Layout Tools
Align, distribute, and organize elements for professional design
Layout Tools
Creating professional-looking labels requires precise alignment. The layout tools in SheetsToLabels help you arrange elements perfectly.
Selection
- Single Select: Click an element to select it.
- Multi-Select: Hold
Shiftand click multiple elements to select a group. - Marquee Select: Click and drag on the canvas background to draw a box around elements to select them.
Image Placeholder: [GIF showing marquee selection of multiple elements]
Alignment Tools
When multiple elements are selected, the alignment toolbar becomes active.
| Icon | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ⬅️ | Align Left | Aligns selected elements to the leftmost edge of the selection. |
| ↔️ | Align Center | Aligns horizontal centers of selected elements. |
| ➡️ | Align Right | Aligns selected elements to the rightmost edge. |
| ⬆️ | Align Top | Aligns selected elements to the top edge. |
| ↕️ | Align Middle | Aligns vertical centers of selected elements. |
| ⬇️ | Align Bottom | Aligns selected elements to the bottom edge. |
Tip: The first element you select often acts as the "key object" (depending on interaction mode), or alignment is based on the bounding box of the selection.
Distribution
If you have 3 or more elements selected, you can space them evenly.
- Distribute Horizontally: Equalizes the horizontal space between elements.
- Distribute Vertically: Equalizes the vertical space between elements.
Useful for: Creating lists, lining up icons, or spacing out grid items.
Grouping
Grouping allows you to treat multiple elements as a single object.
- Group: Select elements -> Right-click -> Group (or
Ctrl/Cmd + G). - Ungroup: Select group -> Right-click -> Ungroup (or
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + G).
When grouped, you can move and resize the entire design block together.
Image Placeholder: [Screenshot showing the grouping context menu]
Layering (Z-Index)
Control which elements appear on top of others.
- Bring to Front: Move element to the very top layer.
- Send to Back: Move element to the very bottom (background).
- Bring Forward: Move up one step.
- Send Backward: Move down one step.
Access these commands via the Right-click Context Menu or the properties panel toolbar.
Snapping & Guides
- Smart Guides: As you drag elements, blue lines appear to help you align with other objects or the center of the canvas.
- Grid Snap: Enable the Grid in settings to snap elements to fixed grid points for structured layouts.
Copy & Paste
- Copy:
Ctrl/Cmd + C - Paste:
Ctrl/Cmd + V - Duplicate:
Ctrl/Cmd + D(creates an immediate copy slightly offset) - Delete:
DelorBackspace
Best Practices for Layout
- Margins: Keep important text at least 1/8" (3mm) away from the edge to avoid cutting errors during printing. Use Guides to mark this safe zone.
- Visual Hierarchy: Group related info (e.g., Address block) together.
- Consistency: Use alignment tools to ensure all text boxes start at the exact same vertical line.
Image Placeholder: [Visual diagram of safe zone, bleed line, and cut line]