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Create squares and rectangles using the Rectangle tool

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    13. Improve Illustrator performance

The Rectangle tool lets you create rectangular and square shapes in your artwork. 

  1. Click the Rectangle tool   or press M to select it.

  2. Drag on the artboard to draw a rectangle. Press and hold Shift while you drag to draw a square.

  3. Press and hold Alt while you drag to draw a rectangle from the center.

  4. Press and hold Shift + Alt (Windows), Shift + Opt (macOS) to draw a square from the center.

  5. To specify dimensions in points, select a rectangle and enter height and width values in the Rectangle section of the Properties panel.

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