ruler direction to match cartesian system

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 29, 2024
3 replies
924 views

can I change the rulers in Illustrator to match cartesian values - ie positive values are to the right and up, negative values are to the left and down. When I move an object, positive values will move it to the right and up, negative values will move it to the left and down

How-to

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Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

b squires,

It has been up quite a few times, one of the latest being this,

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/how-to-change-the-quot-y-quot-coordinate-from-positive-to-negative-when-moving-down/td-p/11079361

There were many threads about it when the switch came with CS5 including the original one by Carlos with the script, but they were all lost in connexion with the latest change of forum software.

As mentioned in the thread linked to, an Adobe staff friend kindly restored the thread with the script on 28th April 2020.

I can see that you have seen it already.

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Try dragging the ruler origin to bottom left. First I would drag guides as the ruler origin does not snap, unless you have guides to snap to. Guides will snap to edge of artboard if you hold down shift.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

This script from Carlos Canto may help:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-change-cs5-ruler-origin-to-bottom-left-like-cs4/m-p/3633733

CarlosCanto

Community Expert

13 years later and still rocking @Ton Frederiks

B

b squiresAuthor

Participating Frequently

Good to hear that helped.

I may have commented to soon. Illustrator (2025) is fighting Carlos' script. It still wants to move a positive value down horizontally with the move tool (and sometimes does) regardless of the script. I have to watch very carefully to ensure it actually moves it up. Note - a move in the wrong direction may be a costly mistake for me!

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