Aligning objects

Aligning geometric objects against one another positions the object that is being aligned to another object, which serves as reference. You can align a single object or a series of objects simultaneously. In aligning multiple objects, you can either align them as separate objects or as a group.

Alignment of an entire selection

The example shows how an object is aligned to another object.

Select the object(s) that you want to align to another object.

Do any of the following:

On the Transformations toolbar, click Align Mode .
On the Transformation menu, click Align.
Press CTRL+TL.

A contextual edit bar appears above the graphical area.

To align the selected object horizontally, click Align Horizontal .

Three vertical lines appear over the selected object. These are axes that intersect the leftmost end, rightmost end, and the middle of the selection's bounding rectangle. They represent the available aligning possibilities.

To align the selected object from its middle, click the middle vertical line.

After you have clicked, the selected object appears in yellow color, indicating that it is being aligned.

Point to the object relative to which you want to carry out the alignment.

As the reference object is pointed to, three vertical lines appear, representing the aligning possibilities — on the object's leftmost point, on its middle, and on the rightmost point.

To use the middle of the reference object as a point of reference, click the middle vertical line.

To exit the alignment mode, click ESC.

The alignment is done, and the object has moved to where the vertical middle line was.

Alignment of a selection by referring to a particular object

In the example that follows the alignment will be carried out by aligning an individual object that is part of a larger object.

Select the object that you want to align.

Do any of the following:

On the Transformations toolbar, click Align Mode .
On the Transformations menu, click Align.
Press CTRL+TL.

A contextual edit bar appears above the graphical area.

To align the selected object vertically, click Align Vertical .
To use a single object from the selected object as aligning agent, on the contextual edit bar, click Align as Single Objects .

In the selected object, point to the object that you want to use as a alignment agent.

Three horizontal lines appear over the selected object that represent the aligning possibilities.

To align the selected object from its middle, select the middle vertical line. It represents that the object's vertical middle will be used for the aligning.

The selected object changes its color to indicate that alignment is underway.

Point to the object that you want to use as reference object.

As the reference object is pointed to, three horizontal lines appear, representing the aligning possibilities — on the object's uppermost and lowermost points and on its middle.

To carry out the alignment relative to the reference object's middle, click the middle horizontal line.

The alignment is done, and the object has moved to where the horizontal middle line was.

Click in an empty space to cancel the selection of the object.

The selected object has been aligned.