ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • Figure out the virtual frame.
  • Move the mouse to one of the frame's corners and pin the grille by hotkey: ⌃⌥⌘ N.
  • Move the mouse to the opposite frame's corner and press the Apply bands hotkey: ⌃⌥⌘ B.
Tips:
  • If the offset from the mouse is not zero, then the grille will offset from the virtual frame too.
  • The Apply bands hotkey may be pressed multiple times until the right grille is constructed.
  • If the virtual frame is too small, the related aperture size will not be changed.
  • Set 0 as the number of horizontal or vertical bands to keep the current aperture width or height.
  • Utilize the crosshair or coordinates to target the opposite frame corner.

5. Rule of Thirds with the grille

Open myPoint panel or myPoint menu.
Set both the horizontal and vertical bands to 3.
Apply bands as described in Grille from bands section.

6. Grille vs. Cat

Kudos to David for sharing the following story with us.
"I use your "myPoint Grid" to keep my cat from attacking my projection screen. It works really well.
Thanks for your product, you have saved my $600 screen!"
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