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Align, arrange, and move objects on a path

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Illustrator

Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Common questions
      3. Illustrator system requirements
      4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      19. Safe Mode
      20. View artwork
      21. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      22. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      2. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      3. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      4. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
    1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
    2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
    3. Troubleshooting issues FAQ
    4. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
    6. Add and edit text on the web
    7. Apply colors and gradients on the web
    8. Draw and edit paths on the web
    9. Work with cloud documents on the web
    10. Invite collaborators to edit on the web
  4. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  5. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  6. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Trace images
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    4. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    5. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic art mockups
    7. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Reflow Viewer
      3. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      4. Manage text area
      5. Fonts and typography
      6. Convert text within images into editable text
      7. Add basic formatting to text
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Import and export text
      10. Format paragraphs
      11. Special characters
      12. Create type on a path
      13. Character and paragraph styles
      14. Tabs
      15. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      16. Arabic and Hebrew type
      17. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      18. Creative typography designs
      19. Scale and rotate type
      20. Line and character spacing
      21. Hyphenation and line breaks
      22. Spelling and language dictionaries
      23. Format Asian characters
      24. Composers for Asian scripts
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    9. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    10. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  7. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  8. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  9. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  10. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. File issues
    6. Supported file formats
    7. GPU device driver issues
    8. Wacom device issues
    9. DLL file issues
    10. Memory issues
    11. Preferences file issues
    12. Font issues
    13. Printer issues
    14. Share crash report with Adobe
    15. Improve Illustrator performance

Use the Objects on Path tool to attach and align objects to a curved or straight-line path, and then rearrange and move them easily without losing alignment.

Play this video to see an example of the Objects on Path tool in action.

Adobe Illustrator deeplink

Try it in the app
Follow along with a sample file to learn how to use the Objects on Path tool in a few simple steps.

Open Illustrator

Attach and align objects to a path

  1. Select the Selection   tool from the toolbar, and then select the objects you want to attach.

  2. Select the Objects on Path   tool from the toolbar.

    If you can't find the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar, select Edit Toolbar   and then select it from the Modify section.

  3. Select the path. The objects attach and align to the path, creating the Objects on Path group.

    Ensure that the path is supported. When you hover over a supported path, it gets highlighted, and the pointer shows the Objects on Path   tool icon.

Note:
  • The path can be open or closed, curved or straight-line.
  • You can use one of the selected objects as the path.
  • You can attach most object types except some such as graphs and Objects on Path groups.
  • You can also access the Objects on Path   tool from Object > Objects on Path > Attach, and from the right-click menu when you select two or more objects.
  • Unlike the Type on a Path   tool, the path remains visible after attaching objects.

Default arrangement of objects on a path

  • Order: The order of the objects on the path is determined by their position on the canvas. When you select the objects, they are picked column by column from left to right. Within each column, objects are picked from top to bottom. They are then placed along the path, starting at its origin point. The origin point is pre-determined for basic shapes created with tools such as the Rectangle   tool and the Star   tool.
  • Attachment point: The center point of each object attaches to the path's outline, ignoring the stroke weight.
  • Distribution and spacing: The first object attaches to the path's origin point on both open and closed paths, while the last object attaches to the path's endpoint on an open path. Objects are spaced equally based on the distance between their attachment points.
  • Alignment of each object relative to the path: Objects attach vertically or horizontally to the path, rounding off their original rotation angle. As a result, the Objects on Path Options section in the Properties panel shows the net rotation as zero.

Change the default attachment point and rotation

  1. Double-click the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar.

  2. In the Objects on Path Tool Options window, select one of the nine points in Pivot to change the attachment point.

  3. Adjust the rotation angle from the Rotate dropdown as required, and then select Save.

The new settings will apply only to those objects you'll attach to a path in the future. The ones already attached remain unchanged.

At any time, you can restore the original settings:

  1. Double-click the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar.

  2. Select Reset, and then Save.

Rearrange objects after attaching to a path

Once you attach objects to a path, you can rotate them, change their attachment points and spacing, and move them along the path. These changes apply to all the objects in the group and can't be made to individual objects.

