Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
NOTE
Distributing objects is especially handy when you're creating projects like those described
in
Chapter 15
.
Aligning and distributing layers with the Move tool works much like rearranging layers:
1.
Activate the Move tool by clicking its icon in the Tools panel or pressing V
.
Like arranging layers, aligning and distributing work only with the regular Move tool,
not with the Content Aware Move tool.
2.
Select the objects you want to align
.
This maneuver works only if each object is on its own layer. So if you have multiple
objects on one layer, move them to their own layers one at a time by selecting each
object and then pressing Shift+Ctrl+J/Shift-
⌘
-J.
Once all the objects are on their own layers, Shift-click inside the blue outline that ap-
pears around each object when you put your cursor over it to activate each layer you
want to work with, or Shift-click or Ctrl-click/
⌘
-click in the Layers panel to activate
the layers you want.
3.
Choose how you want to align or distribute the objects by clicking the option you
want in the Tool Options area
.
The Align and Distribute sections both offer the same choices: Top, Center, Bottom,
Left, Middle, and Right. The little thumbnails (each of which is actually a button)
show you how your objects will line up. Just click the one that matches what you're
going for. (You need to select at least three objects in order to use the Distribute com-
mands.)
NOTE
You can apply as many different align and distribute commands as you like, as long as the
layers you're working with are still active.
