theKeeper

OMG i can't believe i forgot all about this! [oops]

Trust me... this isn't the usualy method of making a dot then cutting and pasting it back in to locate your doc's center coords.

Do this:

For whatever tool you need to use or function you need to apply, here's a method of locating the center of your canvas in a snap. I'd hazard a guess that 98% of you haven't seen/heard of this trick anywhere, until now.

Choose any tool you need to use. Let's say it's the circular selection tool and you need to create a circle/oval in the center of your canvas.

Here's the secret move... in the Info Palette (Windows>Info), click on the cross icon to the left of the X/Y coords (bottom left). From that menu choose "Percent". Now... position your cursor with your eyes as best you can, in the center of the canvas. Then look over at the Info palette and see what the percentages show. Move the cursor around slowly until you find 50% / 50%. Or as close as you care to be to it.

Now start applying your tool! Piece of cake huh?! [righton]

:B

ljiljana

Very cool! Thanks a lot.

Erik

Never thought of this one. Thanks!

I use a different method:

Because I always have the Rulers on, I press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+; to activate snap, and then drag guides. These are so friendly as to snap to the doc borders and to the centre.

Yet your trick is very useful to divide the doc in, say, three of four or mora parts. Or set a guide at 22%.

[righton]

wbiss

Thanks Mark!

Not only have I never heard of this method before, I'm guilty of rarely using the "info palette"

AppleCider

Great one, Mark, definitely a "keeper" Thanks! [righton]

MindBender

[bustagut] - AppleCider heh

That's a good idea. I used to do similarly by just figuring the halfway point on my documents and then seeing the pixel values in the info palette. But that's quicker.

Since I'm constantly using the center of my document for constructing objects before I move them into position, I just created an action that places vertical and horizontal guides at 50% and then assigned it to an F-key.

They really haven't documented a lot of stuff in the info bar very well really. There are a lot of things tha you can do with it that aren't obvious at all. Good stuff as usual Mr. Keeper Sir.

austizmo

Hey, MB? When I set the action for new guides at 50% horizontal and vertical it converted to px so it only works on one size. I'm assuming this isn't they way it works for you?

MindBender

I had to beat my head against that one for a while...someone finally pointed me in the right direction.

You have to specify that your (I believe) rulers be in percentages and make the guides by dragging them while you're building the action. It was a bit of a pain. I'll attach the action to save you the time

austizmo

Sweet. Thanks.

BlueMonster

thanks thekeeper!