You can also shuffle the objects, detach objects from the path, and attach more objects to it.

A rocket, the Moon, a satellite, and a comet aligned to a circular path around the Sun.
Rearrange objects on a path using widgets without losing alignment.

A. The Space widget B. The Move All widget C. The Rotate All widget D. The Contextual Task Bar E. The Select/Move widget 

Rotate the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Rotate All   widget to rotate the objects. The objects rotate at their attachment point.

    To rotate the objects in increments of 15 degrees, press the Shift key when you use the Rotate All   widget.

  3. For precise rotation, enter the angle in the Rotate dropdown in the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel.

    The rotation angle given in the Properties panel denotes how much an object is tilted compared to an imaginary line perpendicular to the path at the attachment point. 

Change the attachment point of the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. In the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel, select one of the nine points in Pivot to change the attachment point of the objects.

    When you change the attachment point, the objects may turn, but their rotation angle remains the same. The rotation angle changes only when you use the Rotate All   widget or the Rotate dropdown.

Change the spacing and distribution of the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Space   widget on the bounding box to adjust the spacing and distribution of the objects:

    • Space widget alone: The first object on the path remains anchored, and the other objects move toward or away from it.
    • Space widget with Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows): None of the objects are anchored, and objects move toward the center of the path or away from it from both ends.

    As you adjust the spacing, you'll see the measurement next to the widget, allowing you to select precise values.

Move all objects along the path

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Move All widget on the first object to move all objects along the path.

    You can use Move All on an open path only if the distribution of the objects is shorter than the path's length.

Shuffle the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Hover over the attachment point of the object you want to move to another position. You'll find the Select/Move widget.

  3. Drag the widget toward the other object whose position the selected object will take, and release it. As the selected object attaches to the path, the objects ahead or behind it shift up or down the path.

The order of the objects on the path won't change if you rearrange them in the Objects on Path group in the Layers panel.

Detach an object from the path

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Hover over the object's attachment point and select the Select/Move widget. The widget will turn solid blue.

  3. Select Detach in the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel, and then move the detached object away from the group.

    You can detach only one object at a time using the Select/Move widget. To detach multiple objects together, in the Layers panel, Shift-select them and move them out of the Objects on Path group.

Auto-rearrangement of objects after detaching an object

When you detach an object from the path:

  • The objects that follow the detached object move up in order but may not move up the path. If the first object is detached, the second object moves up the path to take its place.
  • If you haven't changed the default spacing/distribution, the default distribution is maintained but the spacing will change. On an open path, as long as two objects remain, the path's origin and endpoint will always be occupied.
  • If you have changed the default spacing/distribution, the new spacing is maintained but the distribution will change.

Attach more objects to the path

In the Layers panel, drag the objects into the Objects on Path group. They automatically attach to the end of the path on the canvas. To attach objects to the path in isolation mode, do the following:

  1. Copy the objects that you want to attach.

  2. Double-click the Objects on Path group on the canvas to enter isolation mode, and then paste. The objects will automatically attach to the end of the path.

    Note:

    If you create objects in isolation mode, they automatically attach to the end of the path.

Create a copy of an attached object

  1. In the Layers panel, select the object in the Objects on Path group.

  2. On the canvas, press Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and drag the object to create its copy. The copy will automatically attach to the end of the path.

    Note:

    A copy created using Ctrl/Cmd + C and Ctrl/Cmd + V will attach to the path automatically only in isolation mode.

Modify the path and the objects

You can modify the objects and the path by selecting them in the Layers panel or in isolation mode:

  • Some tools such as the Shape Builder   tool, the Blend   tool, and the Live Paint Bucket   tool work only in isolation mode.
  • Some tools such as the Perspective Grid   tool and the Perspective Selection   tool aren't supported.
  • Some tools such as the Eraser   tool, the Path Eraser   tool, the Scissors   tool, and the Knife   tool work, but the Objects on Path group automatically converts into a regular group.

When you modify the path, the objects realign and rearrange according to the new path shape.

Expand the Objects on Path group

Use Expand to convert the Objects on Path group into a regular group:

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Select Object > Objects on Path > Expand.

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