diff --git a/src/ant/ant/antService.cc b/src/ant/ant/antService.cc
index 80dcce680..cb3e685cb 100644
--- a/src/ant/ant/antService.cc
+++ b/src/ant/ant/antService.cc
@@ -1624,57 +1624,7 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
   auto ac_eff = ac == lay::AC_Global ? m_snap_mode : ac;
   clear_mouse_cursors ();
 
-  bool indicate_ruler_as_message = true;
-
-  if (m_move_mode == MoveP1) {
-    
-    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2) {
-    
-    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP12) {
-    
-    db::DPoint p12 = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).x(), p12.y ()));
-    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (p12.x (), m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP21) {
-    
-    db::DPoint p21 = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (p21.x (), m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).y ()));
-    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).x(), p21.y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP1X) {
-    
-    db::DPoint pc = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (pc.x (), m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2X) {
-    
-    db::DPoint pc = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (pc.x (), m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP1Y) {
-    
-    db::DPoint pc = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).x (), pc.y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2Y) {
-    
-    db::DPoint pc = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
-    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).x (), pc.y ()));
-    m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
-
-  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveSelected) {
+  if (m_move_mode == MoveSelected) {
 
     db::DVector dp = p - m_p1;
     dp = lay::snap_angle (dp, ac_eff);
@@ -1682,7 +1632,6 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
     m_trans = db::DTrans (dp + (m_p1 - db::DPoint ()) - m_trans.disp ()) * m_trans * db::DTrans (db::DPoint () - m_p1);
 
     propose_move_transformation (m_trans, 1);
-    indicate_ruler_as_message = false;
 
     snap_rulers (ac_eff);
 
@@ -1690,11 +1639,69 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
       (*r)->transform_by (db::DCplxTrans (m_trans));
     }
 
+    show_message ();
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode != MoveNone) {
+
+    db::DPoint ps = snap2_visual (m_p1, p, &m_current, ac);
+    m_trans = db::DTrans (ps - m_p1);
+
+    apply_partial_move (ps);
+
+    propose_move_transformation (db::DTrans (ps - m_p1), 1);
+
+    //  display current move distance
+    std::string pos = std::string ("dx: ") + tl::micron_to_string (ps.x () - m_p1.x ()) + "  "
+                                 + "dy: "  + tl::micron_to_string (ps.y () - m_p1.y ());
+    view ()->message (pos);
+
+  }
+}
+
+void
+Service::apply_partial_move (db::DPoint &ps)
+{
+  if (m_move_mode == MoveP1) {
+
+    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, ps);
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2) {
+
+    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, ps);
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP12) {
+
+    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).x(), ps.y ()));
+    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (ps.x (), m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).y ()));
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP21) {
+
+    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (ps.x (), m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).y ()));
+    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).x(), ps.y ()));
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP1X) {
+
+    ps.set_y (m_p1.y ());
+    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (ps.x (), m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).y ()));
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2X) {
+
+    ps.set_y (m_p1.y ());
+    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (ps.x (), m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).y ()));
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP1Y) {
+
+    ps.set_x (m_p1.x ());
+    m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p1 (m_seg_index).x (), ps.y ()));
+
+  } else if (m_move_mode == MoveP2Y) {
+
+    ps.set_x (m_p1.x ());
+    m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index, db::DPoint (m_current.seg_p2 (m_seg_index).x (), ps.y ()));
+
   }
 
-  if (indicate_ruler_as_message) {
-    show_message ();
-  }
+  m_rulers [0]->redraw ();
 }
 
 void 
@@ -1743,6 +1750,9 @@ Service::end_move (const db::DPoint &, lay::angle_constraint_type)
 
     } else if (m_move_mode != MoveNone) {
 
+      db::DPoint ps = m_trans * m_p1;
+      apply_partial_move (ps);
+
       //  replace the ruler that was moved
       m_current.clean_points ();
       mp_view->annotation_shapes ().replace (*m_selected.begin (), db::DUserObject (new ant::Object (m_current)));
diff --git a/src/ant/ant/antService.h b/src/ant/ant/antService.h
index 6833c5acc..6213dc642 100644
--- a/src/ant/ant/antService.h
+++ b/src/ant/ant/antService.h
@@ -633,6 +633,7 @@ private:
   lay::EditorOptionsPage *toolbox_widget ();
 
   void show_message ();
+  void apply_partial_move (db::DPoint &ps);
 
   /**
    *  @brief A handler for the shape container's changed event
diff --git a/src/img/img/imgService.cc b/src/img/img/imgService.cc
index 7d84f281b..5e410d345 100644
--- a/src/img/img/imgService.cc
+++ b/src/img/img/imgService.cc
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ Service::Service (db::Manager *manager, lay::LayoutViewBase *view)
     mp_transient_view (0),
     m_move_mode (Service::move_none),
     m_moved_landmark (0),
+    m_ac (lay::AC_Global),
     m_keep_selection_for_move (false),
     m_images_visible (true),
     m_visibility_cache_valid (false)
@@ -608,12 +609,14 @@ Service::begin_move (lay::Editable::MoveMode mode, const db::DPoint &p, lay::ang
   double l = catch_distance ();
   db::DBox search_dbox = db::DBox (p, p).enlarged (db::DVector (l, l));
 
