> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tackstudio.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> A total replacement for the native Align panel.

The align tool in After Effects is limited, unpredictable, and missing core functionality. So, we reimagined it.

We’ve introduced distributing layers with precise spacing, aligning to key layers, to title & action safe zones, to masks, to anchor points, and even to the outside edges of the composition.

In short, everything you’d expect from Illustrator’s Align panel is now possible in After Effects, and then some.

## Key features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Five align-to targets" icon="target" href="/align-pro/align-to">
    The composition, outside the frame, the selection, a key layer, or title/action-safe zones.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Align and distribute" icon="align-center-horizontal" href="/align-pro/aligning-and-distributing">
    The full native toolset, plus distribute spacing with an exact pixel amount.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Align as group" icon="layers" href="/align-pro/modifiers">
    Move the whole selection as one block, preserving relative positions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Align to masks" icon="pen-tool" href="/align-pro/modifiers">
    Measure a layer’s bounds by its mask shape instead of its visible content.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Align to anchors" icon="anchor" href="/align-pro/modifiers">
    Measure by anchor point instead of bounding box.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fine-tuning settings" icon="cog" href="/align-pro/preferences#settings">
    Paragraph text detection, ignoring parents, selection order, and more.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Customizable panel" icon="palette" href="/align-pro/preferences#appearance">
    Choose which controls show, the orientation, theme, and accent color.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Every operation is a normal, undoable step in your After Effects history.

## Requirements

* After Effects version 18.4 or later
* An active Align Pro license, activated through the Tack Studio app (see [Installing tools](/the-app/installing-tools))