Using the Align Tool in Tinkercad

I use Tinkercad to do all of my 3D designs and have learned a lot from all the tinkering (ahaha) around I've done. One of my fellow interns at Digilent asked a question about how the align tool works, so I figured I would write an instructable about how to use the align tool.

Step 1: Select Two Objects

When you use the align tool, you'll likely be trying to align two objects in your design. The first step is two select whatever two objects you want to align.

You can click and drag around them to select them or hold shift and click both items.

Step 2: Open Align

Next you'll need to find the align tool. The align tool is located in the upper right corner in the adjust menu.

Step 3: The Align Tool

You should now see the dots and grid of the align tool. I will go through each dot in this Instructable.

Step 4: Preview Align

Note that if you hover your mouse over one of the dots, you can preview what the align tool will do.

Step 5: Align Horizontal

The 3 dots in the front are to align horizontally. The right or left options will line both objects up by the right or left edges. The center option will line the objects up horizontally by their centers. You can see an example of each type of alignment in this step.

Step 6: Align Vertical

The 3 dots in the front are to align Vertically. The top or bottom options will line both objects up by the top or bottom edges. The center option will line the objects up vertically by their centers. You can see an example of each type of alignment in this step.

Step 7: Align Depth

The 3 dots in the front are to align by depth. The back or front options will line both objects up by the back or front edges. The center option will line the objects up by depth by their centers. You can see an example of each type of alignment in this step.

Comments

[sarwath.khan]

There is no align option from what I see on tinkercad now..Did something change?

[shobdy5749]

Hello,
I just used Tinkercad and the align tool is there.
If you are looking at the right hand side of your screen, you should see the words: Import, Export, Send To. If you look just to the left of them you should see a drawing that looks like a vertical line and two horizontal blocks next to it. If you hover your mouse over it, the tool tip should pop up and say Align.

[sarwath.khan]

Thank you...that was helpful

[shobdy5749]

Here's a picture pointing to it.

[Alex in NZ]

Very helpful! Thank you very much :-)

[WillB31]

When I align one shape to another, how do I indicate which shape is supposed to move, and which one stays put? It doesn't seem to matter whether I select A, then hold shift and select B; or select B, then shift-select A: Shape B always ends up moving, and I need it to stay put, because it's already aligned with a bunch of other stuff. Am I missing some secret technique?

[jesper.ekvall+tinkercad]

After your objects to align are selected click the object you want to stay put. Now use the align handles

[eidylon]

That works perfectly! THANK YOU!!! I was trying like crazy to figure out how to do this.

[photostashbiz]

Try grouping the shapes you need to stay together, then align, then ungroup if need be. I'm just learning myself, so take my advice with caution! ;-)

[ChrisW545]

This looks gret, but I can't see what I came for and I wonder if you can help me. How do I tell the align tool that I specifically want A to move to align with B so that B does not move at all? I've had some success with locking B but it's not consistent. Thanks for any help you can give.

[hardwarejunkie]

Thank you! It was very helpful.

[DetlevB1]

Thanks for your support. It really helps to get along quickly. Keep on like that.

[y2kgixxer]

Great Write-up +1

[SuperRistopaha.]

Thanks! That was helpfull!

[eLab]

That's a very useful tool!