Arranging Objects in the Stacking Order

Each object in a Canvas X Draw document is part of a stack of objects on the same layer. Each object has a position in the stack. Unless you rearrange objects, the newest object, created or pasted, is in front of the stack and the oldest object in the back.

Stacking order affects the appearance of objects when you view and print them. Like actual objects placed in a stack, the front object in the stack blocks objects behind it. An object’s position in the stack also is a factor in alignment and combining operations.

Commands in the Object | Arrange menu let you change an object’s position in the stack. Move objects to the front or back, and move objects one level at a time toward the front or back of the stack.

To Change an Object’s Position in the Stack:

Select the object and choose a command in the Object | Arrange menu.

Command

Result

Bring to Front

Moves selected objects to the front of the stack

Send to Back

Moves selected objects to the back of the stack

Shuffle Up

Moves selected objects one step toward the front

Shuffle Down

Moves selected objects one step toward the back

Smart Shuffle Up

Moves the selected object above the nearest object with an overlapping bounding box, regardless of the stacking order in the Document Layout palette.

Smart Shuffle Down

Moves the selected object below the nearest object with an overlapping bounding box, regardless of the stacking order in the Document Layout palette.

See also: