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Participating Frequently
December 9, 2024
Question

Illustrator guides not showing when I drag across until I click onto something in the document

  • December 9, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 1649 views

Hi all I am sure this has been asked a million times but i cant find the answer. When i drag my guides across from the ruler in AI, they dont show until i click on something in the document - very hard to place accurately when using. Also the direction selection tool also doesnt show when i have dragged it to select something - please help i am going crazy!

    3 replies

    kathieb9710
    Participant
    June 13, 2025

    Had the same problem then realized I was in Trim view. Got out of that and there was my guide!

     

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 9, 2024

    Does it work better when you turn off the live preview in Preferences > Performance?

    Participating Frequently
    December 9, 2024

    turning off live preview makes no differnce, I have tried that 😞

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 9, 2024

    @willmasterpsoneday 

     

    I've moved your post from Using the Community to the Adobe Illustrator forum.

     

    When you "drag your guides across from the ruler" are you creating guides or moving the zero point? You might try clicking in the ruler to create a guide or Shift+Clicking in the ruler to create a guide that will jump to the closest tic mark.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/rulers-grids-guides-crop-marks.html

     

    Guides go on the current layer. If they are disappearing, then expand the layer to confirm they exist and check the View menu to confirm they are visible.

     

    Dragging with the Direct Selection tool will select anchor points. If you want objects, use the Selection tool (black arrow).

     

    Screenshots will help us to see what you are seeing.

     

    Jane

     

    Participating Frequently
    December 9, 2024

    I have uploaded a video to show you what is happening. I am just dragging from the rulers not the zero point. Hope this helps you understand what is happening 

     

    https://www.canva.com/design/DAGY1zpXpSo/DARrd8di0iUxi9cQW6Zf2Q/watch?utm_content=DAGY1zpXpSo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor 

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 10, 2024

    @willmasterpsoneday 

     

    I watched your video three times and don't see what is going on with the guides, as it moves a little fast. Can you tell us the X value for each guide? And show your Layers panel in a video.

    What happens when you Shift + Click in the top ruler to create the guide?

     

    As for the Direct Selection tool, it is used to select anchor points, as was said earlier in this thread. If your text is live text, it does not have anchor points. Use the Selection tool instead.

     

    Jane