How to center an image in Photoshop. Photoshop alignment tools, layer alignment and distribution. Prepare two guides

In this lesson I will tell how to find the center of an image in photoshop. We will consider two methods: using transformation and guides, as well as guides and snapping.

First of all, we enable the ability to create guides. To do this, go to the “View” menu item and turn on the “Ruler” tool. Also, it can be enabled via the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+R".

A scale appears at the top and left. By pulling this scale down or to the right, we pull out horizontal or vertical guides.

The next step is to transform the layer. You can go to the menu item "Edit" -> "Free Transform" or press the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+T". Special points appear on the layer, using which we can transform it. What interests us most here is the central point. It is this that marks the center of the image.

In this mode, we just need to drag the guides from the ruler to the center.

The second way to determine center in photoshop- using the Snap tool. To enable it, go to the “View” menu item and select “Binding”. You can also enable it using the key combination "Shift+Ctrl+;". In this mode, if we drag our guide across the image, it will “stick” to the sides, as well as to the center of the image. This applies to both vertical and horizontal guides.

This method has one feature. It only works on the selected layer. If you have another layer selected in the layers palette, then “snapping” will only work relative to its borders and will not work on the inactive canvas.

Video tutorial:

Which allows you to automatically with one hundred percent accuracy align any object/layer to the center of the image or its edges. You can also align relative to a specific area in the image. All this is very simple and will be discussed in this article.

As a rule, beginners perform this operation by eye, which is not at all necessary. Select a tool Moving and pay attention to it. There are a number of settings that are responsible for this task ( look at the screenshot):

The first three buttons are responsible for vertical alignment (from left to right): top edge, center, bottom edge.

The next three buttons are responsible for horizontal alignment (from left to right): left, center, right.

Thus, to place an object exactly in the center, you need to select vertical and horizontal centering.

The most important alignment rule: First of all, you must tell Photoshop the area relative to which the program should look for the edges or the middle. Until you do this, the alignment buttons will be inactive, meaning they cannot be clicked.

This is the secret of how to make an object in the middle of the entire image or a separate fragment of it.

So, the sequence of actions is as follows:

Let's say you need to center this picture:

Option 1- relative to the entire canvas.

Step 1

We indicate to Photoshop the area relative to which the program should align the image. This is done by creating a .

Select in the layers palette background layer and press the key combination Ctrl+A ( Select all). As a result, you should see a selection frame from "marching ants" around the background layer. (As a rule, the background layer is the same size as the canvas).

Note

You can select the background layer in another way - hold down the key Ctrl and left click on the background layer. The method works when this layer is unlocked (this is indicated by the padlock icon).

Step 2

Now you need to select a tool Moving. When we have a selection frame, the alignment buttons will become active, which means they can be used.

Select the layer with the picture that you want to align, and now click on the buttons in accordance with where you would like to place this picture. For example, let's place it exactly in the center. Then we need to click these buttons:

Another example. Let's say you need to place the picture in the center, but on the left edge. Then on the options bar select the following buttons:

Option 2- in a separate fragment of the image

Let's say there is a fragment in the image, inside of which you need to place some picture perfectly evenly. In my example I added a glass square. Let there be another picture inside it ( By the way, you can learn how to make such a glass square yourself).

Step 1

First of all, by analogy with the first option, you need to select this fragment. How to do this?

— If this fragment is on separate layer(like I have a square, which I inserted separately), then you need to click Ctrl and click on the layer thumbnail if it is not locked).

— If this fragment is located in the image itself, then you need to select the selection tools Rectangular and Oval areas and use them to draw a smooth, selected area around the fragment. How to use these tools. Movingand holding down the keyShift, click on the directional arrows on your keyboard. The image will move in 10 pixel increments.

If you do not hold down this key, but simply use the keyboard arrows, the image will move in 1 pixel increments.

If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thank you!

1. Enlarge history.
By default in Photoshop there is 20 returns, this is very inconvenient because sometimes we need to return to more steps back. Therefore, press Ctrl+K and change 20 to as many as necessary, for example to 100

2. How to find the center of any document

Let's say you need to find the center of a document of any size. To do this, first enable the display of rulers (Ctrl+R or the View menu -> Rulers) and guides (Ctrl+H or the View menu -> Auxiliary elements). Then you need to create a new layer and fill it with any color (this is optional, but it helps to visually define the middle). Set the zoom so that the entire document fits within workspace. Then move the cursor over the vertical ruler, hold down the left mouse button and drag the guide to the center of the document. When approaching the center, the guide will automatically snap to the horizontal center point. The same should be repeated for the top line.

