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turner111
Inspiring
January 31, 2023
Answered

How to snap to off-page objects?

  • January 31, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 1062 views

I need to create some spread guides and wanted to use my "awesome drafting skills" to create objects representing specific divisions of the page. It's super-fast.

However, I just found that ID won't snap to objects if they're not on the page, and won't snap spread guides to objects ON the page.
So, in this example, I'm trying to create a spread guide that snaps to the edge where the blue and magenta areas meet. Is there a way to do this? (Positining objects halfway off the page doesn't work.)

Note: I don't want to use math 🙂

 

 

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This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Peter Spier

I presume you mean horizontal guides here.

Hold the Ctrl (PC) or Cmd (Mac) key while dragging a guide on the page with the object you wish to snap to to force the guide to extend the full width of the pasteboard. Works for vertical guides, too.

4 replies

John Mensinger
Community Expert
John MensingerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2023

No immediate help with this, but Illustrator's Make Guides (from selected object) command would be just the ticket.

Vote here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/42373369-make-guides-from-an-object

 

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 31, 2023

    It sure would be nice...

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    January 31, 2023

    What about creating your alignment objects on a separate layer... say as magenta rectangles down each margin, something like Scantron marks?

     

      T
      turner111Author
      Inspiring
      January 31, 2023

      Was going to, but see Peter's tip... 🙂

      Peter Spier
      Community Expert
      Peter SpierCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      January 31, 2023

      I presume you mean horizontal guides here.

      Hold the Ctrl (PC) or Cmd (Mac) key while dragging a guide on the page with the object you wish to snap to to force the guide to extend the full width of the pasteboard. Works for vertical guides, too.

        T
        turner111Author
        Inspiring
        January 31, 2023

        Both vertical and horizontal -  Thanks!

        Now, if only we could custom-color the guides...  and apply line styles to them...

          James Gifford—NitroPress
          James Gifford—NitroPress
          Legend
          January 31, 2023

          It's not quite what you're asking, but are you aware of the Shift and Alt modifiers for placing guides? Shift forces even multiples of your base measurement, and Alt will swap vertical and horizontal mode for new guides.

           

          There might be a convenience/solution down that road. I know dragging guides without any assist is pretty tedious if you're looking for precision.

           

            T
            turner111Author
            Inspiring
            January 31, 2023

            Yes, I'm aware - but they don't allow snapping to objects, which are at irregular locations, such as 3.7075".

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