30 Illustrator Secrets Graphic Designers MUST KNOW!

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of graphic design, efficiency is crucial. Knowing the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator can save you time, reduce frustration, and make your creative life easier. In this article, we’ll explore 30 essential tips and tricks that every graphic designer should know about Illustrator. So, let’s dive in!

1. Copy Appearance Effects

To copy appearance effects from one object to another, select both objects using the Layers panel. Hold down Alt (or Option) and drag one circle onto the other to transfer all appearance effects seamlessly.

2. Create Dotted Lines

Start drawing a line and increase its stroke weight. Open the Stroke panel, check the Dashed line option, set the dash to 0, and adjust the gap to your preference. Change the cap type to Round to create a dotted line.

3. Intertwine Shapes

For two overlapping circles, select them, go to Object > Intertwine > Make, dismiss the pop-up, and drag over the intersected area to intertwine them.

4. Use Trim View

If your artwork extends beyond the boundaries of the artboard, use View > Trim View to get a trimmed preview.

5. Draw Curved Lines

Select the Arc Tool and click and drag to create a curved line. Press F while dragging to flip the direction of the line.

6. Smooth Out Curves

Draw a squiggly line with the Pencil Tool, then hold and select the Smooth Tool to click and drag over the line, smoothing out the curves effectively.

7. Adjust Pencil Tool Settings

Double-click the Pencil Tool to access settings. Check the option that allows you to switch to the Smooth Tool while drawing if you hold Alt (Option).

8. Use the Knife Tool

Select a shape and use the Knife Tool to cut it. Hold Alt (Option) + Shift while dragging to create straight cuts.

9. Apply Gradients to Strokes

Select a shape with a gradient. In the Gradient panel, select the stroke and click through various options to apply the gradient to the stroke.

10. Draw Over Existing Shapes

Use the Pencil Tool to draw over shapes, allowing you to reshape them creatively.

11. Smoother Pencil Lines

Double-click the Pencil Tool and increase the slider for smoother curves while drawing.

12. Adjust Star Points

Draw a star using the Star Tool, then use the up and down arrow keys to adjust the number of points instantly.

13. Quick Navigation

Use Spacebar to pan around the document, Control + Plus/Minus to zoom in/out, and Control + 0 (zero) to fit the artboard to the screen.

14. Edit Global Swatches

In the Swatch panel, double-click a global swatch to edit it. With preview enabled, any adjustments will reflect throughout your document.

15. Use Tints

Select a global swatch and switch to Color Guide to apply different tints. All changes to the base color are reflected in the tints.

16. Change Document Setup

You can adjust document settings by going to File > Document Setup or using the Artboard Tool to modify width and height from the panel.

17. Rearrange Artboards

If your artboards are messy, use Artboard Tool > Rearrange All to organize them easily.

18. Outline View

Get a wireframe preview of your design by going to View > Outline.

19. Shape Builder Tool

Select shapes, then use the Shape Builder Tool to combine segments by clicking and dragging over them. Hold Alt (Option) to remove segments.

20. Scissor Tool

Use the Scissor Tool to create cuts on shapes. You can remove segments with the Direct Selection Tool afterward.

21. Eyedropper Tool

The Eyedropper Tool can copy properties from one object to another. Hold Shift to sample and apply only color, not property.

22. Arrow Key Adjustments

Adjust properties in the Transform panel using arrow keys. Hold Shift for larger adjustments and Control for smaller increments.

23. Math in Transformations

You can use math to adjust an object's size. For instance, adding or subtracting percentages in the Transform panel works seamlessly.

24. Hiding Perspective Grid

Accidentally selecting the Perspective Tool can be frustrating. To hide the grid, go to View > Perspective Grid > Hide Grid.

25. Navigate Groups

Double-clicking a group allows you to go deeper into layers. A quick way to exit is by double-clicking anywhere on the workspace.

26. Use Brush Libraries

Access various brushes by going to Window > Brushes. Explore and apply different brush effects to your drawings.

27. Divide Shapes

When you have overlapping shapes, select them and use the Divide option in the Pathfinder panel to create separate shapes.

28. Ultimate Undo States

Increase your Undo states by going to Preferences > Performance. This way, you can revert more actions if mistakes are made.

29. Customize File Handling

To avoid constant Cloud saving prompts, go to Preferences > File Handling and change the default settings.

30. Wrap Up

These tips and techniques can significantly streamline your Adobe Illustrator experience. With practice, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and enhance your design projects’ quality.

Keywords

• Adobe Illustrator
• graphic design
• appearance effects
• dotted lines
• intertwine shapes
• smooth tool
• global swatches
• brush libraries
• shape builder tool
• perspective grid

FAQ

Q1: How can I copy appearance effects in Illustrator?
A: Select both objects, go to the Layers panel, hold Alt (Option), and drag one object onto another.

Q2: What’s the best way to create a dotted line?
A: Select a line, increase the stroke weight, check the Dashed line option in the Stroke panel, set the dash to 0, and adjust the gap.

Q3: How do I organize messy artboards in Illustrator?
A: Use the Artboard Tool, then choose Rearrange All to clean up the layout of your artboards.

Q4: Can I edit global swatches after creating them?
A: Yes, double-click the global swatch in the Swatch panel and make adjustments; all instances of the swatch will update automatically.

Q5: How can I draw smoother lines in Illustrator?
A: Use the Pencil Tool and adjust the smoothness settings or hold Alt (Option) while drawing to toggle to the Smooth Tool for better results.