Vectordiary

Illustrator Trick #7: Aligning to objects

By Tony Soh Posted on October 22nd, 2008

Here is a very quick tip to align shapes to an object. For this example, I want to align the 2 red crosses with the white button without moving the white button. To do this, select the 3 objects and click the white button again. This will set the white button as the object to align to when you align horizontally and vertically.

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Tags: algin, aligment, align objects, Illustrator

About The Author: admin

Hi. I'm the founder of Vector Diary. Illustrator is my passion and I have written numerous tutorials on illustrator helping people learn illustrator. My most popular tutorial on learning illustrator in 30 days has been a hit. It makes learning illustrator so easy and has benefited more than 20,000 people worldwide. Also, I've revealed some of my secret techniques in the premium tutorials. So don't forget to check it out!

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+Add Comment11 Comments

1. 
   Kisan Bhat October 24th, 2008

   How will I center-align the middle cross keeping the square and the right most cross at their present location?

2. 
   Jose Renjel October 25th, 2008

   Good question, I want to know that too. If I find an answer I will post it.

3. 
   Vectordiary October 26th, 2008

   Hi Kisan,

   Select the 3 objects, then go to Align Palette and choose Horizontal Distribute space. Make sure Auto is selected. The middle red cross will align to the center of the other 2 objects.

4. 
   Kisan Bhat October 27th, 2008

   Wow!!!
   Never thought to be so simple.
   Thanks.

5. 
   newbie October 28th, 2008

   sorry but when i select the round white button again it deselects it?

6. 
   Vectordiary October 28th, 2008

   Hold shift while you select the next object.

7. 
   Brian November 7th, 2008

   Ok, am I missing something here? This doesn’t work at all for me. It keeps unselecting when I click on the object again.

8. 
   don biehl November 7th, 2008

   If you use version 10 and have stay put plug-in your whole alignment world changes instantly!
   It is awesome (but no current version). I use version ten to do the alignment stuff.
   Find Stay Put. You will love it.
   Anybody back me up on this…?

   D

9. 
   JD December 30th, 2008

   The stay put plugin is excellent and time saved…wow!!! Top plugin 10/10

10. 
    Astrodesigner December 30th, 2008

    I have learn t more through the form here. Everything is interesting here.

11. 
    yusuf March 28th, 2009

    i dont understand properly

    you alligment is not completed