Align Palette: Adobe Indesign™

The Basics:The Align palette allows you to quickly bring objects into alignment. Typically tabbed into the Transform palette, the Align palette allows a variety of options for alignment. Represented by visual icons, these actions are divided into three tiers, Align Objects, Distribute Objects and Distribute spacing. Located in the Distribute Object section of the palette is the Align To: contextual menu. Using this feature is the key to successfully making use of the Align palette. Clicking on this menu will reveal fi ve additional options to choose from.

The settings in the Align To: drop down are: Align to Selection, Align to Key Object, Align to Margins, Align to Page and Align to Spread. Each of these options provide a wealth of alignment actions, and when used properly can take the guess work out and make quick work of aligning objects on a page. One item you may have noticed is that the Align to Key Object is grayed out representing that it is not available for use. This action is dependent on your selection choices, and will be discussed later in this tutorial.

Note: In order to utilize any of the features in the Align palette,the objects must be preselected.

The Align palette is by default nested into the Transform palette along with the Pathfinder palette. The grouping of these palettes is intentional, as they all relate to an objects position or relativity to another object. This tutorial will focus’ on the Align palette. In the screenshot below, you can see that the Align palette is divided into three sections by horizontal rules. From top to bottom the sections are Align Objects, Distribute Objects and Distribute Spacing. We will explore each of these functions in the steps ahead.

Getting started: The Align palette

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If you do not see the Align palette, got to the menu at the top and choose: Window > Object & Layout > Align. You can also use the shortcut Shift F7. This will open the Align palette.

At the bottom of the Distribute Objects section of the Align palette, there is a contextual menu, labeled “Align To:”. This menu not only provides additional options, it is the key to using the Align palette successfully. In the Align To: tab you will see that you can align to a Selection, a Key Object, Margins, Page, and Spread.

Viewing the Align palette

Align To:

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The first the most used section of the Align palette is, Align Objects. Starting with the left icon is the Align left edges tab. Though there are several options available, using this function, we will start with the basics. Selecting the most left object first, we then select the secondary object. With both now selected, click the Align left edges tab.

As you can see, the green box has aligned to the left side of the red box. If we had wanted the red box to align with the left edge of the green box we would need to make use of the Align To: contextual menu. We will explore that function later on in this tutorial.

Align Objects: Align left edges “before”

Align Objects: Align left edges “after”

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As you can see in the screenshot below the two objects have centered to each other. However, without the selection of the Align to Key Object tab inside the Align To: contextual menu, the red box moved left. This is because the objects found center based on each other and not by the center of the first object.

Align Objects: Align horizontal centers “after”

The next tab is Align horizontal centers, which will naturally, center align two or more objects. The key to using this function depends on your preference, though it is best used with the Align to Key Object tab inside the Align To: contextual menu.

Align Objects: Align horizontal centers “before”

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As mentioned previously, the Align To: contextual menu offers a variety of alignment options. When used in conjunction with alignment tabs you not only can control what it aligns to, but how it aligns with other objects. With the Align to Key Object selected, you can keep your initial selection stationary.

Align to Key Object is easy once you understand the steps required. First, you must select the object you want everything else to align with, this is the “Key Object”. Now select the second object and in the Align palette choose Align To: > Align to Key Object. Now choose an alignment tab and the key object (fi rst) will stay in place.

Align Objects: Align to Key Object “A”

Align Objects: Align to Key Object “B”

Key Object(1st selected)

Key Object(1st selected)

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Selecting the Align to Margins in the Align To: sub-menu allows alignment of objects to the page margins. Note: Objects will only align to the exterior of a margin even when multiple columns are applied.

Selecting the Align to Page in the Align To: sub-menu allows alignment of objects to the edge of the page. Note: There is no option to align objects to a documents bleed or artboard, this must be set manually.

Align Objects: Align to Margin

Align Objects: Align to Page

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Selecting the Align to Spread in the Align To: sub-menu allows alignment of objects to the documents page spreads. In the screenshot below Align to Spread was selected, and Align horizontal centers chosen, thereby aligning the objects to the center of the spread. Note: Objects will align to the exterior edges of a spread when Align left/right edges are chosen.

The center of the Align palette contains the Distribute Objects tabs. These tabs are similar to the Align Objects tabs, in that they have top, bottom, left, right, horizontal, and vertical options. Where they differ is that they are used to equally distribute objects dependent on the outer most (anchor) objects. Note: Three or more objects are required for these functions.

