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
Simon
shared this idea
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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J
commented
In Fireworks, you could use the 6 more common alignments with keyboard shortcuts by default. Hold an option key and press 1,2,3 for the first grouping of alignments, and 4,5,6 for the second grouping of common alignments. Alignment is akin to moving things around with the mouse and saves a huge amount of time in illustrator.
Good to note that many UI designers used this in Fireworks and lost it in nearly every other option (Ske_tch.app does not even have this)
I realize that we can create these shortcuts with the Actions panel, but this would have to be set up on every PC that I use AI with, and these shortcuts do NOT allow 1 option key, they actually require 2 option keys to be held. In addition, the Actions workflows are kind of annoying for setting a series of shortcuts like this.
This was a killer feature in old Fireworks, you could align things at light speed because the default Alignment was set to "Align to Artboard" — and not "Align to selection" so you could create a rect and move it to every corner of the artboard instantly.
Cheers!
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Rajesh Mehta
commented
In packaging if we put Length, width & height can we can box auto draw, it is very easy in packaging design, it saves time also.
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Anonymous
commented
Please add a keyboard shortcut to toggle between Align to Selection or Align to Artboard. I switch between those two ALL the TIME and I just wish there was an easier way.
Thanks for having me on AdobeLive, by the way! :D