Here is how you can perform a specific type of alignment related to text boxes in Adobe Illustrator, focusing on aligning objects to the actual shapes of the text characters.
Aligning objects or other elements precisely with the characters within a text box in Illustrator can be achieved using the Align to Glyph Bounds option. This method allows you to align selected items relative to the visual boundaries of the text glyphs themselves, offering a high degree of precision compared to aligning to the standard bounding box of the text object.
This specific alignment method, detailed in Adobe Illustrator's features (as of 22-Mar-2024), is primarily used when you want to align other design elements, or even other text, directly with the visible form of your text characters.
Steps to Align Using Glyph Bounds:
- Ensure the Align panel is visible. If not, go to
Window > Align. - In the Align panel, locate and click the More Options flyout menu. This is typically a small icon in the upper-right corner of the panel.
- From the dropdown menu that appears, choose Align to Glyph Bounds. This option is available for both Point Text and Area Text.
- Using the Selection tool (V), select the object(s) you wish to align and the text object (the text box containing the text) that you want to align to. As an alternative way to select everything on your artboard, you can press
Ctrl + A(Windows) orCommand + A(Mac). - With your objects and text selected, click on the desired alignment option within the Align panel (e.g., Horizontal Align Left, Vertical Align Center, etc.).
- The selected object(s) will then be aligned precisely with respect to the glyph bounds of the text you selected to align to.
Understanding "Align to Glyph Bounds"
Unlike the default "Align to Bounding Box," which aligns based on the invisible box surrounding an object, "Align to Glyph Bounds" aligns based on the actual visible edges of the characters. This is useful for aligning graphics, icons, or other text elements directly with the baseline, cap height, or ascenders/descenders of your text.
This specific alignment method provides fine-tuned control when integrating graphics and text, ensuring elements line up perfectly with the shape of your typography.