Align Objects: Align to Spread

Distribute Objects

No movement

No movement

Distribute left

Distribute right

Distribute left

Distribute left

Distribute left

Distribute left

No movement

No movement

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Choosing Distribute horizontal centers as seen in the screenshot below, distributes objects equally. Indesign measures the distance between the outermost objects and distributes the remaining objects accordingly.

Using the Distribute Objects among objects of varying proportions can yield unexpected results. Notice below how the blue box moves right of the black box. Indesign measures the mass of an object(s), and gives them priority.

Distribute Objects

Distribute Objects

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Another option in the Distribute Objects section of the Align palette is to check the Use Spacing box and click or enter a number in the open fi eld. In the screenshot below, I have entered 1/8” (.125 in) and selected the Distribute left edges tab. As seen the most left remains in place and the remainder are continuously staggered 1/8” of it’s left side.

Once we entered 1/8” (.125 in) into the Use Spacing fi eld, Indesign ignores the most right objects initial positioning. Note: This feature is best used in the alignment of objects that are already vertically aligned in a single row. i.e. (row of pictures)

Distribute Objects

Distribute Objects

Most left position

1/8” increments from “Most left position”

MM

11/“M

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Choosing Distribute vertical centers will equally distribute elements that are the same dimensions. In the screenshot below, the four squares are equal in their size and therefor carry the same weight mathematically.

When objects vary in size, the larger elements carry more weight. As seen below, this will have a effect in the distribution of these objects. Note: Becoming familiar with this section of the palette requires experimentation. For everyday use you may prefer using “Distribute Spacing” at the bottom of the palette.

Distribute Objects: vertical

Distribute Objects: vertical (varied sizes)

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Finally, we will look at Distribute Spacing which is located at the bottom of the palette. For the average user, Align Objects and Distribute Spacing are used with the most frequency. In Distribute Spacing the outermost objects become anchors and regardless the size of content will evenly distribute space amongst them.

As seen below, even when the objects are varied in their height using Distribute Spacing will calculate the dimensions and equally distribute the object between the anchor objects. Note: When you select “Align to Margins or Page in the Align To: tab Indesign will move the anchors to either the margin or the edge of the page automatically.

Distribute Spacing: vertical

Distribute Spacing: vertical

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As with Distribute vertical space, the next tab, Distribute horizontal space, will equally distribute objects between the outermost selected objects. As seen below, the vertical positioning has no effect on the horizontal spacing of these objects.

Once again, varying sizes do not effect the balanced and precise spacing of objects when selecting the Distribute horizontal space tab.

Distribute Spacing: horizontal

Distribute Spacing: horizontal (varying size)

Row of objects grouped fi rst.

Row of objects grouped fi rst.

Row of objects grouped fi rst.

Row of objects grouped fi rst.

Row of objects not grouped fi rst.

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The screenshot below demonstrates what will happen when you do not group the rows fi rst. As you can see, the objects are randomly distributed in the vertical space. Note: The alternative to grouping each row would be to select one column at a time, then choose the Distribute vertical space tab.

Distribute Spacing: vertical (not grouped)

In this example, each row has been grouped in order to quickly space each row from top to bottom. Once you have all the objects in your row(s) aligned, spaced and placed to your liking, simply select and group each row independently, then select, Distribute vertical space. Grouping rows prior to spacing takes the surprise element out, and saves you time.

Distribute Spacing: vertical (grouping rows)

top row remains stationary

all other rows move up to create 1/16” gap.

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Distribute Spacing also has the ability to input a precise amount of space between objects when you check the Use Spacing box. Once you have entered a number in this box, Indesign will pull or push the objects to create that exact amount of space between them. As seen below, entering a number here overrides any Align To: settings as well as the outside anchors. Note: Typically Indesign will leave the top anchor row in place, and will pull or push the other objects towards or away from that position

The key to understanding the Align palette its features and how they interact with each other is experimentation. Though each feature in this palette has purpose, some features are used more than others. From my experience, the Align Objects:, Distribute Spacing and the Align To: tab, are used most. Rarely have I used the Distribute Objects section or the Use Spacing box.

Note: Because of redundency, not every button was demonstrated in this tutorial. As an example, Align left edges preforms esentially the same function as Align right edges.

Distribute Spacing: vertical (grouping rows and Use Spacing setting)