TurboLayout for Mac is an efficient layout and typesetting assistant tool for UI designers, web designers, and layout professionals. It is deeply integrated into the macOS system and greatly improves the standardization and production efficiency of design drafts through smart guides, auto-alignment, batch distribution, and an advanced grid system. This article aims to provide a detailed operation guide to help users quickly master its core functions.
I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace
After launching TurboLayout, the main interface appears as a clean, distraction-free floating panel that can be docked to the edge of the screen or placed above other application windows, enabling a seamless “use-on-demand” workflow.
1.1 Main Control Panel
- Layout Mode Selector: Located at the top of the panel, used to switch between “Canvas Mode,” “Layer Mode,” and “Global Mode” to operate on objects at different levels.
- Alignment Tool Group: Provides classic alignment buttons such as align left, horizontal center, align right, align top, vertical center, and align bottom.
- Distribution Tool Group: Provides buttons for horizontal equal spacing distribution, vertical equal spacing distribution, and distribution by grid.
- Spacing Settings Area: Allows precise numerical input to set the horizontal and vertical spacing between objects, with one-click application.
- Advanced Grid & Guides Panel: In the collapsible section, click to expand and set the number of columns, rows, gutters, and margins, and generate a layout grid or baseline grid.
- Canvas/Layer List: Displays in real time the operable layers in the currently selected canvas or document, supporting filtering and batch selection.
1.2 Context Menu & Smart Suggestions
After selecting objects in design software such as Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD, the TurboLayout panel intelligently displays available actions related to the current selection. When you right-click a canvas or object, the TurboLayout quick-action menu also appears.
II. Complete Workflow: From Creation to Export
The following workflow uses creating a set of standard buttons in a new design project as an example.
Step 1: Create/Link Project
Open your design software (e.g., Sketch), create a new file, or open an existing project. Make sure the TurboLayout app is running in the background. In the “Layout Mode Selector” of the TurboLayout panel, select “Global Mode”. The software will automatically detect and link to the currently active design document.
Step 2: Set Up the Layout Grid
- In the design software, create an artboard.
- In the TurboLayout panel, click to expand the “Advanced Grid” section.
- Set the number of columns to
12, the gutter to20px, and the margin to40px. - Click the “Apply to Current Artboard” button. A blue reference grid will immediately appear on the artboard.
Step 3: Create and Align Objects
- In your design software, use the rectangle tool to draw 3 button shapes of different sizes.
- In the TurboLayout panel, switch to “Layer Mode”. The panel’s layer list will display these three shapes.
- Hold down the Command key and click in the layer list, or directly marquee-select the three buttons on the canvas.
- Click the “Vertical Center” button in the alignment tool group to align the three buttons’ vertical centers.
- In the spacing settings area, set the horizontal spacing to
16px, then click the “Distribute Horizontally” button. The three buttons will automatically be arranged with equal spacing.
Step 4: Batch Resize
- Keep the three buttons selected.
- Below the spacing settings area in TurboLayout, find the “Uniform Size” option.
- Check “Width” and enter
120in the input field. - Click “Apply”. The width of all three buttons will be uniformly adjusted to 120 pixels while maintaining their current alignment and distribution.
Step 5: Export Preparation and Check
- Switch to “Artboard Mode” and select the target artboard from the list.
- Use the shortcut Command + Shift + R or click the “Show Rulers & Guides” button on the panel to ensure all guides are visible for a final layout check.
- Use TurboLayout’s “Spacing Measurement” tool (shortcut Control + M) and hover between elements to check whether the spacing meets specifications.
Note: TurboLayout itself does not handle final image export. After the layout is complete, you need to use the built-in export function in your original design software (such as Sketch) to output the design file.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
3.1 Smart Snapping and Fine-Tuning
When dragging objects, hold down the Control key to temporarily enable TurboLayout’s Super Snapping feature. Objects will strongly snap to nearby guides, grid lines, or the edges of other objects, while displaying precise spacing values.
3.2 Aligning Text to the Baseline Grid
Enable the “Baseline Grid” in the “Advanced Grid” section and set the line height (e.g., 8px). In your design software, select the text layer and use the “Align to Baseline Grid” button in the alignment tool group to precisely align text lines and ensure vertical rhythm.
3.3 Batch Organizing Artboards
In “Artboard Mode,” select all artboards and use the “Distribute” tool to quickly organize messy multi-artboard documents into a neat row-and-column layout. This is especially useful for organizing design system documents or user flow diagrams.
3.4 Customizing Shortcuts
Go to TurboLayout > Preferences > Shortcuts to assign custom shortcuts to any panel button function, so you can adapt it to your personal workflow.
IV. Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The TurboLayout panel does not respond to selections in the design software | 1. Incorrect layout mode selected. 2. The design software is not focused or there is a compatibility issue. |
1. Check and switch to the correct layout mode (Artboard/Layer/Global). 2. Make sure the design software window is active. Restart TurboLayout and the application. |
| The “Distribute” function does not produce the expected result | Fewer than 3 objects are selected, or the objects are too scattered, causing an abnormal calculation baseline. | “Distribute Spacing” requires at least 3 selected objects. First use the “Align” function to bring the objects roughly onto the same axis, then use the distribute function. |
| Generated grid guides cannot be selected or deleted | The guides are managed by TurboLayout and may be locked. | In the grid settings area of the TurboLayout panel, click “Clear Current Artboard Guides”. Or use the shortcut Command + Shift + ; to toggle the display of global guides. |
| Shortcuts conflict with other applications | Shortcuts are occupied by the system or major design software. | Go to the shortcuts panel in TurboLayout preferences and change the conflicting shortcut combinations. |
V. TurboLayout for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Summary
| Function Category | Function Description | Shortcut (Mac) |
|---|---|---|
| Display Controls | Show/Hide Main Panel | Control + ` |
| Show/Hide Rulers and Guides | Command + Shift + R | |
| Toggle Global Guide Lock | Command + Shift + ; | |
| Alignment Operations | Align Left | Command + Option + [ |
| Align Horizontal Center | Command + Option + | | |
| Align Right | Command + Option + ] | |
| Align Top | Command + Option + – | |
| Align Vertical Center | Command + Option + | |
| Align Bottom | Command + Option + = | |
| Distribution Operations | Distribute Horizontally with Equal Spacing | Command + Control + H |
| Distribute Vertically with Equal Spacing | Command + Control + V | |
| Tool Operations | Enable Spacing Measurement Tool | Control + M |
| Object Operations | Enable Super Snapping While Dragging | Hold Control while dragging |
Tip: This guide is based on TurboLayout’s general features and typical workflows. Specific feature details and shortcuts may vary slightly due to software version updates. It is recommended to use this in conjunction with the in-app help documentation.
