Aligning and Distributing Objects

Aligning and Distributing Objects

Aligning and Distributing Objects

In Canvas X Draw you can quickly and easily align or distribute selected objects from the Align menu, the Properties bar, or the Align palette.

To Open the Align Palette:

Choose Window | Palettes | Align...

To Align or Distribute Objects:

  1. Select two or more objects.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Choose Object | Align, and select an alignment option.
    • In the Properties bar, select an alignment option, or Distribute Inside Vertically or Distribute Inside Horizontally option.
    • In the Align palette, select an alignment or distribution option, then click Apply.

You can apply alignment and distribution options to vector objects, grouped objects, paint objects, and text objects. You can align and distribute objects in separate or combined operations. As the reference point for alignment and distribution, you can choose points on the objects or the document.

  • Aligning objects: When aligning objects, Canvas X Draw lines up key points on the objects in relation to the key object. Choose left, right, top, bottom, or center alignment.
  • Distributing objects: When distributing objects, Canvas X Draw spreads them out over a specified area and equalizes the space between the key points. Choose inside, top, center, bottom, and outside as methods for distribution; e.g., if you choose left edges for distribution, the left-most point in each object is an equal distance from the leftmost point in each of its neighbors.

If one of the objects you select for alignment is locked, other objects align relative to it. When distributing objects, Canvas X Draw may place all objects relative to the option selected in the Distribute to menu.

Align Palette

Vertical

Align:

  • None
  • Top
  • Center
  • Bottom
  • Edge to Edge (Top to Bottom)
  • Edge to Edge (Bottom to Top)

Distribute:

  • Inside
  • Top
  • Center
  • Bottom
  • Outside

Horizontal

Align:

  • Left
  • Center
  • Right
  • Edge to Edge (Top to Bottom)
  • Edge to Edge (Bottom to Top)

Distribute:

  • Inside
  • Top
  • Center
  • Bottom
  • Outside

Selection Rectangle

Select this option to ignore the stroke of the objects when aligning or distributing objects. Deselect the option to use the outside edge of objects’ strokes.

Arrange Z-Order

This option is most applicable to distribution. When you select Arrange Z-Order, the command Arrange | Bring to Front is performed on each object. In the end, the objects are stacked on top of each other in the same order in which they were distributed. Results are most notable when the operation results in overlapping objects. Only available when either horizontal or vertical alignment/distribution is selected. Both cannot be selected. Horizontal and vertical sorting may differ and the result of rearranging would then not be clearly defined.

Align to

Choose a reference for alignment:

  • Key Selection Object: Aligns all the objects in relation to the key selection object. Key selection object does not move.
  • Selection Bounds: Aligns all the objects based on the virtual boundaries of the current selection. Key selection object may move.
  • Grid: Aligns all objects to the grid. If no grid is defined, the objects don’t move. The key selection object has no effect.
  • Printable Area: Aligns all objects with the edge of printable area. If no printable area is defined, the entire document is selected.
  • Document: To a specified location in the document. If you center an object in a multi-page illustration, portions can appear on multiple tiles.

Distribute to

Choose a reference for distribution:

  • Selection Bounds: Distributes all the objects over the area defined by current selection bounds. Key selection object may move.
  • Printable Area: Distributes all objects with the edge of printable area. If no printable area is defined, the entire document is selected.
  • Document: Distributes all objects over the entire area of the document. Key selection object may move.
  • Fixed Amount: Distributes all objects over a fixed distance. Key selection object doesn’t move and remaining objects are positioned accordingly within that distance. Enter the amount in the Horizontal and Vertical fields below the Distribute to menu.
  • Spacing: Distributes all objects so the distance between each object is the amount indicated in the Vertical and Horizontal fields below the Distribute to menu. The key selection object doesn’t move and the remaining objects are positioned accordingly. The amount of spacing may be a negative number.

When applying either horizontal or vertical edge-to-edge alignment, the order of the aligned objects depends on the order in which the objects were created; i.e., the object furthest to the left or at the very top in an edge-to-edge alignment was created first. Both Edge to Edge options have the same effect. They align all the remaining objects edge to edge with the key selection object.

See also:

    • Related Articles

    • Aligning and Distributing Objects

      Aligning and Distributing Objects In Canvas X Draw you can quickly and easily align or distribute selected objects from the Align menu, the Properties bar, or the Align palette. To Open the Align Palette: Choose Window | Palettes | Align... To Align ...

    • Aligning and Distributing Objects

      Aligning and Distributing Objects In Canvas X Draw you can quickly and easily align or distribute selected objects from the Align menu, the Properties bar, or the Align palette. To Open the Align Palette: Choose Window | Palettes | Align... To Align ...

    • Aligning and Distributing Objects

      Aligning and Distributing Objects In Canvas X Draw you can quickly and easily align or distribute selected objects from the Align menu, the Properties bar, or the Align palette. To Open the Align Palette: Choose Window | Palettes | Align... To Align ...

    • Selecting, Grouping, and Aligning Objects

      Selecting, Grouping, and Aligning Objects In Canvas X Draw, you need to select objects in order to edit them. If you want to edit several objects at once, you can group the objects first. You might also want to align two or more objects, or ...

    • Selecting, Grouping, and Aligning Objects

      Selecting, Grouping, and Aligning Objects In Canvas X Draw, you need to select objects in order to edit them. If you want to edit several objects at once, you can group the objects first. You might also want to align two or more objects, or ...