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Inspiring
December 14, 2020
Answered

How do I center one object relative to a folder full of objects?

  • December 14, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1043 views

I have two folders. They each contain a half-circle that visually combine to make a full circle. 

I have another square shape that is outside of those two folders. I would like to center this square shape to the "circle" made up of the two aforementioned folder. So visually the result should be a square perfectly centered to the (visual) shape of the circle. 

 

If I were using Photoshop, I would put both folders containing each half-circle into a parent folder. Then Photoshop treats those individual pieces a whole for purposes of alignment and centering. Illustrator seems not to do this unless there's some toggle or something I need to apply. 

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer michelew83603738

Maybe this helps:

https://youtu.be/E7WQlm5JpNw

3 replies

michelew83603738
Community Expert
michelew83603738Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 16, 2020
DW-FPAuthor
Inspiring
December 16, 2020

Yes, thank you. Believe it or not I'm not a novice user but this is the first time I've seen "group" differentiated from simply putting multiple objects in a single "layer". This is tremendously helpful and I apprecaite the time you took to demonstrate it. 

michelew83603738
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 16, 2020

Glad that you got it to work. Yes, a layer does not work like a group and now that you understand that, a lot of things will work better for you. Happy Holidays!

pixxxelschubser
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 16, 2020

You have not grouped the circle pieces as suggested.

DW-FPAuthor
Inspiring
December 16, 2020

Correct, I reliaze my mistake now. See my comment on the post marked Correct Answer. 

michelew83603738
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 14, 2020

I suggest you group the two half circles and then you can center the square with them as if they were one.

DW-FPAuthor
Inspiring
December 15, 2020

Thanks for the reply; your recommendation unfortunately does not achieve a different result than what I've already tried. 

michelew83603738
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 15, 2020

Are you changing the paramater for alignment from page to selected objects? Perhaps post an image of what you are trying to do including your layers panel, maybe I am misunderstanding.