Keeping it Aligned
Although sometimes overlooked, aligning layers in Photoshop is an extremely important part of the design process that can put your layout into heavenly perfection. It allows you to align objects by Top, Bottom, Left and Right Edges, and of course, Centers.
Top or Bottom? Take these steps to align objects in rows or columns.
- Select the "Move" tool (arrow tool) from the "Tools" palette.
- Open the "Layers" palette (Window / Layers).
- Select the layer you want to have other layers align to.
- Link the layers together.
Photoshop 7 and CS: click next to eyeball in the "Layers" palette. A chain link icon will appear. Photoshop CS2: hold Shift or Control key down while selecting other layers.
- Go to Layer / Align and choose to align by Top Edges, Bottom Edges, Left Edges, Right Edges, Vertical Centers or Horizontal Centers.
- Be sure to unlink layers once you are finished.
Finding your center.
Finding the center of the canvas or specific area doesn't require some complicated mathematical formula. Photoshop figures it out for you. This feature can be very useful if you want to center an image on one side of the canvas.
- Open the "Layers" palette (Window / Layers).
- Select the "Marquee" tool (marching ants) from the Tools palette.
- Make a selection of the area you want to center into.
- Select the layer you want to center. Be sure to link layers if you want to center more than one layer.
- Go to Layer / Align Layers to Selection and choose to align by Top Edges, Bottom Edges, Left Edges, Right Edges, Vertical Centers or Horizontal Centers.
- Be sure to unlink layers once you are finished.
You can also find the center of the image (layer) or the center of a grouping of images (layers must be linked). Please note that this feature is only available when the "Move" tool is selected.
- Photoshop 7 and CS: select the "Show Bounding Box" check box on the top menu bar
- Photoshop CS2: select the "Show Transform Controls" check box on the top menu bar
You will now see the corner and center anchor points. Having this feature on, also allows you to transform the image (resize).
Centering image groupings within a specific area.
- Select the "Move" tool (arrow tool) from the "Tools" palette.
- Open the "Layers" palette (Window / Layers).
- Link the layers together
Photoshop 7 and CS: click next to eyeball in the "Layers " palette. A chain link icon will appear. Photoshop CS2: hold Shift or Control key down while selecting other layers.
- Make them a group
Photoshop 7 and CS: select "New Set from Linked" from the "Layers" palette. Name set.
Photoshop CS2: select "New Group from Layers" from the "Layers" palette. Name group.
Make sure the set or group is selected in the "Layers" palette.
- Select the "Marquee" tool (marching ants) from the Tools palette.
- Make a selection of the area you want to center into.
- Go to Layer / Align Layers to Selection and choose to align by Top Edges, Bottom Edges, Left Edges, Right Edges, Vertical Centers or Horizontal Centers.
Of course, all of the above steps can be combined to achieve the ultimate aligned layout. Have fun!
Tips & Tricks
