Page 31 - CC2017_AI_Look_Inside

10. Using the Selection tool, click the second rectangle on the artboard and drag until
a guide line appears, connecting the center points of the first and second shapes.

As you drag, the cursor feedback shows the relative position of the object. In other
words, you can see the change (difference) in the object’s position, both horizontally
(X) and vertically (Y) — hence the “dX” and “dY” values.

As we explained previously, Smart Guides can be very useful for aligning objects on the
artboard. Illustrator identifies and highlights relative alignment as you drag, and snaps
objects to those alignment points.

Smart guides make it easy The dX and dY values
to align multiple objects. show the changes to the
object’s X and Y values.

11. Release the mouse button while the center Smart Guide is visible.
If you don’t see the alignment guides as you drag, make sure that option is checked in
the Smart Guides preferences.

12. Click the fourth shape on the page. In the Control or Transform panel, select
the top-right reference point, type 8.25 in the X field, and type .25 in the Y field.
Because you changed the reference point, you defined the X/Y position for the top-right
bounding box handle of the fourth rectangle.

The top-right reference
point means the X and Y
values refer to the
top-right corner of the
selected shape.

13. Save the file and continue to the next exercise.

Project 1: Campground Icons 43