How to Use Adobe Illustrator

Co-authored by Shari Fairclough and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: September 13, 2024 References

Adobe Illustrator is a premium application used for creating vector graphics for print or the web. Developed alongside with Adobe Photoshop as a companion product, Illustrator is the standard for making logos, graphics, comics, fonts, and much more. This wikiHow teaches you how to start using the basic functions of Adobe Illustrator.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Creating a Project

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1
Open Adobe Illustrator. You'll find it in your Windows Start menu or your Mac's Applications folder.
If you don't see this option, you can press Ctrl+N (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd+N (Mac) to create your new project.^{[1]
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If you're planning to print out your creation, click Print at the top of the New Document window. If you want to use the graphic online, select Web.
4
Select a document size. There are several preset document sizes from which to choose. You also have the option of creating a custom-sized canvas by adjusting the values in the right panel.
- All customization options for the document's size, resolution, orientation, and color mode are in the right column.
- If you want to specify a resolution for a printed document, select that resolution from the "Raster Effects" menu in the right panel.
Now that you've created a document, you can get to know Illustrator's most common tools.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Drawing Shapes

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Click and hold the Shape tool. It's the rectangle in the toolbar that runs along the left side of the screen. A menu of various shapes will appear.
- Repeat this step each you want to switch between different shape tools.
This selects a tool that allows you to draw squares and rectangles.
3
Click the mouse on the canvas and drag in any direction. Your rectangular shape will appear as you drag.^{[2]
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- If you want to draw a perfect square, drag until you see a pink line crossing the shape diagonally—this line indicates that the square is equal on all sides.
This tool lets you specify the number of sides you want your shape to have.
5
Click the canvas once to enter the number of sides. Clicking the canvas will make a dialog box appear. Enter the number of sides you want your shape to have.
- For example, if you want to draw an octagon, enter 8.
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Click and drag the canvas to draw your shape. Just as you did with the rectangle, drag outward until you've made the shape the desired size.
- You can also create circles and stars with this menu the same way you have with rectangles and polygons.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Drawing Straight and Curved Lines

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Click and hold the Pen tool on the toolbar. It's the button that looks like a pen on the right side of the screen. A list of different pen tool options will appear.
- The Pen tool can be used to create paths using straight or curved lines. Unlike using an actual pen (or a digital paintbrush tool), you'll create lines and curves with the pen tool by creating individual segments connected by anchor points.^{[3]
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EXPERT TIP

Travis Boylls
wikiHow Technology Writer
Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College.

Travis Boylls
wikiHow Technology Writer

"The Pen Tool may seem a little awkward to get used to, but it is one of my favorite tools to use when tracing or drawing complex shapes. It allows me to easily draw very precise curves and lines. As someone who struggles to draw curves and lines on paper, the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator is vital."
It should be the first option in the tool menu.
We'll start by drawing a series of straight lines. This adds an anchor point (which looks like a small dot or square) to the canvas. Don't drag the mouse like you're actually drawing, just click once.
4
Click the mouse where you want the line segment to end. The line segment will now appear.
- If you see directional lines around the segment, this means you accidentally dragged the tool instead of clicking a new anchor point.
The most recent anchor point you click shows up as a filled-in square, while previous points are hollow.
6
Close the path (or leave it open). When you're finished with a particular line or shape, you have a couple of options for moving on to the next exercise:
- If you want to create a closed shape, hover the mouse cursor over the first anchor point you created, then click the small dot that appears next to the pen's pointer. This shape can then be selected and edited the same way you'd work with shapes created with the Shape tool.
- If you don't want to close the path, just select a different tool or press Ctrl (PC) or ⌘ Cmd (Mac) as you click a blank area of the canvas.
If you deselected the Pen Tool, go back and select it again first. Don't lift your finger from the mouse after clicking the canvas.
To do this, just drag in the direction in which you want this line segment to curve. Lift your finger from the mouse cursor once the slope is set.
Don't move your hand just yet.
10
Create a C or S-shaped curve. The direction you drag the cursor depends on the type of curve you want to create:
- Drag the cursor in the opposite direction to the previous line to make a C-shaped curve (an arc).
- Drag in the same direction of the previous line to create an S-shaped curve.
Click and hold a new point to add the next segment, then drag in the direction of the desired slope as you did before. Continue adding curved segments until you're finished with the path.
As you did with the straight segments, you can close the path or choose to leave it open.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Editing Shapes and Objects

