How to Distribute Horizontally Icons in Photoshop

To distribute layers, including icons, horizontally in Photoshop, you primarily use the Move tool and the Distribute icons available in the Options bar.

Here is the straightforward process:

Steps to Horizontally Distribute Icons

Distributing icons or other elements horizontally ensures they are spread out evenly across a horizontal plane relative to each other or the canvas.

1. Prepare Your Layers: Ensure each icon or element you want to distribute is on its own separate layer. If they are all on one layer, you will need to cut and paste them onto new layers first.

2. Select the Layers: In the Layers panel, select all the layers containing the icons you wish to distribute. You can do this by clicking the first layer, then holding down the Shift key and clicking the last layer, or by holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key and clicking individual layers.

3. Select the Move Tool: Activate the Move tool by clicking its icon in the Toolbar (it looks like a four-headed arrow) or by pressing the V key on your keyboard.

4. Find the Distribution Options: With the Move tool selected and multiple layers active, look at the Options bar located at the top of your Photoshop window. You will see alignment and distribution icons become active.

5. Click the Distribute Horizontally Icon: Among the distribution icons, find the one that represents horizontal distribution. These icons show three small boxes (representing layers) with lines indicating how they will be spaced.

   • As the reference states: Select the Move tool and click the Distribute Horizontally icon to distribute the images [or icons] with equal spacing between each layer.

The most commonly used horizontal distribution icon spaces the layers evenly between the leftmost and rightmost selected layers. Other horizontal distribution options include aligning left edges, centers, or right edges of the selected layers.

Understanding the Distribution Icons

The icons in the Options bar when the Move tool is active are visual cues for alignment and distribution.

• Alignment Icons: Align layers relative to their edges or centers (e.g., Align Left Edges, Align Vertical Centers).
• Distribution Icons: Space layers evenly between the bounding boxes of the outermost selected layers. There are icons for distributing horizontally (equal spacing between vertical lines) and vertically (equal spacing between horizontal lines).

Choosing the correct horizontal distribution icon is key to achieving the desired spacing for your icons.

Practical Tips

• Canvas vs. Selection: By default, distribution usually happens relative to the outermost selected layers. If you want to distribute across the entire canvas, you might need to align one layer to the left edge of the canvas and another to the right edge first, then select all layers and distribute. Alternatively, some versions of Photoshop allow selecting "Align To: Canvas" in the Options bar before distributing.
• Order Matters: The order of layers in the Layers panel does not affect horizontal distribution spacing, only which layers are included.
• Visual Check: After clicking the distribute icon, visually inspect your layout to ensure the icons are spaced as you intended. You may need to adjust the position of the outermost layers before distributing again if you need them to span a specific area.

Using the Move tool and the horizontal distribution icons is the standard and most efficient method for neatly arranging multiple layers side-by-side with consistent spacing in Photoshop.