Select a symbol in the Symbols panel.
Last updated on
Oct 25, 2026
Learn to use symbolism tools in Adobe Illustrator to spray and customize multiple symbol instances.
Symbolism tools in Adobe Illustrator help you work with large numbers of symbol instances. Use these tools to create complex artwork like a meadow with grass and flowers or a night sky with stars—by spraying and modifying hundreds of symbol instances at once.
A symbol set is a group of symbol instances created and modified with symbolism tools. You can create mixed sets containing different symbols and modify specific symbols within a set by selecting them in the Symbols panel. For example, in a meadow scene with grass and flower symbols, you can rotate only the grass instances by selecting the grass symbol before using the Symbol Spinner tool.
When working with symbol sets, the active tool affects only the symbols currently selected in the Symbols panel. This lets you modify individual symbol types within mixed sets while leaving others unchanged.
Create a symbol set with the Symbol Sprayer
Select the Symbol Sprayer tool or press Shift + S.
Click on the artboard to add individual instances or drag to spray multiple instances across an area.
The Symbol Sprayer acts like a particle sprayer, adding symbol instances at the cursor position. Each click or drag creates symbol instances at the cursor position.
Add or remove instances from an existing set
Select the existing symbol set with the Selection tool.
Select the Symbol Sprayer tool and choose a symbol in the Symbols panel.
Click or drag to add new instances or hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging to remove instances.
When you select a mixed symbol set, the most recently added symbol type is selected in the Symbols panel.
Modify symbol instances in sets
Once you've created a symbol set, use the remaining symbolism tools to adjust instance properties. These modifications create natural variation and realistic effects in your artwork.
Reposition instances with the Symbol Shifter
Select the Symbol Shifter tool.
Drag in the direction you want to move symbol instances, Shift-click an instance to bring it forward, or hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and Shift-click to send it backward.
Adjust spacing with the Symbol Scruncher
Select the Symbol Scruncher tool.
To push instances apart, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging.
Resize instances with the Symbol Sizer
Select the Symbol Sizer tool.
Click or drag to increase instance size or hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging to decrease size.
Tip
Hold Shift while using the Symbol Sizer to preserve instance density while resizing.
Rotate instances with the Symbol Spinner
Select the Symbol Spinner tool.
Click or drag in the direction you want instances to rotate.
Change the instance color with the Symbol Stainer
Select a fill color in the Color panel.
Select the Symbol Stainer tool.
Click or drag over instances to gradually apply the color, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging to reduce colorization, or hold Shift while clicking or dragging to apply consistent colorization amounts.
The Symbol Stainer shifts instance colors toward your selected color while maintaining brightness levels. Black-and-white areas remain largely unchanged. For colorization that affects all tones, use the Symbol Styler tool with a graphic style containing the desired fill color.
Using the Symbol Stainer increases file size and may affect performance with large symbol sets.
Adjust transparency with the Symbol Screener
Select the Symbol Screener tool.
Click or drag to increase transparency or hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging to decrease transparency.
Apply graphic styles with the Symbol Styler
Select the Symbol Styler tool.
Select a style in the Graphic Styles panel.
Click or drag to gradually apply the style, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while clicking or dragging to reduce the style effect, or hold Shift while clicking or dragging to maintain consistent style intensity while changing the applied style.
Alert
Always select the Symbol Styler tool before choosing a style in the Graphic Styles panel. Selecting a style while another tool is active immediately applies it to the entire symbol set.
You can apply styles at varying intensities across a symbol set, creating gradual transitions where some instances display the style at full strength while others show partial application.
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