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Click the Selection tool. It's the arrow at the top of the toolbar that runs along the left side of the workspace. This is the tool you'll need to use when you want to select and manipulate existing objects on the canvas.
- You can use this method to manipulate shapes, lines, and text you've added to your document.
2
Click the object you want to edit. Selecting an object will surround it with a handled border.
- To select multiple objects at a time, hold down the ⇧ Shift key as you click each object.
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Drag any of the outer handles to the desired size. Dragging a handle will extend (or shrink) the size of the object in that direction.
- Hold the ⇧ Shift key to constrain proportions if you want to avoid changing the actual shape.
4
Drag an object from the center point to move it. This is the most basic way to move an object.^{[4]
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- To move selected objects by a specific distance, click the Object menu, click Transform, and then click Move to bring up the dialog. Enter your desired position and click OK.
- Cutting and pasting is another option. Click the Edit menu at the top and select Cut to remove the selected object and copy it to your clipboard. Then, click the Edit menu and select Paste to insert it back into the document.
5
Add color to a selected object. Double-click the Fill box in the Properties panel (usually at the bottom-right corner of the workspace) to bring up the color palette, then click the desired color to fill the selected object.^{[5]
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- To change the color of the selected object's surrounding outline, double-click the Stroke box in the Properties panel, then select a color.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Tracing an Image

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1
Import the image you want to vectorize. One of the most common uses for Illustrator is the creation of vector images based on images from other applications (such as hand-drawn artwork that’s been scanned or creations made in Photoshop). Vector images can be scaled to any size without distorting the image, which makes them great for printed materials. To import an image:^{[6]
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- Click the File menu at the top.
- Click Place.
- Select the image you want to edit.
It's the arrow button at the top of the left toolbar.
It's at the top of the screen (Mac) or at the top of the app (PC).
This adds the Image Trace panel to the workspace.^{[7]
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It's at the bottom-left corner of the Image Trace panel.
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Select the desired color mode from the "Mode" menu. This menu is also in the Image Trace panel.
- For example, if your image is in black-and-white, select Black and White from the menu. If it's grayscale, select Grayscale, etc.
The slider will either be labeled Color, Grayscale, or Threshold. The preview will adjust to show you the results.
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Click Advanced on the Image Trace panel to adjust other options. In this section you can:
- Drag the "Paths" slider until your image looks clear.
- Drag the "Corners" slider until the edges of the image are crisp (but not sharp or scraggly).
- Drag the "Noise" slider to decrease the number of extra pixels included in the final image.
It's at the bottom of the Image Trace panel. This traces the image based on the settings you entered.
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Save the image as a vector graphic file. Here's how:^{[8]
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- Click the File menu.
- Click Save As.
- Select a saving location and enter a file name.
- Select Illustrator (*.AI) as the file type to save as an Illustrator file, or SVG (*.SVG) to save the vector in a more web-friendly format.
- Click Save.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I distort objects in Illustrator?

Shari Fairclough
Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.

Shari Fairclough

Social Media & Graphic Design Expert

Expert Answer

First, select the object you want to manipulate. Then, go to the top menu and click on "Object" then "Transform" and choose "Warp". A dialog box will appear, and you can select different warp styles such as arc, bulge, flag, etc. Then, adjust the slider and distortion settings to achieve your desired distortion effect.

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Question

How can I add an image inside a shape?

Shari Fairclough
Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.

Shari Fairclough

Social Media & Graphic Design Expert

Expert Answer

You can add an image inside a shape by using the clipping mask feature. First, place your image on the canvas, and then draw or select the shape where you want the image to appear. Make sure that the shape is positioned above the image. Select both the image and the shape by clicking and dragging over them, or by holding Shift and clicking each one. Next, right-click and choose "Make Clipping Mask". This will fit the image within the boundaries of the shape. Another method is by using the "Envelope Distort" feature. Place your image on the canvas, draw or select the shape, and position it above the image. Then, select both objects, go to the top menu, click "Object," navigate to "Envelope Distort," and choose "Make with Top Object." This will warp the image to fit inside the shape.

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Question

How do I type words?

Community Answer

Click the T button on the toolbar. Then, click and drag on the page to create a space for you to type. After that you can write what you want. You can adjust the size and font in the menu bar when still selecting the T on the toolbar.

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