3. To draw a straight line, click at point A, then press Shift and click at point B.

4. How to find the only necessary layer from a large number of layers.

Often when making collages, there are a lot of layers in a PSD file. And even if they are all labeled and well grouped together, in order to find the only necessary layer you have to tinker quite a bit - you need to select some element, but it is unknown on which layer it is.
a) Select V (Move tool). Press Ctrl and click on the desired object. This way we will get to the layer we need.

B) Check the box at the top of the settings panel in the Auto Select - Layer parameter

Now you just need to click on the object, and Photoshop itself will select the layer.

5. If you check the box here
check the "Show controls" option
then the Free Transformation mode will automatically turn on.

6. How to change the background around a document.

In Photoshop, around the image is always gray background. It can be replaced with any other! To do this, select the desired color in the main colors window, activate the Fill tool, hold Shift and click on the gray background.

7. How to get a color from another document or program

Photoshop allows you to use a standard eyedropper (I) to get the desired color from the desktop or from other programs, such as a browser.

To do this, you need to reduce the Photoshop window to minimum size so that the desired color is visible on the screen. Then call the Eyedropper tool (I), click on the document in the Photoshop workspace, and, without releasing the left mouse button, point the eyedropper at any desired area screen, outside the editor

8. When working with the Brush tool, to quickly change a brush and access the brush selection palette, just right-click in the image window, and the palette will appear directly under the cursor.

Hello everyone, in this tutorial we will figure out how to align text or shape in a certain space. For example, let's take a blank document and insert some shape or text there. In our case it will be a blue avatar.

With the avatar layer active, click CTRL+A to select the entire document. The selection will act as a frame within which the text will be aligned.

Then select the tool Moving.

The following buttons will become active on the settings panel of this tool:

1) Align to the top edge.

2) Aligning centers vertically.

3) Align to the bottom edge.

4) Left alignment.

If you click on align centers vertically, and then align to the left, it will look like this:

5) Aligning centers horizontally.

6) Right alignment.

Now click first Align Top, then Align Right. Our avatar will move to the corner:

Everything is fine, only the avatar is completely stuck to the edges, you need to make a little indentation. Click CTRL-D to deselect. Then SHIFT+LEFT ARROW And SHIFT+down arrow. By pressing SHIFT and the arrow keys on your keyboard, you can immediately move an object 10 pixels in the desired direction.

Apply this knowledge to move objects on your workpaper. It's very convenient. Using the keys Shift + Arrow you will get even spaces between elements. And your design work will look more organized and balanced.

See you in the next lesson!

As a rule, beginners perform this operation by eye, which is not at all necessary. Select the Move tool and take a look at its options bar. There are a number of settings that are responsible for this task (see screenshot):

The first three buttons are responsible for vertical alignment (from left to right): top edge, center, bottom edge.

The next three buttons are responsible for horizontal alignment (from left to right): left, center, right.

Thus, to place an object exactly in the center, you need to select vertical and horizontal centering.

The most important rule of alignment: first of all, you must tell Photoshop the area relative to which the program should look for the edges or the middle. Until you do this, the alignment buttons will be inactive, meaning they cannot be clicked.

This is the secret of how to make an object in the middle of the entire image or a separate fragment of it.

So, the sequence of actions is as follows:

Let's say you need to center this picture:

Option 1- relative to the entire canvas.

STEP 1

We indicate to Photoshop the area relative to which the program should align the image. This is done by creating a selection.

In the layers palette, select the background layer and press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A (Select All). As a result, you should see a selection frame of “marching ants” around the background layer. (As a rule, the background layer is the same size as the canvas).

STEP 2

Now you need to select a tool Moving. When we have a selection frame, the alignment buttons will become active, which means they can be used.

Another example. Let's say you need to place the picture in the center, but on the left edge. Then on the options bar select the following buttons:

Option 2- in a separate fragment of the image

Let's say there is a fragment in the image, inside of which you need to place some picture perfectly evenly. In my example I added a glass square. Let there be another picture inside it (by the way, in this article you can learn how to make such a glass square yourself).

STEP 1

First of all, by analogy with the first option, you need to select this fragment. How to do this?

If this fragment is on a separate layer (like my square, which I inserted separately), then you need to press Ctrl and click on the layer thumbnail if it is not locked).

If this fragment is located in the image itself, then you need to select the Rectangular and Oval selection tools and use them to draw an even selected area around the fragment. How to use these tools.

STEP 2

Select the layer with the picture and select the buttons how you would like to place this picture. For example in the center:

Advice. In some cases, you need to manually slightly adjust the location of the picture. Select the Move tool and, while holding down the Shift key, click on the directional arrows on your keyboard. The image will move in 10 pixel increments.

If you do not hold down this key, but simply use the keyboard arrows, the image will move in 1 pixel increments.