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Workspace basics

You create and manipulate your documents and files using various elements, such as panels, bars, and windows. Any arrangement of these elements is called a workspace. (The workspaces of the different applications in Creative Cloud look similar so that you can move between the applications easily.) You can adapt Illustrator to the way you work by selecting from several preset workspaces or by creating one of your own.

Home screen

When you launch Illustrator, the Home screen appears, which includes the following contents:

  • A wide range of tutorials to help you quickly learn and understand the concept, workflow, tips, and tricks 
  • Popular presets to get you started with the new documents quickly
  • Recent documents
  • What's new in Illustrator

The contents of the Home screen are tailored based on your familiarity with Illustrator and your Creative Cloud membership plan. 

Home screen interface

The Home screen shows the following tabs and buttons on the left:

  • Home: Click this tab to open the Home screen.
  • Learn: Click this tab to open a list of basic and advanced tutorials on Illustrator to get started with the application. 
  • Create New: Click this button to create a new document. You can create a document by selecting one of the numerous templates and presets available in Illustrator. For more information, see Create documents.
  • Open: Click this button to open an existing document in Illustrator. 

In addition, you can use the following icons to navigate between the document and the Home screen:

  • Home: Opens the Home screen from the document.
  • Back:  Opens the document from the Home screen.
The Adobe Illustrator workspace displaying the Home screen, with a highlighted Home icon in the top-left corner for quick access to recent files, tutorials, and new project options.
Use the Home icon in the top-left corner to quickly return to the Home screen or access recent files, tutorials, and new project options

The Adobe Illustrator workspace interface with a highlighted back arrow next to the application icon, indicating how to return to the main workspace.
Select the back arrow next to the Adobe Illustrator icon to return to the main workspace from any screen within the application

Disable the Home screen when no document is open

  1. Select Preferences > General.

  2. Deselect Show The Home Screen When No Documents Are Open.

Note:

You can use the keyboard shortcuts to open files (Ctrl/Cmd + O) or start new documents (Ctrl/Cmd + N).

Contextual Task Bar

The Contextual Task Bar is a floating bar on the canvas that provides the most relevant next actions for the object or tool you select. It ensures that your focus remains on the object you're working on.

You can move the Contextual Task Bar around to where you want it to be. You can also reset its position, pin it, or hide it by selecting More options  . To enable it again after hiding it, navigate to Window > Contextual Task Bar.

Help Bar

The Help Bar enhances your workflow by providing context-specific tips, keyboard shortcuts, and step-by-step instructions:

Choose Window Help Bar to enable it. The Help Bar appears at the lower left edge of the illustration window when you select a supported tool in your workspace.

The Adobe Illustrator interface displaying the Help Bar where you can find tips, keyboard shortcuts, and instructions to use any tool.
Access the Help Bar to get tips, keyboard shortcuts, and handy instructions about using tools in Illustrator

Note:

We're rolling out the Help Bar incrementally to everyone, and it should be available to you in a few days.

Status Bar

The Status Bar appears at the lower-left edge of the illustration window. It displays any of the following:

  • Current zoom level
  • Current tool in use
  • Current artboard in use
  • Navigation controls for multiple artboards

Application header

Application header with the options zoomed in.
Share your document, customize the workspace, and search for help resources from the application header.

When you create a new document in Illustrator, you can view the application header with the following options:

  • Share: Invite people to your document. Save the document first as a cloud document before you invite. 
  • Notifications: Open the Notifications panel to view the notifications sent to you. To mark a notification as read or unread or to dismiss it, hover over it and select More actions   . 
  • Search for tools, help and more: Open the Discover panel to find tools and get help resources, all in one place. These resources include tips and tutorials on how to complete multi-step workflows faster. 
  • Arrange DocumentsArrange all your open documents in grid and tile formats. 
  • Switch Workspace: Switch to a workspace optimized for your requirements.

Workspace overview

Illustrator provides you ten different workspaces including the Touch workspace. The default workspace is Essentials.

