Create & modify shapes & paths
Last updated on
Aug 19, 2021 07:30:44 AM GMT
Are you trying to brush up your artistic skills or going to design your first artwork? Learn the basic and essential components for designing a visual.
Create basic shapes & paths with tools.
Add special effects to images.
Shapes and paths
Combine vector objects to create shapes in a variety of ways in Illustrator.
- To create a path for a vector image, place a series of segments and anchor points. Close the path to convert it to a shape.
- To create a smooth shape that can be scaled to any size, tweak angles and curves of the anchor points.
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Align, Snap, Path Finder, Global Edit options to arrange or lay out your artwork |
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Create an offset path |
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Apply effects |
Choose effects from the Effect menu. |
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Free tracing or drawing |
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See also
Text and fonts
A styled text adds an artistic expression to the art. Illustrator provides you endless possibilities to style your content: retro, blur, smoky, 3D, and so much more.
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Character panel or Paragraph panel |
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Fine-tune the set of fonts (Type > Glyphs) |
Glyphs |
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Change the orientation, type on a path, fit your text in a geometric or organic shape |
Type tool |
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Convert Type to a vector shape (Type > Create Outlines) |
Create outlines |
See also
Colors and Patterns
Illustrator comes with many customizable patterns that you can access in the Swatches panel. The key is to choose a right color model and mode.
Patterns for filling objects (fill patterns) differ in design and tiling from patterns to be applied to a path with the Brushes panel (brush patterns). For best results, use fill patterns to fill objects and brush patterns to outline objects.
Add fill and stroke colors |
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Add colors and patterns from libraries |
Color panel libraries |
Create your own set of swatches from images or vectors |
Eyedropper tool |
Modify single or multiple colors in an artwork |
Recolor artwork option in Properties panel |
Apply a blend of two or more colors |
Gradient tool |
Apply colors and create realistic artwork |
Mesh tool |
Paint different path segments and fill enclosed paths with different colors, patterns, or gradients |
Live Paint feature and Shape Builder tools |
Create new complex new shapes by merging simple shapes |
Shape Builder tool |
Limitless opportunities for creativity |
Opacity, masks, gradients, blends, meshes, and patterns |
Create strokes with variable width that make very articulate outlines |
Width tool |
| Create patterns using shape and color |
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See also
Images and special effects
Import, embed, and convert the images into vector graphics to modify and add effects. Make your photo as small as a stamp and as big as a poster.
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Crop images |
Object > Crop Image |
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Create organic shape of images |
Object > Clipping Mask |
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Trace images to create vector images |
Image Trace |
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Add effects on overlapping images, shapes, or text |
Blending options in Transparency panel |
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Other apps |
Modify images in Photoshop |
See also
Try it yourself
Design cartoons, charts, diagrams, graphs, logos, icons, illustrations, postcards, posters, and other visual designs with a blend of text and images.
See tutorials to get started quickly.
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