Align, Distribute and Position Patterns in Canvas

Created by Sunny Hart, Modified on Tue, 3 Mar at 9:16 AM by Sunny Hart

STEK EDGE • Canvas

Canvas Align, Distribute, and Position: Arrange Patterns Fast and Consistently

Arrange patterns using Align, Distribute, and Position tools so layouts are clean, repeatable, and space‑efficient—without relying only on dragging.

Purpose: Arrange patterns using Align, Distribute, and Position tools for clean, repeatable layouts.

Tool to: Canvas → Align / Distribute / Position

Tip: Use these tools after rough dragging. Align cleans up lines, Distribute equalizes spacing, and Position snaps parts to borders. Edge Align helps pack parts into the lower-left area without overlap.

Why this matters

Problem: Manual dragging becomes unreliable with many parts and can waste film through small misalignments or overlap risk.
What EDGE improves: Align, Distribute, and Position provide structured placement rules for consistent results.
Result: Cleaner layouts, faster organization, and more predictable plotting results.

What this feature does

What it is: A set of layout tools that reposition patterns using Align rules, Distribute rules, and Position rules (including Edge Align).
What it helps you do: Line up parts precisely, maintain consistent gaps, and snap patterns to borders for efficient layout.
What it does not do (optional): It does not automatically nest parts for maximum optimization like specialized nesting software.

Videos

Video

Video — Canvas Align, Distribute, Position (including Edge Align)

Covers: Aligning patterns, distributing spacing, snapping to borders, and using Edge Align to pack parts without overlap.

When to use: When you need faster, cleaner layout than manual dragging—especially with many parts or multiple vehicles.

Before you start

You need: Patterns loaded in the canvas.
Recommended: Use these tools as a final organization pass before plotting.
Terms used (optional): Align = same edge/center; Distribute = equal gaps; Position = snap to border; Edge Align = pack to lower-left without intersection.

How to use it

Workflow

Workflow A — Align (line up patterns)

Select patterns
Where: Canvas
Do: Select at least two patterns to align them relative to each other.
Expected result: Multiple patterns are selected.
Choose an Align action
Where: Canvas → Align
Do: Choose Left, Right, Top, Bottom, Horizontal (center), or Vertical (center).
Expected result: Selected patterns snap to the chosen alignment.
Align to canvas (no selection)
Where: Canvas → Align
Do: Run an Align action with nothing selected.
Expected result: Alignment is applied relative to the canvas instead of other patterns.

Workflow

Workflow B — Distribute (equal spacing)

Select multiple patterns
Where: Canvas
Do: Select patterns you want evenly spaced (3+ is most useful).
Expected result: Multiple patterns are selected.
Choose Distribute direction
Where: Canvas → Distribute
Do: Select Horizontal or Vertical distribution.
Expected result: Gaps between patterns become equal in the chosen direction.

Workflow

Workflow C — Position (snap to borders + Edge Align)

Select pattern(s)
Where: Canvas
Do: Select one or more patterns.
Expected result: Selected items are ready to reposition.
Snap to a canvas border
Where: Canvas → Position
Do: Choose Left/Right/Top/Bottom border of the canvas.
Expected result: Patterns snap to that border reference.
Use Edge Align (pack toward lower-left without overlap)
Where: Canvas → Position → Edge Align
Do: Click Edge Align (repeat for multiple items as needed).
Expected result: Each pattern moves as far left/bottom as possible without intersecting already placed patterns.

Note: Edge Align avoids intersection, but it does not guarantee your preferred spacing gap. Add clearance if needed.

Tips

Use Align to clean up rows/columns after rough dragging.
Use Distribute to keep consistent gaps and avoid parts touching.
Use Position to snap parts to known film boundary references.
Use Edge Align to pack parts into the lower-left area quickly.

Common mistakes

Mistake: Align with only one item selected → Fix: Select two+ items, or select none to align to canvas.
Mistake: Distribute with only two items → Fix: Distribute is most useful with 3+ items.
Mistake: Using Edge Align and assuming spacing is safe → Fix: Zoom in and verify clearance.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Align moves patterns unexpectedly
Cause: Alignment target is different (selection vs canvas)
Fix: Confirm whether patterns are selected. No selection aligns to canvas.

Issue: Distribute spacing is not what you expected
Cause: Too few items or rough layout not prepared
Fix: Select 3+ items and roughly arrange them in the intended direction before distributing.

Issue: Edge Align packs too tightly
Cause: Edge Align prevents intersection but does not enforce a gap
Fix: After Edge Align, manually add clearance or use Distribute for consistent spacing.

Wrap-up

You used Align, Distribute, and Position to organize patterns with precision and consistency. Align cleans up lines, Distribute equalizes spacing, and Position snaps parts to borders—while Edge Align helps pack parts into a lower-left starting area without overlap.