Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:59 am

I am a bit confused here guys and need some input.

I have always used the crop area for my creations and align everything via the crop area in the alignment palette.

I've just tried using the artboard instead and have come across a problem when aligning an object as such below:

1. Set up artboard to be 500 x 500 pixels

2. Drew a solid colored box, no stroke at 500 x 500 pixels.

3. Aligned both horizontal and vertical centering.

4. Result = the x axis shows -0.5px & y axis shows 500.5px

This therefore is not correctly in the center. It is 0.5px out of alignment.

Now if I use the crop area and do the same as above by aligning to the crop area I get a perfect x axis of 0 and y axis of 500.

So what gives here?????

I am utterly confused to say the least.

evaners · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:11 am

Not sure what you mean at step 3. Aligned both what?

In any event, it's easier to place an object precisely by using the Transform palette. So, if I make a 500 x 500 document, then draw a 500 x 500 box, in the Transform palette I set the X-axis to 0 and the Y-axis to 500, and it will be perfect.

Now, in that Transform palette, you can also select the position that you want to measure from. In that little grid with 9 squares, select whether you want to measure from corners, center, or edge-centers. If I click on the center box, my Axes now both say 250px.

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:23 am

Hi Evan

I meant I aligned the box both horizontally and vertically by centering it. I also tried aligning it using the top and left alignment with the same result.

I know I can use the transform palette to get it exactly perfect, but I shouldn't have to do that, also that's ok for a simple tester that I'm doing now, but what if I want some element to be exactly in the middle in the future, or I'm doing a seamless pattern - it won't work out properly.

As I said, I have no problems when aligning using the crop area, just the alignment of the artboard.

evaners · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:38 am

Oh, I see, you are selectiing "Align to Artboard" in the Align palette and then clicking the center buttons. Sorry I didn't catch that before, I never use that method so it took me a few minutes to figure out what you meant.

The bad news is, if I re-create your scenario I get perfect 0's and 500's in all the settings. So I don't know why yours shows different. I even did it with a 1 pt outline, thinking it would split it and read -.5, but it still comes out to 0.

Are you making the box by eye, or are you clicking with the box tool and typing in the 500 x 500?

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:43 am

I create a box, any size, then up by the axis numbers at the top I change the width and height to 500 pixels.

So how come yours comes out perfect and mine doesn't, that is totally baffling!!!

theohrm · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 455 Location: Ireland

Have you got a stroke on the box and is the bounding box set to include it?

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:55 am

No stroke on the box

evaners · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:03 am

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:11 am

Will reboot after my dinner which is on the table right now.

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2919 Location: South Wales

Just tried it as well and get the same as Evan, 0 and 500.

Mike

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:12 pm

Just rebooted - tried again with the box, came to same result.

Ok, this is my workflow.

1. File > New

2. Enter 500 x 500 pixels in the relevant boxes

3. File > Document Setup - change artboard size to 500 x 500 pixels

4. Draw my 500x500 pixel box, take off stroke and change color from white to red

5. Using the align palette and align artboard center horizontally and vertically

6. Result = 0.5 and 500.5 on the axis'.

What am I doing wrong? This is stoooopid.

evaners · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:31 pm

Okay, I just did the same thing (even made the box red, though I like blue better) and the position reads 0 and 500.

Two things I'm curious about;

A. Since you've set the file dimensions at 500 x 500 in the New File window, why are you going back to Document Setup and "changing" it to 500 x 500?

B. Exactly where are you reading the position results? In the Info Palette, the Transform Palette, or in the toolbar that runs just below the menu bar?

I realize these questions probably aren't going to help us find the answer, I just want to understand everything you're doing. Who knows what could be causing it.

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:46 pm

toots7777 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:52 pm

Evan, when you set up a new file with 500 x 500 pixel dimensions do you get a black outlined box show up or do you get a green outline box with crop marks.

I always get the latter.

If I go to document setup and change those settings to 500 x 500 pixels I then get a black outline box.

Also in your document setup under 'artboard' what are your default settings after opening the new file?

apotterdd · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 1:06 pm

I get that problem too on occasion where it won't align properly to the artboard.

Try deselecting your object after the first alignment then select it again then realign again. Sometimes it's fussy and a PITA but that's how I get it to quit it making it align to .5 or . whatever it decides to do.