Alignment and DIstribution of Objects in CorelDRAW

In the last lecture, we learnt about interfaces and basic tools. OK!

We understood those two things.

What is the interface of CorelDraw.?

Alignment, Pathfinder and distribution, about these three things, we have to learn today.

What is alignment?

Anything or any design that we create then their text or shape is aligned like left align, right align, center align, bottom align, and top align.

You must have heard about all these things.

We have to learn about all these things.

I shall tell you one thing that design is such a thing that is not only done by tools but rules.

But before learning rules, you have to work on tools and make them powerful. You have to clear the concept of tools, then only we will be able to understand the rules. OK!

So let us start! Basic tools of CorelDraw.

OK!

This is our A4 sheet. We can change units from here. I always work in inches.

Then…..PAUSE

OK!

Now, from here we will start learning about CorelDraw practically. OK!

We will learn basic tools today. Then we will learn their rules later on.

First thing, if you want to fill color in any shape, then directly you can’t do it from here. You have to draw any shape first. You selected this shape rectangle then with pressing CTRL, you can draw it in perfect proportion.

One other thing, in your hand there are always two tools. One tool is this pick tool and another tool you can select as per your choice. OK! Pick tool is by default and along with that you can keep other tools as per your choice.

By clicking on SPACE, that tool will swipe but one tool always remains there just like the left hand. On the left hand you have to pick tools and on the right you can keep any other tools. Ok!

Like, I selected a crop tool but if I press SPACE again then the pick tool will come again. With SPACE, these both tools are getting swiped.

OK!

Now learn about basic things. First thing we learn is how to copy?

There are three ways to copy in CorelDraw. First one is, the universal keys, CTRL + C and CTRL + V. copy is done.

Second one, Only +(Plus), if you press + (plus) key then it will be automatically copied there.

Another trick, which is very useful to work at speed. You hold the shape and drag it and the moment you leave click on the right key of the mouse. Then it will copy it there instantly wherever you want. Done!

OK!

So, you can copy this with technique as well. These are the three techniques of doing copy, whichever you find speedy, you can do that.

Then, here is the shape. OK! I will put any random color in that, then I will select another shape of A4 size and as we learned in the last lecture, by double clicking on shape, we will get the same size of shape as the canvas. But I zoomed out and I have to fit to the screen. The shortcut key of fit to screen is F4. After clicking F4, you can see all the sheets or text or anything whichever is near by your sheet and it will fit to the screen. Everything will fit on screen.

OK! PAUSE 

 If you have not taken any shape, in that case you have to click SHIFT + F4. Then the area of our canvas will be fit to screen. Done!

Now, we are going to learn about shortcut keys of alignment..

Once again, alignment shortcut keys are here.

 For Fit to Screen – F4

For full screen – F9

OK!

Time – 5 Minutes

Now we will start learning about alignment of any shape.

Now, here is the shape and I have to bring it in the center of the screen. This is our screen or page or canvas. You can say all three things.

If I have to bring it in the center of Page then I will only click P. After clicking P, it will be centralized. If That shape is anywhere on screen, it will directly come to the center of the page only by clicking P.

Like as you can see, only click P.

Done!

This was all about alignment. We also learnt all the shortcut keys of alignment. OK!

Now, we are going to learn about how to distribute anything. Distribute means, if there are many shapes then equalize the spacing between all the shapes. That’s called distribution.

Let’s understand the distribution.

Randomly I am taking any shapes………PAUSE and we will keep their space unequal. This one is vertical and this is horizontal. OK!

For distribution of Vertical, as you can see that spacing in vertical is unequal. And for doing equal spacing, there is a shortcut key SHIFT + A. After clicking SHIFT + A, all the spacing between the shapes becomes equal. As you can see here. Clicking SHIFT + A, automatically all spacing becomes perfect.

Same thing is with horizontal but their shortcut key is SHIFT + P. SHIFT + P make their spacing perfect.

SHIFT + A and SHIFT + P.

The same thing, we can do it from here as well. Alignment and distribute.

Like if it’s spacing is wrong…… PAUSE. It will automatically consider the center vertical.

Then horizontal…. PAUSE It will automatically make it equal. DONE!

This was about distribute and alignment.

For vertical distribution, SHIFT + A

And for Horizontal distribution, SHIFT + P

OK!

So, friends, today we learned about alignment and distribution. Both of these two are very much important for our upcoming designing because clarity in tools is very much important for designing.

So, the first thing is that you have to do practice. How to align different shapes, Top Align, left align, bottom align and right align and you have to distribute it.

In the next topic, we will learn about examples of alignment. We learned the alignment but we have to see where the use of alignment is. As it is used multiple places but for practice we have to do one small example. You have to consider that as an assignment and practice it. OK!

So, you will get used to it. Practice is very much important. Right now, you might feel that I will remember all of these but the moment you start working then after you will feel that you are getting issues and questions. Like this you will learn gradually and your practice and speed will improve.

OK Friends!!

SO, Thank you so much.

If you have any queries in regards to alignment or distribution or in tools then, click the discussion button below the video and post there. This way, you will be able to connect to fellow learners and discuss the course. Also, Our Team will try to solve your query.