How can I align layer to center of canvas in Photoshop

Question

Using CS6. My canvas is larger than my layer, and I would like to position the Layer in the middle of the Canvas.

I have the "Snap To" options in the view menu set to all three: Guides, Layers, Document Bounds.

Yet when I move the position of the layer, it doesn't "Snap" anywhere.

When I click the "Layer" menu, the "Align" submenu is greyed out.

How do I align my layer in the middle of the Canvas?

Wolff · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-03 00:04:58Z

7

Select the Move Tool.
Select the layer you want to center.
Press Ctrl / Cmd + A to select all. (This creates a selection the size of the canvas which you can then align the selected layer according to.)
Use the Align vertical centers and Align horizontal centers buttons in the top tool bar or use Layer > Align Layers to Selection > Vertical Centers and Layer > Align Layers to Selection > Horizontal Centers.
Press Ctrl / Cmd + D to deselect all.

answered Feb 2, 2021 at 23:42

Wolff

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On step 2, once I have selected the Layer, I have already selected everything. It's just a layer in front of an empty canvas. Step 3 doesn't select anything else. Since only the layer is selected, the Align buttons are greyed out. One cannot select the canvas as an object.
– MicroMachine
Commented Feb 2, 2021 at 23:46
I just tested this. Works for me. By "select layer" I mean make sure it's highlighted in the Layers panel. By "select all" I mean press that keyboard combination to make a walking ants selection. I'll post a gif, wait up.
– Wolff
Commented Feb 2, 2021 at 23:49
@MicroMachine, updated with a gif. And removed the part about this not being logical. It is actually. Once you have "selected all", meaning made a selection the size of the canvas, the layer can then be centered according to that selection.
– Wolff
Commented Feb 2, 2021 at 23:55
Thanks, it worked. What is "not logical" is that the smart guides wouldn't work to achieve this while they are checked...
– MicroMachine
Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 1:52
1

oh..... that white pasteboard would drive me nuts :) 😀 😱
– Scott
Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 3:44

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