+  m_plast = m_p1 = p;
+  m_trans = db::DTrans ();
+  m_ac = lay::AC_Global;
+
   //  choose move mode
   if (mode == lay::Editable::Selected) {
 
     m_move_mode = move_selected;
-    m_p1 = p;
-    m_trans = db::DTrans ();
 
     selection_to_view ();
     for (std::vector <img::View *>::iterator r = m_selected_image_views.begin (); r != m_selected_image_views.end (); ++r) {
@@ -657,7 +660,6 @@ Service::begin_move (lay::Editable::MoveMode mode, const db::DPoint &p, lay::ang
   } else if (mode == lay::Editable::Any) {
   
     m_move_mode = move_none;
-    m_p1 = p;
     double dmin = std::numeric_limits <double>::max ();
 
     const db::DUserObject *robj = find_image (p, search_dbox, l, dmin);
@@ -705,11 +707,14 @@ Service::move_transform (const db::DPoint &p, db::DFTrans tr, lay::angle_constra
     return;
   }
 
+  db::DTrans tr_new = db::DTrans (p - db::DPoint ()) * db::DTrans (tr) * db::DTrans (m_trans.fp_trans ()) * db::DTrans (db::DPoint () - m_p1);
+
   if (m_move_mode == move_all) {
 
-    db::DVector dp = p - db::DPoint ();
+    db::DTrans dt = tr_new * m_trans.inverted ();
 
-    m_current.transform (db::DTrans (dp) * db::DTrans (tr) * db::DTrans (-dp));
+    m_current.transform (dt);
+    m_trans = dt * m_trans;
 
     //  display current images' parameters
     show_message ();
@@ -718,7 +723,7 @@ Service::move_transform (const db::DPoint &p, db::DFTrans tr, lay::angle_constra
 
   } else if (m_move_mode == move_selected) {
 
-    m_trans *= db::DTrans (m_p1 - db::DPoint ()) * db::DTrans (tr) * db::DTrans (db::DPoint () - m_p1);
+    m_trans = tr_new;
 
     for (std::vector<img::View *>::iterator r = m_selected_image_views.begin (); r != m_selected_image_views.end (); ++r) {
       (*r)->transform_by (db::DCplxTrans (m_trans));
@@ -734,13 +739,27 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
     return;
   }
 
+  m_ac = ac;
+
+  do_move (p, ac);
+
+  if (m_move_mode != move_selected) {
+    m_selected_image_views [0]->redraw ();
+    show_message ();
+  }
+
+  propose_move_transformation (m_trans, 2);
+}
+
+void
+Service::do_move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
+{
   if (m_move_mode == move_selected) {
 
-    db::DVector dp = p - m_p1;
-    m_p1 = p;
+    db::DVector dp = p - m_plast;
+    m_plast = p;
 
     m_trans = db::DTrans (dp) * m_trans;
-    propose_move_transformation (m_trans, 2);
 
     for (std::vector<img::View *>::iterator r = m_selected_image_views.begin (); r != m_selected_image_views.end (); ++r) {
       (*r)->transform_by (db::DCplxTrans (m_trans));
@@ -748,6 +767,8 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
 
   } else if (m_move_mode == move_landmark) {
 
+    m_trans = db::DTrans (p - m_p1);
+
     std::vector <db::DPoint> li = m_initial.landmarks ();
     for (std::vector <db::DPoint>::iterator l = li.begin (); l != li.end (); ++l) {
       *l = m_initial.matrix ().trans (*l);
@@ -771,20 +792,20 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
     db::adjust_matrix (m, li, lm, adjust, int (m_moved_landmark));
     m_current.set_matrix (m * m_initial.matrix ());
 
-    m_selected_image_views [0]->redraw ();
-
   } else {
 
     if (m_move_mode == move_all) {
 
-      db::DVector dp = p - m_p1;
-      m_p1 = p;
+      db::DVector dp = p - m_plast;
+      m_plast = p;
 
+      m_trans = db::DTrans (dp) * m_trans;
       m_current.transform (db::DTrans (dp));
 
     } else {
 
       m_current = m_initial;
+      m_trans = db::DTrans (p - m_p1);
 
       db::DVector dx (0.5 * m_current.width (), 0.5 * m_current.height ());
       db::Matrix3d it = (m_current.matrix () * db::Matrix3d::disp (-dx)).inverted ();
@@ -848,15 +869,6 @@ Service::move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac)
 
     }
 
-    //  display current images' parameters
-    show_message ();
-
-    m_selected_image_views [0]->redraw ();
-
-  }
-
-  if (m_move_mode != move_selected) {
-    show_message ();
   }
 }
 
@@ -875,7 +887,7 @@ Service::show_message ()
 void
 Service::end_move (const db::DVector &v)
 {
-  m_trans = db::DTrans (v) * db::DTrans (m_trans.fp_trans ());
+  do_move (m_p1 + v, m_ac);
   end_move (db::DPoint (), lay::AC_Any);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/img/img/imgService.h b/src/img/img/imgService.h
index 0d3d27092..aa4ef9975 100644
--- a/src/img/img/imgService.h
+++ b/src/img/img/imgService.h
@@ -505,8 +505,10 @@ private:
   std::set<obj_iterator> m_selected;
   //  The previous selection
   std::set<obj_iterator> m_previous_selection;
-  //  The reference point in move mode
+  //  The starting point in move mode
   db::DPoint m_p1;
+  //  The last reference point in move mode
+  db::DPoint m_plast;
   //  The image object representing the image being moved as it was before it was moved
   img::Object m_initial;
   //  The image object representing the image being moved
@@ -519,6 +521,8 @@ private:
   MoveMode m_move_mode;
   //  The index of the landmark being moved
   size_t m_moved_landmark;
+  //  The last "angle constraint" (button combination) used in move
+  lay::angle_constraint_type m_ac;
   //  Flag indicating that we want to keep the selection after the landmark was moved
   bool m_keep_selection_for_move;
   //  Flag indicating whether images are visible
@@ -528,6 +532,8 @@ private:
   std::map<const img::Object *, bool> m_visibility_cache;
 
   void show_message ();
+  void do_move (const db::DPoint &p, lay::angle_constraint_type ac);
+
 
   /**
    *  @brief Select a certain image