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      How to Use the Align Tools in LightBurn

      Align Objects Along Edges, Centers, or Points with Precision

      What Are the Align Tools?

      The Align tools in LightBurn help you reposition selected objects to align them along edges, center points, or horizontal/vertical centers. These tools are essential for creating organized layouts and ensuring precision in your designs.

      QuickRef-Align

      Location

      • Arrange Toolbar: Align tools are available as dropdown menus or individual buttons.
      • Menu Path: Arrange → Align
      • Keyboard Shortcuts: Various, see below.

      Align Options

      You can align objects by:

      • Edges: Top, bottom, left, or right.
      • Centers: Horizontal or vertical centers, or object center points.

      Toolbar Layouts

      1. Standard Arrange Toolbar: Dropdown menus for horizontal and vertical alignment.
        Ref-AlignTools-Arrange
      2. Arrange (Long) Toolbar: Individual icons for each alignment option.Ref-AlignTools-ArrangeLong

      Hotkeys

      Align Option Action Windows macOS Edit Window (All Systems)
      Align Centers Icon-Align-CentersButton Aligns center points of objects. n/a Option + Fn + Left n/a
      Align Vertical Centers Icon-Align-VerticalCenter Aligns objects along vertical centers. Alt + Pg Up Option + Fn + Up C
      Align Horizontal Centers Icon-Align-HorizontalCenter Aligns objects along horizontal centers. Alt + Pg Down Option + Fn + Down E
      Align Left Icon-Align-Left Aligns objects to the left edges. Alt + Left Option + Left L
      Align Right Icon-Align-Right Aligns objects to the right edges. Alt + Right Option + Right R
      Align Bottom Icon-Align-Bottom Aligns objects to the bottom edges. Alt + Down Option + Down B
      Align Top Icon-Align-Top

       

      		 Aligns objects to the top edges. Alt + Up Option + Up T

      How to Use the Align Tools

      1. Select Objects:

        • Highlight the objects you want to align.
        • The last object selected serves as the reference object.

      2. Choose an Align Option:

        • Click the desired Align tool in the toolbar.
        • Use hotkeys for quick alignment.

      3. Alignment Behavior:

        • Edges: Defined by the farthest points in each direction (e.g., top edge of a triangle is at its peak).
        • Centers: Defined by the intersection of horizontal and vertical center lines.

      4. Grouped Objects:

        • Groups are treated as single objects, maintaining their relative positions.
        • Alignment is based on the group’s overall dimensions.

      Ref-Align-Example

      Align Tools Helper

      If Beginner Mode is enabled, clicking an Align tool will open the Align Tools Helper.

      • Preview Changes: Hover over buttons to see a preview of the alignment.
      • Apply or Cancel: Click OK to confirm or Cancel to discard.

      Ref-Align-ToolsHelper

      Alignment Priorities

      1. Selection Order:
        Objects align to the last-selected object by default.

      2. Draw Order:
        If multiple objects are selected at once, alignment defaults to the first object in the draw order. Use Push to Front to adjust this.

      3. Locked Objects:

        • If one object is locked, all others align to it.
        • If multiple objects are locked, locked objects remain fixed, and others align based on selection or draw order.

      Practical Tips

      • Organized Layouts: Use the Align tools to ensure evenly spaced, clean designs.
      • Hotkey Efficiency: Memorize frequently used hotkeys for faster workflow.
      • Adjust Draw Order: Use Push to Front or Push to Back for precise alignment control.
      • Beginner Mode Helper: Leverage the preview function to visualize alignment before applying.

      The Align tools are a cornerstone of precise design creation in LightBurn, making it easy to organize elements and create professional layouts with minimal effort.