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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
      5. GPU performance
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      19. View artwork
      20. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      21. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        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. Expand, group, and ungroup 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. Safe mode
    6. File issues
    7. Supported file formats
    8. GPU device driver issues
    9. Wacom device issues
    10. DLL file issues
    11. Memory issues
    12. Preferences file issues
    13. Font issues
    14. Printer issues
    15. Share crash report with Adobe
    16. Improve Illustrator performance

Got queries on fonts? Check out some common questions and learn troubleshooting tips.

Add new fonts

To use a new font, you must download that font on your computer. Once the font is downloaded, follow the steps below to add them in Windows and macOS Fonts folders.

  • Open the Control panel to view the fonts folder:
    • [Windows] Go to Start > Settings and navigate to Appearance and Personalization > Fonts.  
    • [macOS] Go to Users > Library > Fonts.
  • Double-click the font. In the font preview window, click Install to create a copy of this font in the Fonts folder.
  • Copy or drag the downloaded font in the fonts folder.

All the fonts you add will be available in the Character panel of Illustrator.

You can access your own fonts across Adobe apps and other desktop applications (for example, Microsoft Office) by uploading them to the Creative Cloud desktop app. You can then use these fonts in your creative designs and projects. 

See also: Use your own fonts in Creative Cloud apps.

Edit fonts

The default font in Illustrator is Myriad Pro. To change the default font, edit one of the default document templates:

  1. Select File > Open.

  2. Navigate to the following location:

    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator <version>/<locale>/New Document Profiles
    • Windows: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <version> Settings\<locale>\x64\New Document Profiles

  3. Open a default document template.

  4. Select Window > Type > Character Styles.

  5. Double-click Normal Character Style in the Character Styles panel.

  6. Select Basic Character Formats in the Character Style Options dialog.

    Change the default font

  7. Select the desired font from the Font Family menu. Modify other settings as needed.

  8. Select File > Save As and replace the original document template.

Select a text and do one of the following:

  • Choose a size from Type > Size. 
  • Set a font size in Font Size drop-down the Character or Control panel

See also: Change the font size

To use a variable font:

  • Search for variable in the font list or look for the  icon next to the font name.
  • Click Variable Font icon () in the Control panel, Character panel, Character Styles panel, and Paragraph Styles panel.
  • Use the slider controls to adjust the weight, width, and slant for variable fonts.

If you need to send your documents for print output, choose File > Package. Fonts are by default included with a package to ensure that the document fonts are always available.

Package fonts

To access packaged fonts, you must have the necessary fonts available on your computer and licensed via Creative Cloud subscription. The Adobe terms of service do allow font data to be embedded in PDF and other digital documents. Creating a PDF file is the best and most reliable way to ensure typographic fidelity in documents destined for print output.

Access Adobe Fonts

Adobe Fonts offers thousands of fonts from over 150 type foundries as part of your Creative Cloud subscription. This Adobe Fonts library is included as part of all paid Creative Cloud plans.

All of the fonts are licensed for personal & commercial use; read about the font licensing in the Terms of Use.

See also: 

No. Adobe Fonts can be transferred to another user or computer only if they have the font license available either through Creative Cloud or as a traditional desktop license.

Packaging feature (File > Package) is often used to send documents for print output. Fonts are usually included with a package to ensure that the document fonts are always available.

For more information, see Packaging font files.

Activate Adobe Fonts

  • You can activate a font using the Character panel of Illustrator. For more information, see Using Fonts in Illustrator.
  • You can use Adobe's subscription-based online service (Adobe Fonts) that offers an unlimited library of high-quality fonts from hundreds of type foundries. You can browse these fonts from within Creative Cloud application or go to Adobe Fonts to activate instantly and use in your artwork.
  • Sign in to the Creative Cloud desktop app with a named-user Creative Cloud subscription. If you aren't able to install the Creative Cloud desktop app for any reason, you won't be able to activate fonts.
  • All activated fonts are available for use in all Creative Cloud applications.
  • If you face any problems while activating a font or the font is disabled, see Troubleshooting guide: Activating fonts.

All fonts included with Creative Cloud can be used on mobile on iOS13.1 (and newer) apps that support Apple's custom font APIs. Search for your favorite font families or discover new ones with just a few swipes. For more information, see Activate fonts on Creative Cloud mobile.

When you activate fonts from Adobe Fonts, they will appear in the font menus of all your desktop applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Microsoft Office, and iWork. Use these fonts for print design, website mockups, word processing, and more.

For more details, see Activate fonts on your computer.

Troubleshooting tips

If you face any font activation issues, try these troubleshooting steps:

  • Sign-in again into Creative Cloud
  • Restart your computer
  •  Check your network connection

See the following articles:

To identify a font used in your document, use the Find Font option (Type > Find Font). For more details, see Find and replace a font in your document.

  • Adobe Fonts helps you find fonts matching with the text used in images. You can select a font displayed in the search results to immediately activate it. Once activated, the font becomes available in various Creative Cloud apps.
  • You can upload the image for scanning in the Adobe Fonts online app. Click the camera icon   or drag-and-drop the image file. Align the text and click Next Step. To activate a font, click the Activate Font button.
  • For more information, see Find fonts from images.

If your document contains fonts that are not installed on your system, you will receive an alert message when you open the document. Illustrator indicates the missing fonts and substitutes missing fonts with available matching fonts.

  • To substitute missing fonts with a different font, select the text that uses the missing font and apply any other available font.
  • To make missing fonts available in Illustrator, either install the missing fonts on your system or activate the missing fonts from the Adobe Fonts service. For more information, see Add fonts.
  • To highlight substituted fonts for easy identification, choose Preferences > Type > Highlight Substituted Fonts.

For more details, see Resolve missing fonts in desktop applications.

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