Resizing and positioning layers


    You can position layers accurately using the Layer Inspector and a page grid that you define in the Grid Settings dialog box. By assigning a z-index to each layer, you can control the order that the boxes are stacked on top of each other (a layer with a z-index of 2 appears in front of a box with the z-index of 1, and so on).

    You can also use the Transform and Align palettes to position, resize, and align multiple layers in the same way as other objects. (See Repositioning, aligning, or distributing objects.)

To select a layer:

    Do one of the following:

    • Click the layer marker (the small yellow icon).
    • Move the pointer to the top border of the layer until it changes to a hand, and click.
    • Click the name of the layer in the Layers palette.

To move or resize a layer by dragging:

    Do one of the following:

    • To move the layer freely on the page, move the pointer to the top border of the layer until it changes to a hand, and drag.
    • To resize a layer, select the layer and drag one of its handles.

    TipYou can also use the arrow keys to move or resize a layer. Press an arrow key to move the box pixel by pixel. Hold down Shift while pressing an arrow key to resize the layer pixel by pixel. Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) while pressing an arrow key to toggle between pixel or grid sized movements.

To set an exact or relative size and position for the layer:

  1. Select the layer.
  2. Do any of the following in the Layer Inspector:
    • Enter exact position coordinates (measured in pixels from the upper left corner of the document window) in the Left and Top text boxes.
    • Enter an exact size in the Width and Height text boxes.
    • Choose Auto from the Width or Height menus to automatically size the layer in relation to its contents.
    • Choose Percent from the Width or Height menus to automatically size the layer in relation to the percentage of the window width or height.

    Note: Netscape browsers resize the Percent width of a layer to the width of its contents.

To use grid lines for positioning the layer:

  1. Select the layer.
  2. Choose Layer Grid Settings from the Layers palette menu.
  3. Define the page grid and its behavior:
    • Enter Horizontal and Vertical values to define the spacing between the grid lines.
    • Select Snap to have the layer snap to the grid lines when you move it. You can press the arrow keys to move the layer incrementally from one grid line to the next.
    • Select Visible to display the grid when you drag the layer.
    • Select Prevent Overlapping to prevent layers from overlapping.

To change the stacking order of multiple boxes:

    Select a layer and enter a value in the Z-Index text box in the Layer Inspector. Enter the z-index of 1 for the bottom layer in the stack, 2 for the next box in the stack, and so on. (You can also change a z-index number by selecting it in the Layers palette and typing a new number.)

    Illustration of layer symbols and stacking order values with these callouts: A. Layer object icon B. Layer marker C. The first layer has a z-index of 1 D. The layer in the middle has a z-index of 2 E. The layer in the front has a z-index of 3
    Layer symbols and stacking order values A. Layer object icon B. Layer marker C. The first layer has a z-index of 1 D. The layer in the middle has a z-index of 2 E. The layer in the front has a z-index of 3