Studio Tips & Tricks: Layout Tools Part 1

I've had a request to explain more in-depth about the Layout Tools. There is a LOT to cover, but once you get it, it is SOOO useful! I hope this helps all of you :)

Let's start at the very beginning! (by the way, this collection is called "Kiss the Frog", and it is brand new and Too Cute!!!)

I've started with 3 Cute Little Froggies. Right now, they're just randomly on my page.

In order to do things like align them, space them evenly, or move/resize them together, I need to highlight all of them.

To do that, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard as you click on each of the items you want in the group; in this case, each of the 3 froggies. When they are all highlighted (and unlocked), you'll get the green rubber band around the entire group like this. Also, when you've got multiple items selected, your toolbox will automatically go to the "layout" tab.

From here, it's important to know what all of the buttons are!
The most important set of buttons are in the section called "To". These 3 buttons say "to the group", "to the first item", or "to the page".

What these mean are "are you aligning/spacing things in relation to the entire group? In relation to the first thing that you highlighted? Or In relation to the entire page?"

Once you've decided WHAT you want your "To" to be, the "Align" means that you are lining things up, either horizontally or vertically, and either to the middle or to either side. Distribute and Space are similar, in that they put things equal distance apart, either vertically or horizontally :) Check out the following examples:

Not only can you align and space things (with options!) however you want, but once you've got a group of items selected, you can also:

• Rotate them as a group by clicking and dragging the little blue circle around, or by changing the degree of Rotation in the Toolbox (either use the slider tool, change the number, or click on the arrows for one degree at a time)
• Resize all items together in the group at once, either by clicking and dragging on any part of the green rubber band, any of the 4 corners, or by changing the numbers in "Size" in the Toolbox either by typing or by clicking on the arrows for one tenth of an inch at a time. 
• Move the entire group together, either by clicking and dragging on any one of the items that are highlighted, or by changing the X or Y coordinates, either by typing or clicking on the arrows to change position one tenth of an inch at a time.

•  Flip the entire group either Vertically or Horizontally
• Move the entire group through layers as One Item (i.e. bring all the way to the front!)

The froggies are just an example and don't look like much, but here is part of a Birthday Card that I made for my brother recently, where I used the Align and Spacing tools!

Some things just look better when they're perfect :D

Happy Storybooking!