This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Aligning Type
The way type is aligned adds visual design features. Left alignment is typically used for body text, centering can be used for header text or any text that needs to be set apart from other text, and right alignment is used for aesthetic, decorative elements.
CAUTION
Center or right-align text only when necessary and almost never for the purposes of body text. Although the negative space created by these options is indeed interesting, longer portions of text using these alignment options can be difficult to read.
In this section, you'll align type on both the horizontal and the vertical axes. First, align type to the horizontal options available in LiveMotion.
Task: Aligning Type Left
To align type to the left, perform these steps:
-
Create a new canvas. Click the Type tool, then the canvas. Choose a font and any desired font attributes.
-
Select Window, Properties to ensure that the Properties palette is available.
-
In the Properties palette, click the Left Align button (see Figure 3.20).
){kind=link}
Your type aligns to the left.
Figure 3.20 Alignment options in the Properties palette.
Your type is now set with left alignment. Keep your work active because you'll use it to try out other alignment types.
Task: Aligning Type Center
To align the current type to the center, follow these steps:
-
Be sure to select the text object you created by clicking the Selection tool and clicking on the text once. If it is selected, it has a box with anchor points surrounding the type.
-
Make sure that the Properties palette is available. If it is not, select Window, Properties.
-
Click the Center Align button.
Your type is now center-aligned.
Task: Aligning Type Right
To right-align the type, perform these steps:
-
Select the text object.
-
Ensure that the Properties palette is open by selecting Window, Properties.
-
Click the Right Align button.
You've now set your type to the right. To justify your type, simply go through the same steps in these preceding three examples and use the Justify button in the Properties palette.
TIP
Whenever your type is selected and the Properties palette is active, you can make modifications to other options such as your font, font style, and size.
Task: Aligning Type Vertical—Left to Right
Now, let's work on setting alignment for vertical type. To set type vertically, follow these steps:
-
Create a canvas that is 400x500 pixels.
-
Be sure that the Properties palette is available.
-
Make choices regarding font, style, and other features you want to include in your work.
-
From the Properties palette, make the type vertical by choosing the Vertical icon. This causes your type to run vertically instead of horizontally.
-
Choose a vertical alignment from the icon selection. Your options are Top, Middle, Bottom, and Justify. I used Top, Middle, and Bottom options, respectively (see Figure 3.21).
){kind=link}
Check your work against mine, found in Figure 3.22.
){kind=link}
Figure 3.21 Left, center, right, and justify alignment options.
Figure 3.22 Vertical alignment. On the left, I've aligned my type to the top; the center sample is aligned to the middle; and the sample on the right is aligned to the bottom.