how to align objects on a diagonal axis...

How can I align objects diagonally? Is it possible to turn diagonal lines into guides? If not, what's the best way to do this?

I've created a provisional diagonal line and aligned my other object to this line. But it's a painstaking process and because the diagonal coordinates change incrementally it's easy to make mistakes. I need an error-proof method to do this.

Thanks in advance!

how to align objects on a diagonal axis...

I think it would be best to align them horizontally or vertically, then select all and rotate the items.

I'm pretty sure a Javascript could do it, but the maths for rotated items is horrid

how to align objects on a diagonal axis...

Alas, this is a feature not yet available. I've been asking for the ability to make arbitrary guides for years, as in Illustrator, and the more who join in the better the chances it will happen. Adobe - Feature Request/Bug Report Form

[Jongware] wrote:

I think it would be best to align them horizontally or vertically, then select all and rotate the items.

I'm pretty sure a Javascript could do it, but the maths for rotated items is horrid

Thanks, that's what I've been doing, for lack of a better solution.

The problem is that if you have to go back and add elements that rotate at the same angle it's hard to get them exactly lined up. And nothing snaps at an angle, which makes things even more difficult.

Let's hope Adobe adds this very necessary feature in its next iteration.

I think you're both saying the same thing... and that's what I've done.

I have a series of horizontal lines -- stripes -- going across the page, the edges of which have to line up with a line sloping at let's say a 12 degree angle. I created the stripes, grouped them and rotated the group at that angle. Great. But my design isn't done, I'm just experimenting, etc. Or, later I have to make changes, the client wants additional stripes added and placed along that same sloping line. It's impossible to do that without starting over from scratch.

Plus, there's no way to make any other kinds of adjustments. If one of the stripes is longer or shorter than should be, there's no way to snap it to my diagonal ''guide'' line. And because the guide line is at a diagonal there's no way to know for sure what the correct coordinates of my new stripes are with relation to the previous stripes.

So... short of doing this in Illustrator and bringing it in (which I prefer not to have to do)... the above mentioned workaround seems to be the only way.

Hard to believe this isn't a regular feature in InDesign.

Thanks for your input.

Scarlet if you look under your transform pallet you'll see ID remembers all your rotations.

So all you do is align, group, then rotate

If a change is needed change the angle back to 0 in said pallet and repeat.

Just remember Image or link rotation is independent of Box rotation

Thanks, but doesn't this information also show up in the control panel? In any case, it's possible (although cumbersome) to discover the original angle by ungrouping and clicking on an individual element.

However, that's not the main issue. The problem arises in trying to re-align a new element, not to the angle, but to the proper coordinates on a diagonal line.

The ability to turn a diagonal line into a ''snappable'' guide line is sorely missing, and workarounds don't truly do the job.

I've just put in a request for this feature. Hopefully, Adobe will provide this in the next version of ID.

It would be VERY nice to see a ''make guides'' option like in AI.

And an import guides from AI - for the jobs that cross the applications to completion.

ohhhh I like that!!!

I have had to do the same, though not very often. Select and align all your elements (H%26amp;V) so they are on top of one another, evenly distribute them and rotate to the angle you wish. From there, select one of your images, and in the control panel, you will see the angle rotation of your image - change that back to zero with your center point selected and then select your next image, and transform again (cmd+opt+3). That's the best precision I can get myself.

Great suggestions, thanks!

And love the import guides from Illustrator....!

Adobe, are you following this?

I'll send a user request... Just got the hang of that process and I love telling people who don't listen to me what they should be doing. hehe

Scarlett F wrote:

Adobe, are you following this?

Easy to do - Give it a shot... the more of us who like it, the better chances there are of getting it. ;o)