How to Replace Paths With Symbols in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator CS5 enables you to add keyboard symbols to paths. These symbols will follow the lengths and shapes of the original paths. You'll need to create a scatter brush to replace paths with symbols. Scatter brushes provide control over the size, rotation and spacing of objects such as symbols. Creating and applying a scatter brush will add symbols to paths that remain editable. Paths transformed by a scatter brush may be extended to increase the number of symbols that appear and adjusted to alter their positions.

Instructions

1. Type the symbols onto Adobe Illustrator's canvas with the "Type" tool.

2. Convert the symbols into outlines by selecting "Type" and "Create Outlines" from the menu bar.

3. Select the symbols with the "Direct Selection" tool in preparation for creating a new brush.

4. Click the "New Brush" icon in the "Brushes" panel and select the "Scatter" brush option then click "OK."

5. Name the new brush, and then set the brush options and click "OK." The options you set will control how the symbols will look when you apply this brush to the paths.

6. Select the paths where you want symbols to appear with the "Direct Selection" tool.

7. Apply the scatter brush that contains the symbols to the selected paths.

References

• Adobe Illustrator CS5: Scatter Brush Options
• Adobe Illustrator CS5: Create or Modify Brushes
• Adobe Illustrator CS5: Apply Brush Strokes