# Selection Tool
The Selection Tool (also called Move Tool) is your primary tool for selecting, moving, and transforming layers on the canvas.

## Shortcuts

<Callout type="info" icon={false} title="">
  **Spacebar** : Press **V** on your keyboard
</Callout>

**Default Tool:** The Selection Tool is active when you first open Lottie Creator.

## Selecting Layers

### Single Selection

**Click to Select:**

1. Click any layer on the canvas
2. The layer becomes selected (highlighted)
3. Transform controls appear around the layer
4. Properties appear in the right sidebar

**Select from Outliner:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click layer name in the Outliner panel (left sidebar)</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Useful when layers are overlapping or hard to click</ListItem>
</List>

### Multiple Selection

**Add to Selection (Shift+Click):**

1. Select first layer
2. Hold **Shift** and click additional layers
3. All selected layers show transform controls

**Remove from Selection:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Hold **Shift** and click a selected layer to deselect it</ListItem>
</List>

**Select All:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Press **Ctrl/Cmd + A** to select all layers in current scene</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Or **Edit → Select All**</ListItem>
</List>

**Deselect All:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click empty area on canvas</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Press **Escape** key</ListItem>
</List>

### Marquee Selection

**Drag to Select Multiple:**

1. Click and drag on empty canvas area
2. A selection rectangle appears
3. Release to select all layers within rectangle

## Advanced Selection Techniques

### Locking and Hiding

**Lock Layers:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click **lock icon** in Outliner or timeline</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Locked layers cannot be selected or moved</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Useful for protecting background elements</ListItem>
</List>

**Hide Layers:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click **eye icon** in Outliner or timeline</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Hidden layers cannot be selected</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Useful for complex scenes with many layers</ListItem>
</List>

**Focus Layers:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click **focus icon** in Outliner or timeline</ListItem>
  <ListItem>All other layers become temporarily hidden</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Useful for precise editing</ListItem>
</List>

## Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential shortcuts for Selection Tool:

**Tool:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>**V** - Activate Selection Tool</ListItem>
</List>

**Selection:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>**Click** - Select single layer</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Shift + Click** - Add to selection</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Ctrl/Cmd + A** - Select all</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Escape** - Deselect all</ListItem>
</List>

**View:**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>**Ctrl/Cmd + Click** - Cycle through overlapping layers</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Double-click** - Enter group/precomp</ListItem>
</List>

See [Complete Keyboard Shortcuts](/en/creator/15_reference/shortcuts) for all shortcuts.