Ampler aligns a set of shapes to the one you selected last — left, right, centre, top, or bottom — so alignment is to a chosen anchor rather than to an arbitrary average.
Quick answer: Select the shapes, picking the reference shape last, then click the Align option to match them to that Last Selection.
How to use it
Select the anchor shape last, then align the rest to it.
- Hold Shift and left-click to select the shapes — select the reference shape last.
- Click the Align option (left, centre, right, or centre vertically) to match the others to the Last Selection.
Every shape aligns to the last-selected one, so you control exactly which element is the anchor.
Keyboard shortcut
These align functions have no default shortcut. To assign one, open the Settings dropdown on the Ampler ribbon, choose Shortcuts, click Set shortcut on the function, and press your key combination.
Why use it
Native alignment lines shapes up to the outer edge of the whole selection, which isn’t always the edge you want. Aligning to the Last Selection lets you pick the anchor deliberately — align everything to a specific box, a title, or a reference marker — so the result is predictable rather than whatever the bounding box happens to be.
How consultants use it
Precise alignment is a hallmark of a professional exhibit, and it is usually alignment to a chosen reference, not to an average. A row of elements should line up to the title, or to the first box, not to an arbitrary edge. Three habits apply:
- Align to a chosen anchor: the reference element is picked on purpose (selected last), so alignment is intentional.
- Predictable, controlled alignment: the result is exactly to the anchor, not to a bounding box.
- The reference is explicit: elements track a known element, which keeps a complex slide coherent.
Aligning to the Last Selection makes the anchor a deliberate choice.
Tips & best practices
- Select the anchor shape last — it’s the one everything aligns to.
- Use it to align a set to a title or a fixed marker rather than to the selection’s edge.
- Combine with distribute for a row that is both aligned and evenly spaced.
Availability
Included in Ampler for PowerPoint and the Ampler Suite, on Windows desktop PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions
How do you align shapes to one specific shape in PowerPoint?
Select the shapes with the reference shape selected last, then use Ampler’s Align to Last Selection. Every shape aligns to that anchor rather than to the selection’s outer edge.
What is Last Selection alignment?
It aligns a set of shapes to the one you selected last, so you choose the anchor deliberately instead of aligning to an arbitrary bounding box.
How do you choose which shape others align to?
Select it last. Ampler treats the Last Selection as the reference for the align action.