How to Choose the Right Tool in Adobe Illustrator

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Choose between the black and white arrows at the top of the Toolbox. The black one selects a whole object. The white arrow selects points or line segments within an object.
Step 2

Use the magic wand to select everything in a file of the same color. The magic wand works best for color editing photos or drawings in Adobe Illustrator.
Step 3

Select the lasso tool when you want to select points. The lasso tool lets you select only the points you want in an area.

Step 1

Draw straight and curved line segments with the pen tool. It lets you draw by placing down each point individually each time you click. You can also use the pen tool to edit anchor points in shapes.
Step 2

Add text with the type tool. This tool has a picture of the letter "T" on it. Simply select this tool and click once to start typing.
Step 3

Make straight lines using the line tool. Unlike the pen tool, the line tool only makes straight lines. After you click to put down an initial point and click again to place the second point of the line, Adobe Illustrator will deactivate the tool
Step 4

Create basic shapes by using the rectangle tool. The button for the rectangle tool is a solid-filled rectangle.
Step 5

Let the paint brush tool help you to create patterns with paintbrush strokes as you draw. You can also make your paint brush into customized shapes.
Step 6

Keep your creativity flowing by using the pencil tool to draw freehand lines. So long as you hold down your mouse button, you will make a continuous line that will move in any direction.

Step 1

Distort lines with the warp tool. The warp tool button has a picture of a finger smudging a line on it. This tool will allow you to distort shapes in Adobe Illustrator by pushing lines.
Step 2

Rotate an object using the rotate tool, which has a picture of a circular arrow on its button. But first, use the black arrow to select the item you want to rotate.
Step 3

Change the size of an object, while keeping the same proportions, by using the scale tool. Simply choose the scale tool, and you can drag an object to any size.
Step 4

Modify a shape using freetransform. With this tool, you can do any type of distortion, such as warping, scaling and rotating. Use this Adobe Illustrator tool to apply a distortion to just a few points.

Step 1

Determine the direction of a light source by using the gradient tool. Click and drag to determine where the lightest part and darkest part of your gradient will occur.
Step 2

Pick up a specific color from an image using the eyedropper tool. Select a color with the eyedropper, and it will appear on the bottom of the Toolbox. Drag and drop this color into a swatch library to use later in Adobe Illustrator.
Step 3

Blend two shapes together with the blend tool. This tool will work well for special effects. It can also help connect two circles into a cylinder.

Step 1

Cut paths in by using the scissors tool. Use the white arrow to select a point you want to cut. Once the point is selected, click on it with the scissors tool.
Step 2

Define areas of an illustration as different by using the slice tool. Click and dragging this tool to select the area of an image to separate.
Step 3

Carve into an object using the knife tool, in the scissors pop-out menu. Select an object with the black arrow. Click and drag the knife over the object to have the lines sever and join making interesting effects in Adobe Illustrator.