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Draw and modify simple lines and shapes

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Use the shape tools to effortlessly draw basic shapes like line segments, rectangles, and circles.

The shape tools in Illustrator let you create basic shapes with precision and ease. What's more, most shapes crafted using these tools are live shapes, enabling you to adjust them dynamically without the need to switch to a different tool.

Draw basic shapes

You can find most shape tools when you select and hold the Rectangle   tool in the toolbar. To find the other shape tools, select   at the bottom of the toolbar.

  

Select the Rectangle (M) tool and drag on the canvas to draw a rectangle. Press Shift as you drag to draw a square.

  

Select the Rounded Rectangle tool and drag on the canvas to draw a rounded rectangle.

  

Select the Ellipse (L) tool and then drag on the canvas to draw an ellipse. Press Shift as you drag to draw a circle.

  

Select the Polygon tool, select the canvas, and specify the Sides of the polygon.

  

Select the Star (S) tool and then drag on the canvas to draw a star.

  

Select the Line Segment (\) tool and then drag on the canvas to draw a line.

  

Select the Arc tool and then drag on the canvas to draw an arc.

  

Select the Spiral tool and then drag on the canvas to draw a spiral.

 

Select the Shaper tool and draw rough shapes such as polygons, circles, and rectangles. The Shaper tool converts them to perfect geometrical shapes.

The shapes that you draw with the Rectangle tool, Rounded Rectangle tool, Ellipse tool, Polygon tool, Line Segment tool, and Shaper tool are live shapes.

Draw basic shapes using advanced options

Draw lines

  1. Select the Line Segment  tool.

  2. Click on the canvas where you want the line to begin. In the dialog box, specify the Length and the Angle of the line. If you want to fill the line with the current fill color, select Fill Line.

Draw arcs

  1. Select the Arc   tool.

  2. Click on the canvas where you want the arc to begin. In the Arc Segment Tool Options dialog box, set the following options:

    •   : Select the reference point locator to determine the point from which the arc is drawn. 
    • Length X‑Axis: Specify the width of the arc.
    • Length Y‑Axis: Specify the height of the arc.
    • Type: Specify whether you want the arc to be an open path or a closed path.
    • Base Along: Specify the direction of the arc. Select X Axis or Y Axis depending on whether you want to draw the arc's base along the horizontal (X) or vertical (Y) axes.
    • Slope: Specify the direction of the arc’s slope. Enter a negative value for a concave (inward) slope. Enter a positive value for a convex (outward) slope. A slope of 0 creates a straight line.
    • Fill Arc: Fill the arc with the current fill color.

Draw spirals

Illustrator

Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Common questions
      3. Illustrator system requirements
      4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
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      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
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      8. Introduction to artboards
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      22. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
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      3. Navigate tools
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      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
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        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
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        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
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        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
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        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      2. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      3. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      4. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
    1. Illustrator on the web (beta) overview
    2. Illustrator on the web (beta) FAQ
    3. Troubleshooting issues FAQ
    4. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the web (beta)
    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
    6. Add and edit text on the web
    7. Apply colors and gradients on the web
    8. Draw and edit paths on the web
    9. Work with cloud documents on the web
    10. Invite collaborators to edit on the web
  4. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  5. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  6. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Trace images
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    4. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    5. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Group and expand objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic art mockups
    7. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Reflow Viewer
      3. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      4. Manage text area
      5. Fonts and typography
      6. Convert text within images into editable text
      7. Add basic formatting to text
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Import and export text
      10. Format paragraphs
      11. Special characters
      12. Create type on a path
      13. Character and paragraph styles
      14. Tabs
      15. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
      16. Arabic and Hebrew type
      17. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
      18. Creative typography designs
      19. Scale and rotate type
      20. Line and character spacing
      21. Hyphenation and line breaks
      22. Spelling and language dictionaries
      23. Format Asian characters
      24. Composers for Asian scripts
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    9. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    10. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  7. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  8. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  9. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  10. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. File issues
    6. Supported file formats
    7. GPU device driver issues
    8. Wacom device issues
    9. DLL file issues
    10. Memory issues
    11. Preferences file issues
    12. Font issues
    13. Printer issues
    14. Share crash report with Adobe
    15. Improve Illustrator performance

  1. Select the Spiral   tool.

  2. Click on the canvas where you want the spiral to begin. In the Spiral dialog box, set the following options:

    • Radius: Specify the distance from the center to the outermost point in the spiral.
    • Decay: Specify the amount by which each wind of the spiral should decrease relative to the previous wind.
    • Segments: Specify how many segments the spiral has. Each full wind of the spiral consists of four segments.
    • Style: Specify the direction of the spiral.

Draw stars

  1. Select the Star   tool.

  2. Click on the canvas where you want the center of the star to begin. In the Star dialog box, set the following options:

    • Radius 1: Specify the distance from the star's center to the star’s innermost points.
    • Radius 2: Specify the distance from the star's center to the star’s outermost points.
    • Points: Specify how many points (arms) you want the star to have.

    You can also use the up and down arrow keys to increase or decrease the number of Points in the star.

Modify shapes

To modify live shapes, you can use the on-shape control widgets.

Scale live shapes

To scale a live shape, drag any of its eight bounding box handles.

Rotate live shapes

To rotate a live shape, move the cursor toward an anchor point until you see the Rotate  icon, and then drag.

Move live shapes

To move a live shape, drag its center point widget to the desired area.

Create pie shapes

To create a pie shape, drag the pie widget of an ellipse.

Add or remove sides from polygons

To change the number of sides of a polygon, drag its side widget.

Change the corner radius of live shapes

To change the corner radius of a live shape, drag a corner widget. To change a star's inner and outer corner radius, drag its inner and outer corner widgets, respectively. Switch to the Direct Selection tool for more control over shaping the corners.

Add or remove sides from stars

To change the number of sides (points) of a star, drag its side widget.

Change the inner and outer radius of stars

To change the inner and outer radius of a star, drag its inner and outer radius widgets respectively.

You can also modify the shapes from the Transform section of the Properties panel. For more options, select   in the Transform section. Alternatively, open the Transform panel (Window > Transform).

Use Direct Selection tool and corner widgets to shape corners

When you switch to the Direct Selection tool, a corner widget appears next to each corner point of the selected shape. Drag a corner widget to automatically drag all corners, or select and drag a specific corner widget.

Change the corner settings

  1. Double-click a corner widget.

  2. Select the widget's Corner and Rounding styles, and then specify a corner Radius.

Tips and tricks

  • You can't change the corner radius after drawing a rounded rectangle. If you feel that you might need to change the corner radius, draw a regular rectangle, select Effect > Convert to Shape > Rounded Rectangle, and then specify the rounded rectangle parameters.

  • To hide or view corner widgets when you select the Direct Selection tool, select View > Hide Corner Widget or View > Show Corner Widget.
  • To enhance the live appearance of objects when you work on them, select the following option: 
    • Edit > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing (Windows)
    • Illustrator > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing (macOS)
  • To hide corner widgets for corner angles greater than a specified value, select the following option:
    • Edit > Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Hide Corner Widget for angles greater than (Windows)
    • Illustrator > Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Hide Corner Widget for angles greater than (macOS)

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