Duplicate, step and repeat
Last updated: October 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Duplicate objects at even spacing and make copies by dragging.
Cmd/Ctrl+D does more than make a copy: it remembers how far the last copy is from its source, so after you move a copy, each new Cmd/Ctrl+D adds another one at the same spacing. For a circular arrangement, use Repeating shapes in a circle.
Follow these steps
- 1
Duplicate the selection
EditorCanvas
Select the object and press Cmd/Ctrl+D. The copy is added slightly offset from the source and comes in selected.
- 2
Set the spacing
EditorCanvas
Move the copy where you want it. Moving it right sets a horizontal step, moving it down a vertical one; a diagonal move uses both.
- 3
Repeat at the same spacing
EditorCanvas
With the copy selected, press Cmd/Ctrl+D again. Each new copy lands the same distance from the previous one, so a row or a column fills in a few keystrokes.
- 4
Copy by dragging
EditorCanvas
Hold Alt (Option) and drag the object; a copy stays where you release it, and that distance becomes the step for Cmd/Ctrl+D. It works with several objects selected too, and the copies form their own groups. Add Shift to keep the copy on one axis.
Alt must be held when the drag starts.
- 5
Check spreads
EditorCanvas
If a copy crosses the middle of a spread, it moves to the page it sits on, so nothing is left invisible in the publication. When the selection spans both pages, the step is measured across the spread.
Shortcuts
| Control | Where? | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cmd/Ctrl+D | Editor | Duplicates the selection; after the copy is moved, repeats the same step. |
| Alt + drag | Canvas | Leaves a copy where you release and sets the step. |
| Shift + drag | Canvas | Keeps the move or the copy on one axis. |
Result
The copies line up at even spacing and keep the source formatting. Undo with Cmd/Ctrl+Z.