Align, arrange, and move objects on a path

Use the Objects on Path tool to attach and align objects to a curved or straight-line path, and then rearrange and move them easily without losing alignment.

Play this video to see an example of the Objects on Path tool in action.

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Follow along with a sample file to learn how to use the Objects on Path tool in a few simple steps.

Attach and align objects to a path

  1. Select the Selection   tool from the toolbar, and then select the objects you want to attach.

  2. Select the Objects on Path   tool from the toolbar.

    If you can't find the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar, select Edit Toolbar   and then select it from the Modify section.

  3. Select the path. The objects attach and align to the path, creating the Objects on Path group.

    Ensure that the path is supported. When you hover over a supported path, it gets highlighted, and the pointer shows the Objects on Path   tool icon.

Note:
  • The path can be open or closed, curved or straight-line.
  • You can use one of the selected objects as the path.
  • You can attach most object types except some such as graphs and Objects on Path groups.
  • You can also access the Objects on Path   tool from Object > Objects on Path > Attach, and from the right-click menu when you select two or more objects.
  • Unlike the Type on a Path   tool, the path remains visible after attaching objects.

Default arrangement of objects on a path

  • Order: The order of the objects on the path is determined by their position on the canvas. When you select the objects, they are picked column by column from left to right. Within each column, objects are picked from top to bottom. They are then placed along the path, starting at its origin point. The origin point is pre-determined for basic shapes created with tools such as the Rectangle   tool and the Star   tool.
  • Attachment point: The center point of each object attaches to the path's outline, ignoring the stroke weight.
  • Distribution and spacing: The first object attaches to the path's origin point on both open and closed paths, while the last object attaches to the path's endpoint on an open path. Objects are spaced equally based on the distance between their attachment points.
  • Alignment of each object relative to the path: Objects attach vertically or horizontally to the path, rounding off their original rotation angle. As a result, the Objects on Path Options section in the Properties panel shows the net rotation as zero.

Change the default attachment point and rotation

  1. Double-click the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar.

  2. In the Objects on Path Tool Options window, select one of the nine points in Pivot to change the attachment point.

  3. Adjust the rotation angle from the Rotate dropdown as required, and then select Save.

The new settings will apply only to those objects you'll attach to a path in the future. The ones already attached remain unchanged.

At any time, you can restore the original settings:

  1. Double-click the Objects on Path   tool in the toolbar.

  2. Select Reset, and then Save.

Rearrange objects after attaching to a path

Once you attach objects to a path, you can rotate them, change their attachment points and spacing, and move them along the path. These changes apply to all the objects in the group and can't be made to individual objects.

You can also shuffle the objects, detach objects from the path, and attach more objects to it.

A rocket, the Moon, a satellite, and a comet aligned to a circular path around the Sun.
Rearrange objects on a path using widgets without losing alignment.

A. The Space widget B. The Move All widget C. The Rotate All widget D. The Contextual Task Bar E. The Select/Move widget 

Rotate the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Rotate All   widget to rotate the objects. The objects rotate at their attachment point.

    To rotate the objects in increments of 15 degrees, press the Shift key when you use the Rotate All   widget.

  3. For precise rotation, enter the angle in the Rotate dropdown in the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel.

    The rotation angle given in the Properties panel denotes how much an object is tilted compared to an imaginary line perpendicular to the path at the attachment point. 

Change the attachment point of the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. In the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel, select one of the nine points in Pivot to change the attachment point of the objects.

    When you change the attachment point, the objects may turn, but their rotation angle remains the same. The rotation angle changes only when you use the Rotate All   widget or the Rotate dropdown.

Change the spacing and distribution of the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Space   widget on the bounding box to adjust the spacing and distribution of the objects:

    • Space widget alone: The first object on the path remains anchored, and the other objects move toward or away from it.
    • Space widget with Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows): None of the objects are anchored, and objects move toward the center of the path or away from it from both ends.

    As you adjust the spacing, you'll see the measurement next to the widget, allowing you to select precise values.

Move all objects along the path

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Use the Move All widget on the first object to move all objects along the path.

    You can use Move All on an open path only if the distribution of the objects is shorter than the path's length.

Shuffle the objects

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Hover over the attachment point of the object you want to move to another position. You'll find the Select/Move widget.

  3. Drag the widget toward the other object whose position the selected object will take, and release it. As the selected object attaches to the path, the objects ahead or behind it shift up or down the path.

The order of the objects on the path won't change if you rearrange them in the Objects on Path group in the Layers panel.

Detach an object from the path

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Hover over the object's attachment point and select the Select/Move widget. The widget will turn solid blue.

  3. Select Detach in the Objects on Path Options section of the Properties panel, and then move the detached object away from the group.

    You can detach only one object at a time using the Select/Move widget. To detach multiple objects together, in the Layers panel, Shift-select them and move them out of the Objects on Path group.

Auto-rearrangement of objects after detaching an object

When you detach an object from the path:

  • The objects that follow the detached object move up in order but may not move up the path. If the first object is detached, the second object moves up the path to take its place.
  • If you haven't changed the default spacing/distribution, the default distribution is maintained but the spacing will change. On an open path, as long as two objects remain, the path's origin and endpoint will always be occupied.
  • If you have changed the default spacing/distribution, the new spacing is maintained but the distribution will change.

Attach more objects to the path

In the Layers panel, drag the objects into the Objects on Path group. They automatically attach to the end of the path on the canvas. To attach objects to the path in isolation mode, do the following:

  1. Copy the objects that you want to attach.

  2. Double-click the Objects on Path group on the canvas to enter isolation mode, and then paste. The objects will automatically attach to the end of the path.

    Note:

    If you create objects in isolation mode, they automatically attach to the end of the path.

Create a copy of an attached object

  1. In the Layers panel, select the object in the Objects on Path group.

  2. On the canvas, press Option (macOS) or Alt (Windows) and drag the object to create its copy. The copy will automatically attach to the end of the path.

    Note:

    A copy created using Ctrl/Cmd + C and Ctrl/Cmd + V will attach to the path automatically only in isolation mode.

Modify the path and the objects

You can modify the objects and the path by selecting them in the Layers panel or in isolation mode:

  • Some tools such as the Shape Builder   tool, the Blend   tool, and the Live Paint Bucket   tool work only in isolation mode.
  • Some tools such as the Perspective Grid   tool and the Perspective Selection   tool aren't supported.
  • Some tools such as the Eraser   tool, the Path Eraser   tool, the Scissors   tool, and the Knife   tool work, but the Objects on Path group automatically converts into a regular group.

When you modify the path, the objects realign and rearrange according to the new path shape.

Expand the Objects on Path group

Use Expand to convert the Objects on Path group into a regular group:

  1. Select the Objects on Path group on the canvas.

  2. Select Object > Objects on Path > Expand.

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