Align objects

When you create a user interface, web page, or any other kind of structured page, it is often important to align objects to each other. One way to do this is to snap them to a grid or a guide. However, Microsoft Expression Design also offers several other direct methods of aligning paths and objects on your page.

To align objects

  • Select at least two objects, and then, from the Arrange menu, point to Align, and then click one of the following options:

    • Centers   Aligns the objects vertically and horizontally, so that the center-point of each object is in the same position.

    • Top Edges   Aligns the top edges of each object to the position of the top-most object.

    • Bottom Edges   Aligns the bottom edges of each object to the position of the bottom-most object.

    • Left Edges   Aligns the left edges of each object to the position of the left-most object.

    • Right Edges   Aligns the right edges of each object to the position of the right-most object.

    • Vertical Centers   Aligns the objects vertically, so that the center point of each object is aligned. The object that is closest to the middle among the objects (or, if there are only two objects, the top-most object in the layer stack) is anchored and the other objects move.

    • Horizontal Centers   Aligns the objects horizontally so that the center-point of each object is aligned. Again, the object closest to the middle among the objects (or the top-most object in the layer stack) is anchored in position and the other objects move.

You can also find these commands on the Action Bar, in the Align control. (You won't see this feature until you have two or more objects selected.)

Tip

On the Action Bar, if you click the word Align (rather than the arrow next to it), Expression Design applies the last alignment you used to your selected objects.

See also

Reference

Action Bar

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