Disclosed are methods and systems for moving and manipulating graphical objects on a device that may include one or more pointing device, such as a mouse, a touchpad, or a touch screen, some of which may be multi-touch enabled. In some embodiments, a method may include, concurrent with and in response to user input from a pointing device: moving a first graphical object, determining a plurality of alternative target orientations for that first graphical object, selecting one of the target orientations, and gradually changing certain display characteristics of the first object based on characteristics of the selected target orientation.