Positioning sprites using guides, the grid, or the Align window
On the Stage, you can align sprites by using guides, the grid, or the Align window.
The grid consists of cell rows and columns of a specified height and width that you use to assist you in visually placing sprites on the Stage. The grid is always available.
Guides are horizontal or vertical lines you can either drag around the Stage or lock in place to assist you with sprite placement. You must create guides before they become available.
Moving a sprite with the Snap to Grid or Snap to Guides feature selected lets you snap the sprite's edges and registration point to the nearest grid or guide line. When you are not using the guides or the grid, you can hide them.
Guides and the grid are visible only during authoring.
You can create and modify the guides and the grid from the Property inspector or by using menu commands.
To add and configure guides:
With the Property inspector open, click the Guides tab.
The top half of the tab contains settings for Guides.
To change the guide color, click the Guide Color box and select a different color.
Select the desired options to make the guides visible, to lock them, and to make the sprites snap to the guides.
To add a guide, move the cursor over the new horizontal or vertical guide, and then drag the guide to the Stage. Numbers in the guide tooltip indicate the distance, in pixels, the guide is located from the top or left edge of the Stage.
To reposition a guide, move the pointer over the guide. When the sizing handle appears, drag the guide to its new position.
To remove a guide, drag it off the Stage.
To remove all guides, click Remove All on the Guides tab in the Property inspector.
To display guides and align sprites:
If guides don't appear on the Stage, select View > Guides and Grid > Show Guides.
If Snap to Guides is not selected, select View > Guides and Grid > Snap to Guides.
Move a sprite on the Stage near a guide line to make the sprite snap to that exact location.
To display a grid and align sprites:
If grid lines don't appear on the Stage, select View > Guides and Grid > Show Grid.
If Snap to Grid is not selected, select View > Guides and Grid > Snap to Grid.
Move a sprite on the Stage near a grid line to make the sprite snap to that exact location.
Note: Press the G key while moving or resizing a sprite to temporarily turn Snap to Grid off or on.
To configure the grid:
With the Property inspector open, click the Guides tab.
The bottom half of the Guides tab contains Grid settings.
To change the grid color, click the Grid Color box and select a different color.
Select the desired options to make the grid visible and to make the sprites snap to the grid.
To change the width and height of the grid, enter values in the W and H text boxes.
Select the desired options to display the grid as dots or lines.
To align sprites using the Align window:
On the Stage or in the Score, select the sprites to align.
Select entire sprites, keyframes, or frames within sprites in as many different frames or channels as you need. All of the elements align to the last sprite or frame selected.
Select Window > Align to open the Align panel.
Select alignment buttons to modify the selected objects:
For Align, select Align Left Edge, Align Horizontal Center, Align Right Edge, Align Horizontal Registration Point, Align Top Edge, Align Vertical Center, Align Bottom Edge, or Align Vertical Registration Point.
For Distribute, select Distribute Left Edge, Distribute Horizontal Center, Distribute Right Edge, Distribute Horizontal Registration Point, Distribute Width, Distribute Horizontally Across Stage, Distribute Top Edge, Distribute Vertical Center, Distribute Bottom Edge, Distribute Vertical Registration Point, Distribute Height, or Distribute Vertically Across Stage.
