Don’t scream with rage the next time you’re frustrated with Adobe Illustrator…just read some tips! If you’re stumped about object alignment, then you’ve come to the right place. I’d like to use my Illustrator expertise to teach you a thing or two! Today’s lesson will be the first in an ongoing series of AI-themed blog post tutorials.
Here’s how to use the Align tool in Adobe Illustrator:
The Align Tool can be found under Window>Align on your tool bar:
By selecting Multiple Items and using one of the align features, you can easily manipulate the items in relationship to each other.
The most common buttons you will use in proofi ng is the Horizontal Center Align, Vertical Center Align and Distribute Spacing buttons.
With the Horizontal and Vertical Center Align buttons selected, objects will be centered in relationship to each other:
The Distribute Spacing buttons can easily create equal distance between objects with the touch of a button. Select all of the items you want included and distribute accordingly, as shown below:
So, now you know how to properly align objects and text in Adobe Illustrator. Hungry for more helpful hints? We’ll have more for you before you know it. Stick with me and I’ll have you up to speed on Illustrator in no time!
Do you have any AI-related questions about design, resources, or tool bars? Give us some ammunition for future tutorials and leave feedback below!
Article by Kelly Bird
Kelly is an Account Executive at Quality Logo Products. She works closely with customers to answer questions and she makes sure that orders go smoothly. Kelly is also a talented graphic designer who frequently teaches less-apt QLP employees how to use Adobe design programs when they get stuck.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks K-bird! So how many bubbas does it take to align vector art?
Kelly, this is wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I’m still trying to get a firm grasp of AI, so it’s really helpful to get tutorials from experts like you. I have a couple of topic suggestions if you ever need some…leave it to the Illustrator newbie to have questions!
You made alignment look so easy; I think I’ll go try it out now and try not to fail miserably at it!
Very informative post! Too bad I’m also an Illustrator newbie so this is somewhat a foreign language to me, but I was able to follow these instructions pretty well and that’s saying a lot.
Same here Kyle. I’ve never used AI, so it’s also a foreign language to me too. But Kelly, you made it look easy! Great job! =)
Please do more of these! I need all of the help I can get!
Great post, Kelly. Seeing as how I dabble in the visual medium, programs like Illustrator could definitely come in handy for me in the future. I haven’t had the chance to work with it yet, but I’m sure I will soon. When I do, I’ll be sure to familiarize myself with helpful tips like these.
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this handy dandy tip Kelly; keep them coming!
SIDE NOTE: I use the align toolbar in Adobe Illustrator ALL the time; I love it! – but it’s super important to make sure if the individual items (in this case Bubbas) contain multiple paths/elements that you group these multiple paths into one object first. If you use the align tool before you group the various elements together you’ll end up with a mess of random paths from different parts of your artwork all squished together. Nothing CRTL + Z can’t fix, but I’ve caught myself doing this countless times before and for all you “newbies” out there, I though this might help you out.
Rock!
Great tips!