Alignment issues since last update (Illustrator 2024)

[Denis Bettio]

Hello everyone, I'm posting this here as I can't seem to find any mention of this problem anywere.

Something has changed since the last update on how objects align. Now Illustrator takes into account the outline thickness of two or more objects, and not the "basic shape" to calculate the alignment. If an object has an outline of 2 pt (for instance) and I try to allign another object "horizontally to the left" is now aligning to where the visual representation of the outline is, and not to the vector line of the first object. I know it might be difficult to understand so I'm attaching a reference picture of how alignment used to work and how it works now.

This is very detrimental to how I usually work as I use outlined objects as guides to center my objects, and I need to outline them in order to be visible.

Is there a way to fix this in the preferences? How does this major change in how Illustrator works has not been notified? I happen to have lots of my latest designs with alignment issues as is not an easy feat to notice (I work on packaging and playing cards design so being precise is a BIG issue here).

Thank you!

[Doug A Roberts · Accepted solution]

In the Align panel, open the menu and untick 'Use Preview Bounds'.

[Denis Bettio]

Thank you! I don't know how I missed that little flag over there but it fixed it. Do you happen to know if there's a similar option when making an Artboard from a shape with an outline? I'd like the artboard to match the vector lines and not the actual outline. Cheers! 

[Doug A Roberts]

Regardless of the preview bounds option, creating an artboard from a shape always uses the vector lines for me.

[Denis Bettio]

This is surprising for me, I've been trying to make an artboard from an outlined square and I've got it sized on the outline, not the lines. I've tried it both on Illustrator 2023 and 2024 with the same results. I wonder what could this be depending on

 

[Doug A Roberts]

Just to clarify: you're getting this result from Object > Artboards > Convert to Artboards?

[Denis Bettio]

That's actually a good point. I usually make new artboards by directly clicking on the shape with the artboard tool selected. Doing it as you suggested really does the trick, although I'm losing the original shape as it gets converted into artboard. I can live with this though! That was really helpful, thank you