How can I align & position these elements optimally?

[crystal quartz]

Hello guys, I'm developing my first style guide and would like to ask for some help on how to position the following items; the rhombi shaped swatches & the color names.

I know about the alignment & distribution tools, but I want a more theoretical / technical answer; what would you do to position them optimally? Should I use rulers? How so? Should I make a square to mark a perimeter and them place them inside? What's the "pro" way to solve this problem?

[celest trout]

If you're making a style guide, you'll probably have other elements like typography etc, a style guide is like an illustrated book so it's likely that there are other elements in there, have you thought about how to align those other elements?
Because it's a style guide, it needs consistency, and in order to do that, most pro will use a grid system, and guides layouts.

https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/grid-systems

a grid system is a system you will use all over your style guide and will
1/ ensure that every part is consistently scaled and aligned
2/ make sure that on the reader's point of view, everything falls naturally into place.

also, it helps the designer with making decisions 🙂
That said, a grid system can be restrictive for a lot of people, but this is something that you need to nail first (and if some day this will become your job, you will DEFINITELY be asked to work with a grid system)

Now, I am not sure Photoshop have the best tools to implement it (That would be InDesign) but you can definitely implement a grid using a guide layout in Photoshop. In Photoshop, guides are the way to go to expertly align things. (alongside snapping)
https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/using/grid-guides.html

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/new-guide-layout-in-photoshop-cc/

A grid system is the theory, guide layouts are the practical way (in Photoshop) to implement a grid system)

[crystal quartz]

what an incredibly thoughtful answer, I'll do more research and implement grids then, thank you

[clear basin]

Gave +1 Creative Carma to @celest trout (current: #7 - 913)

[crystal quartz]

It's coming along nicely!

I want to ask, though; am I using too many grids here? x)

[sour ocean]

Are you building it in PhotoShop (as this is the PhotoSHop server) I would advice using InDesign or even Illustrator to do it

[crystal quartz]

Really? Is it because of the frames?

[celest trout]

There is a feature in Indesign that allows you to create a complete grid system separate from the guides. In general Photoshop isn't very good with text and typographic elements (It's mainly for raster images, like painting and photo retouching)
So doesn't contain all the layout features that a real layout program can accomodate (hence why I mentionned it in my original message)
That doesn't mean you can't do anything with Photoshop (you asked in the Photoshop server, so I answered for Photoshop 🙂 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A3EtUZsPZE

[crystal quartz]

I see, so that program is just better tailored for layout design

[celest trout]

Illustrator is a bit in the middle, it's afully vector program, with lots of typographic features, but less about setting up multipage documents

[crystal quartz]

(or is it "tailored to"' darn my english sucks)

[crystal quartz]

Yeah, vectors, logos and shapes mostly, no?

[celest trout]

Absolutely: Magazines, multipage leaflets, books, the lot...

[crystal quartz]

Okay

I'll keep that in mind

thanks again @sour ocean @celest trout !!

[clear basin]

Gave +1 Creative Carma to @sour ocean (current: #190 - 9)

[celest trout]

LOgos shapes and also vector illustrations

[crystal quartz]

it seems these programs have incredible synergy between them

[celest trout]

Yes, for example you retouch a photo in Photoshop, and you create a diagram in Illustrator. When comes the time to integrate them into a brochure, you can import your .psd (Photoshop) and .ai (Illustrator) files directly within InDesign and continue to tweak them in their respective software and they will update automatically.
It is supposed to work as a team.

[crystal quartz]

I see

so gather the ingredients in Ps & Ai then cook everything up in Id

[celest trout]

Exactly!

[crystal quartz]

Got it, thanks :3

[clear basin]

Gave +1 Creative Carma to @celest trout (current: #7 - 916)

[sour ocean]

For many reasons, filesize if saving as PDF, alignment simplicity, text control. You could use the icons as dynamic symbols and recolour them