P: Change option bar Align & Distribute layout

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

In the newest update, the "Distribute" tools are hidden behind the three dots and a drop down menu. I use these tools often and loved how, in the previous version, they were all available in the options bar. Now, if I select multiple layers and want to distribute them and then group or merge them, which is something I do a lot in my line of work, I have to click on the dots, click on distribute, and then click away from the drop down menu to be able to use my keyboard shortcuts to merge or group. In addition, if I'm on Auto-Select and I accidentally click in my artwork and not in the artboard to get out of the drop down, I've lost my selection and have to go back in and re-select to group or merge. What was once a one click, one keyboard shortcut action has now become at best a three click, one keyboard shortcut action. This adds up if you do it a lot, and my workflow is being impacted. It would be wonderful to be able to modify the Align and Distribute tools that show up in the options bar when layers are selected. There certainly seems to be enough space to include all of them, but if for whatever reason that's not possible, a keyboard shortcut to toggle between them would be very helpful. Thank you!

[alicer28940017]

In the newest update of Photoshop CC, the distribute tools are hidden behind the three dots after the align tools in the toolbar at the top of my screen. I use these commands the most, way more than align, and it's really frustrating to have to add a whole extra step of clicking the three dots and wait for the drop down every time I want to distribute. I miss when all of the align & distribute tools were available at one click. Is there any way to modify my toolbar so that these are all available to me? Thanks!

[Sahil.Chawla]

Hi Alicer,

As some of the tools are missing from the toolbar, could you please try resetting the toolbar and see if it helps? Tools missing from the toolbar Photoshop CC 2015

Regards,
Sahil

[alicer28940017]

Thanks, but like I said, they are not missing, they are just behind a drop down menu when you click on the three dots. I want them to be available without having to make the extra step of clicking the dots.

[Sahil.Chawla]

If you check the link shared above, it shows you how you can edit the toolbar aswell. Please check and confirm if it helps.

[davescm]

Sahil - it's not the toolbar being referred to here but the options bar . AFAIK that is not customisable outside of enabling the narrow options bar which does not help here.

CC2018 Normal

CC2019 Normal

CC2019 Narrow

Dave

[alicer28940017]

Yes, that's what I'm talking about -- sorry, wrong terminology. It's also really frustrating because something I do a lot is distribute several layers and then group or merge them, and not only do I have to click on the dots to get to distribute, I have to click away from the drop down to be able to use any keyboard shortcuts. Instead of one click and one keyboard shortcut to distribute and group, it's now three clicks. It's really slowing down my workflow.

[jane-e]

Alice,

You can fill out a Feature Request to ask for Distribute to be restored to the options bar. Please post the link back here if you do. Photoshop Family Customer Community

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EDIT: this thread started in 2018 when feature requests were in a separate forum. The two forums were later merged into one. Currently, feature requests should be tagged as "Ideas" and this post is in the correct place.

Also: be sure to upvote in the top left! 

~ Jane

[Trevor.Dennis]

Alice, I will definitely add a Me Too for this one.  I love that we have more functionality, but it irks me that my most used align options _always_ need an extra click to reveal them.  How about each click toggles which set are at the front?   If you do start a thread on the feedback site, please come back and give  us the link, so we can add our support.

[alicer28940017]

Thanks! Glad to know I'm not the only one. Toggling would be a great option, I do use align a lot too.

[alicer28940017]

Thanks, I will but I can't figure out how to put in a Feature Request? Do I just start a new thread under "Idea"?

[jane-e]

Hi Alice,

I just went in and saw "New Post" in the black nav bar. Do you have that?

~ Jane

[alicer28940017]

Yes. I just assumed since you capitalized "Feature Request" that it was a specific option available, and I didn't see anything named that. Thanks!

[alicer28940017]

I've started an idea thread in the community here: Change option bar Align & Distribute layout | Photoshop Family Customer Community

[jane-e]

Putting distribute behind an ellipses doubles the time it takes to distribute, which adds up to real time over the course of a day. Please put it back as it was in 2017. As Alice said, if other things are going on more time and productivity is lost.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Alice, I agree that the Feedback site is not as intuitive as these forums when it comes to starting a thread.  I took the liberty of starting one for you, and for all of us who share your thoughts on this issue. So it would be great if we can get some people to support it.

CC 2019 Layer Align Options | Photoshop Family Customer Community

When starting the thread and thinking about how to phrase it, I was thinking that as the drop down panel contains all Align options, and not just those not already 'on top' in the Options bar, it might be problematic for the Development team to change, so I also suggested that a separate panel/window might be better.

I would use it as a collapsed icon on the right of the workspace where we keep small panels like Character, clone source etc.  Or I might have it permanently expanded on my triple monitor workspace.

So if you like the idea of a more usable Align panel, then head over and either just like it, or add a comment with your ideas.  Remember, unlike this forum, the Feedback site is followed by Jeff Tranberry and other Development Team members.  Squeaky wheels get oiled when it comes to application requests, so the more likes it gets, the more likely it is to happen.

CC 2019 Layer Align Options | Photoshop Family Customer Community

[davescm]

Hi Trevor,

it's a good feature request but I would question why we have to have several greyed out 3D mode icons in the options bar (when not using a 3D layer) and yet cannot display the distribute icons that we had in the last version.

Dave

[Semaphoric]

Trevor, there actually is already such a panel available: Toshiyuki Takahashi's Align and Distribute. I have and regularly use his Pathfinder panel for Photoshop.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I found this thread through the same issue. I use the distribute tool every day and the extra click to find it is very annoying! Surely we should be able to customise this?

[JP2019]

I updated my Photoshop yesterday, and it was driving me insane that I only have partial align features at the top.   I have been searching high and low this morning trying to figure out how to have all the options back on top and in open view without a drop down box.  I used to be able to customize that area and move things around but no longer can.  When I click on the window option at the top "Align" does not even show up under Adjustments.   The above Align and Distribute add on worked, thank you very much @Semaphoric I can get on with my day now.  

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I also want the "Align To" option on the options bar! There's no reason to bury it under the ellipsis drop down menu.

Adobe, add it to the JDI list please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Earth Oliver]

The Align to dropdown is also available in the Properties Panel.

[jane-e]

Hi Eartho,
Distribute is hidden behind the ellipse in the Properties panel, just as it is in the options bar, so the extra click that showed up in recent versions and doubles our time is still required.
~ Jane

[Earth Oliver]

Jane, but it's sticky, right? Once you reveal, it stays open?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I don't see the transform or align and distribute options in the properties panel when I have at least 3 layers selected. Even if it does exist it's still pretty sad that Adobe has taken away a dedicated Distribute panel and the 3 dot drop down still exists. This post was started 2 years ago. SMH.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Hi Eartho;
It's sticky but only for the session. Once you close Photoshop, it reverts to "Selection" on restart.
I have similar items where the user choice is not persistent (even just taking focus off the panel).

• The Click and Drag on the Hue/Saturation panel
• The Tone Balance option on the Color Balance Panel always opens to "Midtones"

I probably have a few more I can't think of at the moment. I guess these are outliers, since most panels reopen to the last user settings even after application restart.