Select a path or segment using the Selection tool.
- What’s new
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Get started
- Learn the basics
- App preferences and settings
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Manage layers
- Create and organize layers
- Lock and hide layers
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Use generative AI
- Generate and apply patterns
- Generate scenes, subjects, and icons
- Recolor artwork with generative AI
- Generate print bleed
- Options to expand the expanded artwork
- Generate shape fills
- Common questions about generative AI features in Illustrator
- Scenarios with repeat shape fill generation
- Generate similar variations without text prompts
- Manage generated variations
- Scenarios with linked variations
- Manage pattern variations
- Edit generated patterns
- Generate vector graphics to expand artwork
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Troubleshoot
- Application crash issues
- Known and fixed issues in Adobe Illustrator
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Add and import files
- Start new files
- Import from other apps
- Import other file types
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Draw shapes and paths
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Draw shapes
- Draw lines
- Draw line segments with the Pen tool
- Draw curves followed by straight lines
- Draw freeform paths with the Pencil tool
- Draw shapes with the Curvature tool
- Draw spirals
- Draw stars
- Draw straight lines followed by curves
- Draw two curved segments connected by a corner
- Pencil tool options
- Preview the path being drawn
- Draw curves with the Pen tool
- Draw arcs
- Connect two paths with the Pencil tool
- Reshape paths with the Pencil tool
- Combine two or more shapes
- Draw closed paths with the Pencil tool
- Extend paths with the Pencil tool
- Draw straight lines with the Pencil tool
- Learn drawing basics
- Modify live shapes
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Modify paths
- Auto simplify paths
- Copy paths
- Refine path segments with the Smooth slider
- Create smooth paths with the Smooth tool
- Erase parts of a path
- Manually simplify paths
- Use the Eraser tool options
- Select anchor points to modify paths
- Select and edit path segments
- Find and delete stray anchor points
- Turn off automatic addition or deletion of anchor points
- Average the position of the anchor points
- Simplify paths advanced options overview
- Simplify path benefits
- Cut paths
- Convert anchor points on a path
- Add or remove anchor points
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Draw shapes
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Create and manage artboards
- Add and edit artboards
- Organize and manage artboards
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Paint and fill
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Learn painting basics
- Apply fill colors
- Apply stroke colors
- Create Live Paint groups
- Fill and stroke controls
- Find and close gaps in Live Paint groups
- Live Paint Bucket tool options
- Paint with the Live Paint Bucket tool
- Resize objects or paths within Live Paint groups
- Add paths to a Live Paint group
- Isolate Live Paint groups
- Expand and release Live Paint groups
- Select faces, edges, and paths in Live Paint groups
- Merge paths using the Blob Brush tool
- Remove fills or strokes
- About Live Paint
- Blob brush options and best practices
- Create multiple fills and strokes
- Live Paint limitations
- About fills and strokes
- Convert strokes to compound paths
- Select objects with same fill and stroke
- Apply and edit strokes
- Create and edit gradients
- Create and edit meshes
- Create and edit patterns
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Learn painting basics
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Manage colors
- Apply transparency and blending
- Modify colors
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Design with text
- Add and manage text
- Edit and format text
- Work with fonts and scripts
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Use special characters and glyphs
- Snap with glyph guides
- Snap glyph to angles, anchor points, or text area
- Add stylistic sets to selected text
- Glyphs panel overview
- Insert special characters
- Insert white space and break characters
- OpenType panel overview
- Replace characters with alternate glyphs
- Snap to Glyph options
- Use ligatures and contextual alternates
- Use swashes, titling alternates, or stylistic alternates
- About character sets and alternate glyphs
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Manage objects
- Select objects
- Arrange objects
- Edit objects
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Reshape and transform objects
- Intertwine objects
- Create compound shapes with Pathfinder
- Edit areas of overlapping objects with Pathfinder
- Punch holes in objects
- Distort objects with envelopes
- Edit the contents of envelopes
- Envelope panel options
- Scale multiple objects
- Scale objects
- Shear objects
- Transform panel overview
- Distort object
- Transform objects
- Pathfinder panel overview
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Create traces, mockups, and symbols
- Create and place symbols
- Create or import symbol libraries
- Edit symbols
- Maintain proportions while scaling symbols
- Transform symbols
- Symbols panel options
- Edit mockups
- Save mockups as templates
- Create mockups for images
- Edit image trace results
- Image Trace panel options
- Save image trace presets
- Convert images to vector graphics
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Measure and align
- Plot and measure
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Use grids and guides
- Adjust grid cell size and grid extent
- Adjust horizon heights and grid planes
- Create perspective grid
- Define and manage perspective grid preset
- Modify perspective grid settings
- Perspective grid options
- Move the perspective grid and adjust its vanishing points
- About perspective drawing
- Align graphic objects with Tabs
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Apply special effects and styles
- Apply filter effects
- Create 3D graphics
- Apply graphic styles
Copy paths
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to copy paths using drag, copy-paste, and keyboard shortcuts.
Press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag the path to create a duplicate.
To copy and paste paths between documents or apps, press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (macOS) to copy and Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (macOS) to paste.
Create designs with Illustrator online (beta)
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