How to Align Text in Adobe Illustrator

Aligning text in Adobe Illustrator is quick and easy when you know the right tools. Whether you’re working on a business card, brochure, or any graphic design project, proper text alignment ensures your design looks polished and professional.

Aligning text means lining it up to a margin, guide, or line. In Illustrator, there are two main tools for this: the Align Panel and the Paragraph Panel.

Let’s have a look at some different ways to align text.

Using the Align Panel in Adobe Illustrator

The Align Panel is a great tool for aligning text and objects. Then name is a bit of a giveaway! You can access this from below the Properties Panel when text or objects are selected or by going to Window > Align.

1. Start by selecting the text you want to align.
2. Open the Align Panel and select an alignment option under Align Objects.

• To right align text: Click Horizontal Align Right.
• To centre align: Choose Horizontal Align Centre or Vertical Align Centre.

3. After aligning the text, make any small adjustments you need.

That’s it! In just a few steps, you can create a great looking business card, poster, or whatever, in minutes.

Tip: The Align Panel isn’t just for text; you can also use it to align objects.

Using the Paragraph Panel

If you know how to align text in a word processor, this will be similar. The Paragraph Panel works in the same way and lets you quickly adjust paragraph alignment styles.

1. Select the text box you want to align.
2. Open the Paragraph Panel from the Properties Panel or select Window > Type > Paragraph.
3. Click your preferred alignment style (left, centre, right, or justified).

It’s just like aligning text in a Word document.

Changing Area Type Settings

If you want to set up automatic alignment for every time you type, you can use the Area Type Settings. This only works with Area Type (text contained within a box).

1. Select your Area Type text box.
2. Select Type > Area Type Options from the overhead menu.
3. Choose your desired alignment option.

This method ensures consistent alignment without you having to manually adjust your text each time.

Conclusion

Text alignment plays an important role in creating appealing designs, regardless of whether it’s a brochure or a business card. By taking some time to learn the alignment tools in Adobe Illustrator, you can save time and improve the quality of your work.