How to Create an Illustrator Symbol

Have you ever made a series of the same object in Illustrator, only to discover you need to change something in every one of them? Cheer up. You can create any object as a symbol. Any changes you make to the original symbol will automatically update in every copy in your illustration. Best of all, copies of a symbol add very little to the overall file size.

Instructions

1. Draw the original art element you want to duplicate. You can use any Illustrator tool and make you element as complex as you want and apply any custom styles.

2. Select all of the elements you want to include in the symbol. Open the symbols palette and choose "New Symbol" from the palette options flyout menu. You can find it at the top right corner (marked with a small downward triangle). Name the symbol in the symbol options dialogue.

3. Click on the new symbol in the symbols palette and drag it onto the stage. You can apply any transformation, transparency setting or add any effect. Drag as many copies onto the stage and arrange them as you want.

4. Double click on the symbol. The element will open in a new window. Make any changes, then click on the "New Symbol" back button at the top of the symbol editing window to return to the artboard. Every instance of your symbol will reflect your changes.

Tips & Warnings

• With Illustrator CS3 you can convert your object to a Flash Movie Clip when you create the symbol. This will import into Flash will full movie clip capabilities.

• With versions of Illustrator 10 to CS2 you need to select a symbol instance on the artboard and click the "Break Link to Symbol" button. Make the changes, select the element again and choose "Redefine Symbol" from the symbols palette flyout menu. You can also hold the "Option" key and drag the edited symbol onto the original symbol icon in the symbols palette.