Aligning and distributing objects
You use the Align palette to align or distribute selected objects along the axis you specify. You can align or distribute objects along the vertical or horizontal axis. You can use either the object edges or anchor points as the reference point. Note: Paragraph alignment of point type overrides the Align Objects options. (See Aligning and justifying paragraphs.) In addition, you can distribute the space between objects evenly, both horizontally and vertically. Displaying and hiding the Align palette Choose Window > Align. Using the palette menu Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the palette. Showing and hiding palette options Choose Show Options from the palette menu.
To set Align palette options: - To set how objects are aligned and distributed, do one of the following:
- To use the edge of the stroke width, choose Use Preview Bounds from the Align palette menu.
- To use the object paths, deselect Use Preview Bounds in the Align palette menu.
- To set objects to align and distribute relative to the artboard, choose Align To Artboard from the Align palette menu.
To align or distribute objects: - Select the objects to align or distribute.
- Choose Window > Align to display the Align palette.
- Do one of the following:
- To align or distribute the objects relative to an outermost edge or anchor point, click the button for the type of alignment or distribution you want.
- To align or distribute the objects relative to a specific object's edge or anchor point, click the object to which you want the other objects to align or distribute. Then click the button for the type of alignment or distribution you want.
- To stop aligning and distributing the objects relative to an object you clicked on, choose Cancel Key Object from the Align palette menu.
To distribute objects by specifying the amount of space between their paths: - Select the objects to distribute.
- Choose Window > Align, and choose Show Options from the Align palette menu.
- In the Distribute Spacing text box, enter the amount of space to appear between objects. (The value's unit is determined by the general Units preference.)
- Select the Selection tool
, and then click the path of the object to which you want the other objects to distribute. The object you click will remain fixed in its position. - Click either the Vertical Distribute Space button or the Horizontal Distribute Space button.
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