To place an object in the exact same location on another artboard in Adobe Illustrator, you need to use the "Paste in Place" command.
Understanding Paste in Place
The standard paste command (Command/Control + V) pastes copied objects in the center of your current view, which might not be the same as the original location, especially when working with multiple artboards. Paste in Place ensures that copied content is pasted at the exact original coordinates, making it ideal for keeping alignment and consistency across different artboards.
How to Paste in Place
Here's how you can paste in place in Illustrator:
- Copy an object or group: Select the objects you want to copy and press Command + C (macOS) or Control + C (Windows).
- Select the target artboard: Navigate to the artboard where you want to paste the copied object.
- Use the Paste in Place command: Press Command + Shift + V (macOS) or Control + Shift + V (Windows). This pastes the copied object into the same position as the original object.
Key Takeaway
The key difference between the normal paste and the paste in place command is the inclusion of the shift key. Using Command/Control + Shift + V allows you to maintain the exact position of your copied elements across different artboards or even within the same artboard if you need to paste on top of an existing object, as mentioned in the YouTube video reference.
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut (macOS) | Keyboard Shortcut (Windows) |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Command + C | Control + C |
| Paste in Place | Command + Shift + V | Control + Shift + V |
Using Paste in Place is crucial for maintaining precise alignment and spatial consistency in your Illustrator projects, particularly when dealing with designs that span multiple artboards.
