Aligning and justifying paragraphs


    Area type and type on a path can be aligned with one or both edges of a type path. Text is said to be justified when it is aligned with both edges. You can choose to justify all text in a paragraph excluding the last line, or you can justify text in a paragraph including the last line.

    Paragraph with last line justified left (left) compared to paragraph with all lines justified (right)
    Paragraph with last line justified left (left) compared to paragraph with all lines justified (right)

    You can control the spacing in justified text using the Justification dialog box. (See Controlling hyphenation and justification.)

To specify alignment for paragraph type:

    In the Paragraph palette, click an alignment button. The options for horizontal type are as follows:

    • Align Left Justify with Last Line Aligned Left to align type to the left, leaving the right edge of the paragraph ragged.
    • Align Center Align Center to align type to the center, leaving both edges of the paragraph ragged.
    • Align Right Align Right to align type to the right, leaving the left edge of the paragraph ragged.

    The options for vertical type are as follows:

    • Align Top Align Top to align type to the top, leaving the bottom edge of the paragraph ragged.
    • Align Center Align Center to align type to the center, leaving both the top and bottom edges of the paragraph ragged.
    • Align Bottom Align Bottom to align type to the bottom, leaving the top edge of the paragraph ragged.

To specify justification for paragraph type:

    In the Paragraph palette, click a justification button. The options for horizontal type are as follows:

    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Left Justify with Last Line Aligned Left to justify all lines except the last, which is left-aligned.
    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Center Justify with Last Line Aligned Center to justify all lines except the last, which is center-aligned.
    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Right Align Right to justify all lines except the last, which is right-aligned.
    • Justify All Lines Justify All Lines to justify all lines including the last, which is force-justified.

    The options for vertical type are as follows:

    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Top Justify with Last Line Aligned Top to justify all lines except the last, which is top-aligned.
    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Center Justify with Last Line Aligned Center to justify all lines except the last, which is center-aligned.
    • Justify with Last Line Aligned Bottom Justify with Last Line Aligned Bottom to justify all lines except the last, which is bottom-aligned.
    • Justify All Lines Justify All Lines to justify all lines including the last, which is force-justified.