Touch interface for precise rotation of an object

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor, performs an operation to rotate virtual objects within a virtual environment being displayed on a touch screen display, the operation comprising:
• upon receiving a selection of a first virtual object and a second virtual object using the touch screen display, rendering one or more frames depicting a rotation tool in a predefined location and having a first orientation to a center point between the first and second virtual objects;
• responsive to receiving input from the touch screen display, moving the rotation tool from a first location to a second location on the touch screen display as specified by the received input;
• and
• responsive to the movement of the rotation tool, rotating the first and second virtual objects within the virtual environment based on the movement of the rotation tool, wherein the center point between the first and second virtual objects substantially maintains the first orientation to the rotation tool throughout the movement.

A system, comprising:

• a computer processor;
• and
• a memory containing a program which when executed by the processor, performs an operation to rotate virtual objects within a virtual environment being displayed on a touch screen display, the operation comprising:
• upon receiving a selection of a first virtual object using the touch screen display, rendering one or more frames depicting a rotation tool in a predefined location relative to the first virtual object and having a first orientation to the first virtual object;
• responsive to receiving input from the touch screen display, moving the rotation tool from a first location to a second location on the touch screen display as specified by the received input;
• responsive to the movement of the rotation tool, rotating the first virtual object within the virtual environment based on the movement of the rotation tool, wherein the first virtual object substantially maintains the first orientation to the rotation tool throughout the movement;
• and
• upon determining that rotating the first virtual object to face the rotation tool at the second location causes the first virtual object to be within a threshold orientation of a second virtual object, rotating the first virtual object to match an orientation of the second virtual object.