Adobe Illustrator interface showing the "Window" menu open, with the "Workspace" submenu expanded to display options such as "Essentials," "Layout," "Painting," and "Typography." The selected workspace is "Layout."
Customize your workspace or streamline your layouts using the Workspace menu option

  • The Application frame groups all the workspace elements in a single, integrated window that lets you treat the application as a single unit. When you move or resize the Application frame or any of its elements, all the elements within it respond to each other so none overlap. Panels don’t disappear when you switch applications or when you accidentally click out of the application. If you work with two or more applications, you can position each application side by side on the screen or on multiple monitors. If you are using a Mac and prefer the traditional, free-form user interface, you can turn off the Application frame. Select Window > Application Frame to toggle it on or off.
  • The Application bar across the top contains a workspace switcher, menus (Windows only), and other application controls. On Mac, the application bar is available only when Application frame is off. You can toggle it on or off using the Window menu.
  • The toolbar contains tools for creating and editing images, artwork, page elements, and so on. Related tools are grouped.
  • The Control panel displays options for the currently selected object.
  • The Document window displays the file you’re working on. Document windows can be tabbed and, in certain cases, grouped and docked.
  • Panels help you monitor and modify your work. Panels can be grouped, stacked, or docked.

Properties panel

The Properties panel in Illustrator lets you view settings and controls in the context of your current task or workflow. This new panel has been designed with ease of use in mind, ensuring that you have access to the right controls right when you need them.

The Properties panel is available by default in the Essentials workspaces. You can also select Window > Properties to view it.

For details, see Properties panel.

Manage windows and panels

Hide or show all panels

  • To hide or show all panels, including the toolbar and Control panel, press Tab.

  • To hide or show all panels except the toolbar and Control panel, press Shift+Tab.

    Tip: You can temporarily display hidden panels if Auto-Show Hidden Panels is selected in Interface preferences. It’s always on in Illustrator. Move the pointer to the edge of the application window (Windows®) or to the edge of the monitor (Mac OS®) and hover over the strip that appears.

Display panel options

Click the panel menu icon in the upper-right corner of the panel.

Tip: You can open a panel menu even when the panel is minimized.

Adjust panel brightness

In User Interface preferences, you can customize the interface to sport one of the four available color options designed for optimal user experience: DarkMedium DarkMedium Light, and Light.

Note:

The canvas color in Illustrator is matched to the user interface brightness by default. Choose Preferences > User Interface > Canvas Color > White to change the canvas color to white. 

Enter values in panels and dialog boxes

You enter values using the same methods in all panels and dialog boxes. You can also perform simple math in any box that accepts numeric values. For example, if you want to move a selected object 3 units to the right using the current measurement units, you don’t have to work out the new horizontal position—simply type +3 after the current value in the Transform panel.

Note:

Press the Cmd or Ctrl key while pressing the arrow buttons to increase or decrease the numerical values in fractions. For example, when you press the Cmd or Ctrl key while pressing Arrow Up to increase the Stroke Weight, the value increases from 1 point to 1.1 point. 

Calculate values in a panel or dialog box

  1. In a text box that accepts numerical values, do one of the following:
    • To replace the entire current value with a mathematical expression, select the entire current value.

    • To use the current value as part of a mathematical expression, click before or after the current value.

  2. Type a simple mathematical expression using a single mathematical operator, such as + (plus), - (minus), x (multiplication), / (division), or % (percent). For example, 0p0 + 3 or 5mm + 4. Similarly, 3cm * 50% equals 3 centimeters multiplied by 50%, or 1.50 cm, and 50pt + 25% equals 50 points plus 25% of 50 points, or 62.5 points.

  3. Press Enter or Return to apply the calculation.

Control panel overview

The Control panel offers quick access to options related to the objects you select. By default, the Control panel is docked at the top of the workspace.

