From Ver. 2.0, the [Align/Distribute] palette has been added to Clip Studio Paint PRO and EX. You can use it to line up and arrange objects or drawings on multiple layers evenly.

 

As shown in the image below, you can use it to line up design motifs or place text or other objects in the center of a frame. This is handy when creating banners and thumbnails for things like Webtoons, etc.

 

 

1. What are Align and Distribute?

 

Align

When you select two or more objects or layers, they can be aligned based on an object, canvas, selection, or guide.

 

Distribute

When three or more layers or objects are selected, they can be evenly distributed based on an object, canvas, selection, or guide.

In the example below, the drawings are arranged so that the left edge of each is equally spaced.

 

Distribute evenly

When three or more layers or objects are selected, they can be arranged so that the layer drawings are equally spaced.

 

2. Using the Align/Distribute palette

 

You can use this palette to align and distribute objects and drawings.

 

From the [Layer] palette, select the layers you want to align or distribute.

You can select a layer by tapping on the drawing area of the canvas with the [Object] sub tool. A rectangle will show over the drawing area of the selected layer.

If you selecting a layer from the [Layer] palette while the [Object] sub tool is selected, this will also show the rectangle.

 

Note:

・For layers with layer masks, [Align] and [Distribute] only affect the area shown in the layer mask.

・When a layer mask is created using [Mask Selection] on a gradient, fill, or a tiled image material layer, you cannot use [Align] or [Distribute] on the layer mask.

・When [Link Mask to Layer] is off for a gradient, fill, or a tiled image material layer, you can select a layer mask in the [Layer] palette to align the layers. However, you cannot [Align] when multiple layers are selected or depending on the [Alignment base] setting.

・When a layer folder is selected, all layers in it are recognized as a single object. If you want to align layer by layer, select each layer in the folder.

・Vector and text layers can be aligned and distributed by selecting each object in the layer. For details see “5. Aligning & distributing objects” below.

 

You can designate how the functions of the [Align/Distribute] palette work from [Alignment base]. In the example below, [Canvas] is selected.

 

 

From [Align], select [Align vertical centers]. The drawings of each layer will align in the center of the canvas.

 

 

From [Distribute evenly], select [Distribute horizontal spacing]. The spacing between the drawings will now be even.

 

 

Note: The functions on the [Align/Distribute] palette can also be performed from the commands in [Edit] menu > [Align/Distribute]. You can assign these commands to shortcut keys as needed.

 

3. Alignment base

 

This sets how drawings are aligned or distributed.

The following shows a canvas with a guide line and a selection area. Three layers were selected and [Align right edges] was then performed.

 

 

Depending on [Alignment base], the results will vary as follows.

 

 

Alignment object

This is based on the selected layer or object. The referenced area is the rectangle that appears when you select a layer or object with the [Object] sub tool.

 

 

Canvas

This is based on the entire canvas.

 

 

Selection area

This is based on a selection. If the selection is not a rectangle, the bounding box of the selection is then used as the reference.

 

 

Guide

This is based on snappable guide lines. If multiple guides are created on the canvas, the nearest guide is used as the reference.

 

 

Auto

This changes the reference for [Align] and [Distribute] based on the state of the canvas and selected layers and objects.

The area used as reference will show after the word [Auto]. For example, when the canvas is being referenced it will change to [Auto: Canvas].

 

 

4. Align/Distribute Types

 

You can set the following types of alignments and distributions.

 

Align

You can align according to the following. In the example below [Alignment base] is set to [Align object].

 

 

1) Align top edges

2) Align bottom edges

3) Align left edges

4) Align right edges

5) Align vertical centers

6) Align horizontal centers

 

Distribute

You can distribute according to the following. In the example below [Alignment base] is set to [Align object].

 

 

1) Distribute top edges

2) Distribute bottom edges

3) Distribute left edges

4) Distribute right edges

5) Distribute vertical centers

6) Distribute horizontal centers

 

Distribute evenly

You can distribute evenly according to the following. In the example below [Alignment base] is set to [Align object].

 

 

1) Distribute vertical spacing

2) Distribute horizontal spacing

 

5. Aligning & distributing objects

 

For vector or text layers, you can select multiple objects on a layer to be aligned and distributed. Additionally, you can select multiple control points to be aligned and distributed on a vector layer.

 

 

However, if another layer is selected, objects in the layer cannot be selected. The entire vector or text layer is affected.

 

Note: If Align/Distribute isn't working well

If, for example, you use [Align] or [Distribute] on a vector or text layer and the lines do not appear as expected, check the settings in the [Align/Distribute] palette.

 

 

Turning on [Align to vector paths] in the [Align/Distribute] palette allows you to align and distribute vector layers with based on vector paths.

When paths are used as reference, the lines of the reference area may extend beyond the area specified in the [Alignment base]. In the example below, the reference area extends beyond the canvas.

 

 

If you turn on [Align to text pixels] in the [Align/Distribute] palette, text layers can be aligned or distributed based on the pixels of the text.