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Reshape objects using envelopes and effects

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Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
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    1. Introduction to Illustrator
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    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
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  3. Illustrator on the web (beta)
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    5. Create and combine shapes on the web
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    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
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      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
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    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
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    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
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      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 and dimensioning
      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
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      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
      17. Measure and plot dimensions
    2. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
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      1. About color
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      1. Crop images
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      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
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      16. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
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      23. Format Asian characters
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      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
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      1. Work with effects
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      4. Create sketches and mosaics
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      6. Summary of effects
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      2. Graphs
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    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
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      1. Overprint
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      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

Learn how to use envelopes and effects to distort or reshape objects in Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator deeplink

Try it in the app
Reshape objects in a few simple steps.

Open Illustrator

Envelopes are objects that distort or reshape selected objects. You can make an envelope out of an object on your artboard, or you can use a preset warp shape or a mesh grid as an envelope. You can use envelopes on any object except graphs, guides, or linked objects.

Mesh grid envelope
Mesh grid envelope

Envelope created from another object
Envelope created from another object

The Layers panel lists envelopes as <Envelope>. Once you apply an envelope, you can continue to edit the original objects. You can also edit, delete, or expand an envelope at any time. You can edit an envelope shape or the enveloped object, but not both at the same time.

Distort objects using an envelope

  1. Select one or more objects.
  2. Create the envelope using one of the following methods:

    • To use a preset warp shape for the envelope, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Warp. In the Warp Options dialog box, select a warp style and set options.

    • To set up a rectangular grid for the envelope, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Mesh. In the Envelope Mesh dialog box, set the number of rows and columns.

    • To use an object as the shape of the envelope, make sure the object is at the top of the stacking order for the selected object. If it’s not, use the Layers panel or an Arrange command to move it up, and reselect all the objects. Then choose Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Top Object.

  3. Reshape the envelope by doing any of the following:

    • Drag any anchor point on the envelope with the Direct Selection or Mesh tool.

    • To delete anchor points on the mesh grid, select an anchor point with either the Direct Selection or Mesh tools, and then press Delete.

    • To add anchor points to the mesh grid, click on the grid with the Mesh tool.

      Tip: To apply a stroke or fill to an envelope, use the Appearance panel.

Edit the contents of an envelope

  1. Select the envelope and do one of the following:

    • Click the Edit Contents button  in the Control panel.

    • Choose Object > Envelope Distort > Edit Contents.

      note: If your envelope consists of grouped paths, click the triangle to the left of the <Envelope> entry in the Layers panel to view and target the path you want to edit.

  2. Edit it as desired.
    Note:

    When you modify the contents of an envelope, the envelope shifts to recenter the results with the original content.

  3. To return the object to its enveloped state, do one of the following:

    • Click the Edit Envelope button  in the Control panel.

    • Choose Object > Envelope Distort > Edit Envelope.

Reset an envelope

  1. Select the envelope.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • To reset or switch to a preset warp style, choose a new warp style and set options in the Control panel. If desired, click the Envelope Options button  to open the dialog box and set more options.

    • To reset or switch to a mesh grid envelope, choose Object > Envelope Distort > Reset With Mesh. Specify the number of rows and columns for the mesh grid. Select Maintain Envelope Shape to keep the warp shape intact.

Remove an envelope

You can remove envelopes by either releasing them or expanding them. Releasing an enveloped object creates two separate objects: the object in its original state and the envelope shape. Expanding an enveloped object removes the envelope, but the object retains its distorted shape.

  • To release an envelope, select the envelope, and choose Object > Envelope Distort > Release.
  • To expand an envelope, select the envelope, and choose Object > Envelope Distort > Expand.

Envelope options

Envelope options determine how art is distorted to fit the envelope. To set envelope options, select the envelope object and click the Envelope Options button  in the Control panel, or choose Object > Envelope Distort > Envelope Options.

Anti‑Alias

Smooths rasters when distorted with an envelope. Deselecting Anti‑Alias can decrease the time it takes to distort rasters.

Preserve Shape Using

Specifies how rasters preserve their shape when distorted by nonrectangular envelopes. Select Clipping Mask to use a clipping mask on the raster, or Transparency to apply an alpha channel to the raster.

Fidelity

Specifies how precisely you want the object to fit the envelope mold. Increasing the Fidelity percentage can add more points to the distorted paths and increase the time it takes to distort the objects.

Distort Appearance

Distorts appearance attributes (such as applied effects or graphic styles) along with an object’s shape.

Distort Linear Gradients

Distorts linear gradients along with an object’s shape.

Distort Pattern Fills

Distorts patterns along with an object’s shape.

note: If you expand the envelope with a Distort option selected, the respective property is expanded separately.

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