Options displayed in the Control panel vary depending on the type of object or tool you select. For example, when you select a text object, the Control panel displays text-formatting options in addition to options for changing the color, placement, and dimensions of the object. When a selection tool is active, you can access Document Setup and Preferences from the Control panel.

Control panel
Control panel

A. Hidden options B. Link to another panel C. Panel menu 

When text in the Control panel is blue and underlined, you can click the text to display a related panel or dialog box. For example, click the word Stroke to display the Stroke panel.

Change the kinds of controls that appear in the Control panel

Select or deselect options in the Control panel menu.

Open and close a panel or dialog box from the Control panel

  1. Click a blue underlined word to open its associated panel or dialog box.
  2. Click anywhere outside the panel or dialog box to close it.

Dock the Control panel at the bottom of the workspace

Choose Dock To Bottom from the Control panel menu.

Convert the Control panel to a floating panel

Drag the gripper bar (located on the left edge of the panel) away from its current position. To redock the Control panel, drag the gripper bar to the top or bottom of the application window (Windows) or screen (macOS).

Change screen modes

You can change the visibility of the illustration window and menu bar using the mode options at the bottom of the toolbar. To access panels when in Full Screen Mode, position the cursor at the left or right edge of the screen and the panels will pop up. If you’ve moved them from their default locations, you can access them from the Window menu.

You can choose one of the following modes:

  • Presentation Mode displays artwork as a presentation, with hidden application menu, panels, guides, and frame edges.
  • Normal Screen Mode  displays artwork in a standard window, with a menu bar at the top and scroll bars on the sides.

  • Full Screen Mode With Menu Bar  displays artwork in a full-screen window, with a menu bar at the top and scroll bars.

  • Full Screen Mode  displays artwork in a full-screen window, with no title bar or menu bar.

Use F key to toggle between the screen modes.

Search for Help topics and assets from Adobe Help and Adobe Stock directly from within the Illustrator workspace. Select one of the following options from the drop-down menu of the search box on the right side of the Application bar:

  • Adobe Stock
  • Adobe Help

Search for Adobe Stock assets

You can search for high-quality, curated, royalty-free stock illustrations and vector graphics from for all your creative projects from right within Illustrator.

  1. In the search box in the upper-right corner of the workspace, enter the name of the item that you want to find.

  2. Press Enter.

Note:

You can also search for stock asset by selecting File > Search Adobe Stock.

All assets available from Adobe Stock for a particular search query appear in a separate browser window.

Search Adobe Help

Use the Search For Help box to search for Help topics and online content. If you have an active Internet connection, you can access all content on the Community Help website. If you search for Help without an active Internet connection, search results are limited to Help content that is included with Illustrator.

  1. In the search box, type the name of the item on which you want to search (such as a feature, application, or tool).

  2. Press Enter.

All topics available from the Community Help center appear in a separate browser window.

You can directly access the content stored in AEM Assets without the need to log in to AEM Assets. Adobe Asset Link is installed as an extension in the Illustrator application. Your IT admin has to configure and deploy the panel. Once installed and configured, select Windows > Extensions > Adobe Asset Link to open the panel.

For easy access, you can configure your workspace to include the Adobe Asset Link panel. For more information, see the following links:

Use Illustrator with the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro

Illustrator supports Touch Bar, the multitouch display at the top of the new MacBook Pro keyboard. Using the Touch Bar, you can access Illustrator features and controls right in the context of your current task on the main screen. The Touch Bar supports familiar gestures, such as tap, drag, and slide. For details, see Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator.

Use Illustrator with Microsoft Dial

Illustrator supports the new Microsoft Dial on Windows 10 Anniversary edition and later or directly on the SurfaceStudio. You can use Dial to adjust settings and parameters for your Illustrator documents.

While using Illustrator, long press the Dial to access the following options:

  • Undo or Redo
  • Arrange
  • Zoom
  • Artboard Navigation
  • Tools, including Rotate, Scale, Brush, Blob Brush, and Eraser.

For details, see Microsoft Dial support in Illustrator.

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