Learn how to create basic shapes using the shape tools.
What you learned: Draw shapes
Shape tools are located in the Tools panel.
To show other shape tools, click and hold the Rectangle tool in the Tools panel.
When you draw shapes, Smart Guides (View > Smart Guides) help by showing the shape size in a measurement label, snapping to other objects, and indicating when an ellipse is a perfect circle or when a rectangle is a perfect square.
Most shapes are Live, which means you can edit them without first switching to a tool after drawing them. Different shapes have widgets for editing corner radius, number of sides, and more.
2
Create lines
Discover how to draw, edit, and re-shape lines.
What you learned: Create lines
A line is a path composed of start and end anchor points, connected by a path.
Draw lines using the Line Segment tool in the Tools panel. Select the Line Segment tool by clicking and holding the Rectangle tool in the Tools panel.
Lines you draw are Live, which means you can edit the length, direction, and angle after drawing them without switching from the Line Segment tool.
Rotate a line by moving the pointer off an end and dragging.
3
Combine shapes
Explore how to combine shapes in different ways using the Shape Builder tool.
What you learned: Combine shapes
Select the shapes you want to combine with the Selection tool in the Tools panel.
Select the Shape Builder tool in the Tools panel. Either drag across the shapes you’d like to combine or press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag across or click parts of shapes to remove them.
To move shapes with no fill color, use the Selection tool to drag them by their stroke.
4
Trace to make shapes
Learn how to trace artwork to create shapes you can edit, using the Image Trace command.
What you learned: Trace objects
Add raster images to your Illustrator projects by choosing File > Place.
Select an image with the Selection tool.
Click Image Trace in the Properties panel to the right of the document and choose a trace preset to set trace options. Click Expand in the Properties panel to commit to the tracing and convert to editable vector artwork.
Click and hold the Direct Selection tool, and select the Lasso tool in the Tools panel. Drag around the traced artwork to select it. After you choose Edit > Copy, choose Edit > Paste to paste the artwork.
Click the Group button near the bottom of the Properties panel to group the artwork, treating it as a single object.
Click the color fill in the Properties panel to the right of the document to change its color.
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