Align objects

[ishiiboy]

Is there a way to center align an object in relation to another without having both objects move? When I click the center align button, both objects move. Now they are both out of position.

 

[jmgalvin]

Lock the position of one first.

 

[ishiiboy]

When I lock the item I don't want to move I can't select it. I need to be able to have both items selected, so that first item can serve as a point of reference to center second item to. However, I don't want first item to move.

 

[yoderman94]

I would suggest droping a duide at the center, then jsut move the one you want moved into position.

Yoderman94.com

 

[itchybug]

Ishiiboy:

Select the objects you want to align, and after selecting all of them, click (just a single left click) on the object you wish to leave in place. All others will then align to that one. Grouping structure can mess up the alignment, and also if "align to Page" is on, that causes probs.

In the align palette, there are also lots of nifty features with numerical distribution from an anchored object.

 

[ishiiboy]

yoderman94:

Unfortunately, I need exact positioning. I have used the technique you have recommended in Photoshop all the time and the objects center point snaps to the guide perfectly. But, in Illustrator it seems to be less of an exact technique. Is there a way to get the object/groups center point to snap to a guide?

 

[ishiiboy]

Itchybug:

I tried this technique and it didn't seem to work. The center align function on the Align pallet ignores all unselected objects during it's calculation. For this reason it doesn't seem to take the position of the item that was left clicked into account.

 

[itchybug]

ishiiboy:

It works, so you are doing something wrong. You're NOT supposed to deselect the anchored object, just click on it once, no shift-click, no double-click, just one single mouse click. It will remain selected

This has been a feature since at least v9, and it works every time.

For peace of mind and to get the feeling you're accomplishing something, you can ctrl-click, it does exactly the same thing. I know it's confusing that there's no visual indication that something changed after you click on the anchor object...

 

[itchybug]

ishiiboy:

I put up a page on my server with some illustrations, if you care to look:

http://www.itchybug.com/align

Bert

 

[ishiiboy]

itchybug:

How do you anchor an object?

 

[itchybug]

OK ONE LAST TIME:

Select objects, then SINGLE-LEFT-CLICK on it. You see no change, no little warning sounds, but it DOES anchor that object.

 

[ishiiboy]

Thanks Itchybug. I understand now. It worked great.

 

[itchybug]

I knew it would...

Glad to help.

Bert