2013

Object Handling 115
Snap to grid
When SNAP TO GRID is selected, grid points act like magnets. Right click on the
pasteboard and choose
"SNAP TO" > "SNAP TO GRID" or use the menu option
"WINDOW" > "SNAP TO GRID", (or press "." (decimal point) on the numeric keypad).
You can control the grid spacing from the options dialog (right click and choose
PAGE
OPTIONS
or use the menu command "UTILITIES" > "OPTIONS") on the Grid and Ruler
tab.
When dragging objects the edges will snap to grid points. If the size of the object is
such that opposing edges can't both be snapped, the edge that snaps depends on the
direction the object is dragged in.
This shows a coarse grid with 5 subdivisions between major divisions. The shape has a very thick
gray outline. Because the object has been dragged down and to the left, the lower and left
outside edges are snapped to the nearest grid point.
Note: The default grid spacing is 50 pixel spacing for major grid lines with 50
subdivisions. This means the grid is spaced at exactly one screen pixel and so may
appear not to be working at a normal 100% zoom. If you zoom in to say 500% then
you can see it does snap correctly.
Alternatively, change the grid values to have, say, 10 subdivisions which means that
the grid points are on 5 pixel boundaries.
Snapping and line widths
The SCALE LINE WIDTHS control on the SELECTOR TOOL
InfoBar affects whether snapping happens to the bounds
of objects including their outlines.
The above example shows a shape with a very thick gray outline. It also shows (thin
black line) the outline of the shape itself (you can see the thick outline is drawn
equally on either side of the center line so that it partly overlaps the inside of the
shape and partially goes outside).