Center the newly created text in GIMP?

Question

After creating some text, how can I center it? I'm not talking about the text alignment inside the text box.

score 58 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 19 '12 at 09:15

58

Use the Alignment Tool (shortcut key q):

enter image description here

Select the text,
Then choose the element which will be used for positioning (e.g., Image),
Click on the horizontal and vertical center align buttons (second column in the first set of buttons):

answered Mar 19 '12 at 09:15

htorque

64,798

1

I pressed the 'q' key and nothing happened. – James Bowery Jul 25 '16 at 16:34
2

I couldn't find the "Align" options. Needed to go to Window -> Dockable Windows -> Tool Options. Documented here: https://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-tool-align.html – Xavier Shay Mar 06 '17 at 00:54
2

Doesn't work for me alignment buttons are grayed out. – arp Mar 27 '17 at 21:35
2

This only allows to align the whole block. To center the text inside the block another solution is needed: https://askubuntu.com/questions/575079/centre-left-and-right-align-text-in-gimp Anyways the key is to keep the Tool Options window opened ("Windows" ▶ "Dockable Dialogues" ▶ "Tool Options" ) and use Text or Alignment tool options. – ps_ttf Aug 01 '17 at 08:16
2

@arp IME you'll have to select (click on) the text/object before the buttons will be not grayed-out. – Jan Kyu Peblik Dec 18 '18 at 20:56
I had to select Image in Relative to drop down menu. I tried Selection and Active Layer, but Image (like in the screenshot) did it. – ffonz Oct 04 '21 at 09:45

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 13 '19 at 13:57

I've found solution:

On the empty art-board type text
Chose Alignment tool
Select text object pressing on it by left mouse key you'll see mini squares on the corners of selection
Use Alignment tool instruments to align text to art-board

I spent many time and realized that i missed 3-rd step. Select text object by clicking mouse, very important step. For me, Ctrl+A or other selections didn't work.

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 03 '17 at 08:26

3

This is actually dead simple but even simpler to miss! All you have to do is click the Align tool, then click the Layer over on the right side of your screen then go back to the lower left and click and an alignment button and hey presto. It works. Drove me mad for hours!

edited Aug 03 '17 at 08:26

Exil

545

answered Aug 08 '16 at 14:09

Martin Banks

31

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

2

For some reason none of the answers here worked for me, however, this answer from reddit did!

Create a vertical guide: Image - Guides - New Guide (by percent). Type in 50 percent.

Then when you move the selection its center will automatically snap to guide.

Add both vertical and horizontal guide if you want to center horizontally too.

By using the move tool and select the move active layer to move the text layer.

edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Community

1

answered Oct 30 '19 at 10:50

Matthias

201

You don't even need the Move tool. While still in the Text tool, depress Alt+Ctrl and drag the text. Otherwise yes, the Align tool is often overkill. – xenoid Dec 13 '19 at 16:01
This is the only thing that worked for me. Tool is still broken in 2022 – prismspecs Dec 06 '22 at 11:16

Center the newly created text in GIMP?

4 Answers4