Keyboard shortcuts for Align/Distribute commands and 'Align to' modes
I miss having keyboard shortcuts for align/distribute from my CorelDraw days. I'm a pro designer in a fast turnaround environment, and keyboard shortcuts are essential to my workflow.
As far as I know, the numeric keypad isn't being used in Illustrator. My proposal is: Pressing 0 toggles between absolute to the artboard or relative to last item selected. Pressing 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 will perform the align .2 = bottom, 4 = left, 5 = centre, 6 = right, 8 = top. Additionally 7 = distribute horizontal, 9 = distribute vertical.
Also, please copy the CorelDraw keyboard shortcut Tab = select next object/group, Shift Tab select previous object/group

The most recent version finally has the Object > Distribute menu added.
Now both Align and Distribute commands can be accessed via menu and have assigned keyboards shortcuts to them.
The order of the commands though seemingly matches the one the panel has: horizontal first for Align and vertical first for Distribute. If you find this odd and want to change it — vote here: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-desktop-feature-requests/suggestions/45855823-sync-the-order-of-align-and-distribute-menu-comman
Also, Align To and Distribute Spacing commands are still missing in top menus, so please keep voting here to make them added too.
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Anonymous commented
Illustrator doesn't seem to expose alignment to keyboard shortcuts.
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Allison Kelley commented
You can create your own shortcuts to mimic CorelDraw. I created my own align shortcuts by going to EDIT: KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS : PRODUCT AREA : OBJECT EDITING : COMMANDS : VERTICAL ALIGN BOTTOM (then assign B as the short cut). You can assign your own shortcut to basically any action.
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Shahrukh Shakeel commented
Please Make Alignment Short key. Every second is too Expensive
*LIKE*
L. = Left R = Right B = Bottom T = Top -
Anonymous commented
I'd like custom keyboard shortcuts for the align tools. I work speedily and need quick access. I could record an Action for them, but that only allows me to use the F1-F14 keys which are inconvenient to use.
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Anonymous commented
I solved by creating an action and assigning a key shortcut. I need to center objects to tables several hundred times per day. Just created actions to export, rotate and duplicate objects in precise positions into different templates I found it easier and faster than moving and clicking around
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Justin Raymond commented
I subscribe to this idea. Little functions like this have made other programs shine in the shadows on Adobe. Corel and Flexi were made by people who actually use the software. Adobe used to be that way but since the start of "cloud" it has shown it's only here to make money.
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Joaquim commented
Yeah, it's such a hassle having to constantly choose if I want to align to selection or artboard, when this could easily be toggled by holding down the alt key, no?
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Anonymous commented
Would be a speedy addition, that's for sure. Automation all the way.
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Anonymous commented
+1
And the ability to create a shortcut for aligning would be so helpful.
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Sadie commented
I don't see why this isn't implemented yet. It would speed up everything.
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Cary Crusiau commented
+1
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Franck Payen commented
I put an image there : https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657-illustrator-feature-requests/suggestions/32143753-keyboard-shortcut-to-toggle-between-align-to-selec
If that helps. -
Franck Payen commented
95% of the time, I align objects to selection. 4.9 % I'll need align to artboard. 0.1% I'll need Align to Key object.
But those 5% of the time mean I'll have to :
- open my align panel
- press the align to sub menu
- pick the desired option (artboard/key)
- press the needed alignment (very often centered)And then 2 cases :
- think that I won't align later today and work
- realize that the next time i'm gonna press align, it will be set to artboard.Alt-click on any align button should give us the "align to artboard" option. It could be reflected in the "align to" part of the panel while alt-pressing hover that panel.
Minimum option would be to have the 3 icons (selection/keyObj/artboard) instead of 1 dropdown menu. Would make 2 clicks + a visible reminder.
Hover tooltips would help newbies understand why those options.
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Jeff D commented
How is this still not implemented?
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Anonymous commented
It would be quicker for my workflow if I could have a way to toggle align to object to align artboard.
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Andrew B commented
Even better would be having "Panel menus" added to what you can set custom shortcut keys for like in InDesign. Then we could set our own!
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Anonymous commented
Hotkeys for Pathfinder options as well.
Yall don't have to assign hotkeys for it if thats been the issue. We'll decide what shortcuts to assign it to ourselves. We just need it in the shortcuts list.
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Anonymous commented
Although there arent any hotkeys for it, you can create Actions that utilize align, then assign a hotkey to it. At least thats a workaround until they give us a hotkey for it.
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kaled commented
I would add that they shortcuts only work with the numeric key pad and not the numbers above the letter keywords because that way we can leave those availabe for other shortcuts. For example, I have them set up to different levels of transparency in increments of 10% But other users may need the numbers for something else.
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Kent M commented
Yes, yes, yes!