ILLUSTRATOR CHEAT SHEET

FOR
SYMBOL AND
KEYBOARD
SHORTCUT NAME AND USAGE
THIS IS HOW MY
TOOLBAR SELECTION (L) AND DIRECT SELECTION (R) TOOL
IS ARRANGED!
THE SELECTION TOOL IS USED TO SELECT OBJECTS ON THE ARTBOARD.
THINK OF IT LIKE YOUR MOUSE!

(V) (A) THE DIRECT SELECTION TOOL IS USED TO SELECT ANCHOR POINTS
IN AN OBJECT.

HAND TOOL (L) AND ZOOM (R)

IF YOU CAN’T SCROLL SIZE TO SIDE WITH YOUR MOUSE, USE THE HAND
TOOL TO MOVE AROUND THE SCREEN.
(h) (z) USE THE ZOOM TOOL TO ZOOM IN AND OUT OR PRESS COMMAND AND + OR -

pen tool functions

USE THIS TOOL TO DRAW STRAIGHT OR CURVED LINES. but i use the
other functions most!
HOLD DOWN ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT ARROW TO VIEW THE PEN TOOL
(P) FLYOUT MENU AND USE THE OTHER PEN TOOL FUNCTIONS--EXACT
USES AND FUNCTIONS EXPLAINED in lesson 5

SMOOTH TOOL
THIS TOOL ALLOWS YOU TO SMOOTH OUT THE ANCHOR POINTS ON A PATH
TO CREATE A SMOOTHER LINE. THIS TOOL IS INVALUABLE IN DIGITIZING
LETTERING! HOLD DOWN ON THE TOOL WHILE USING IT TO SMOOTH
SPECIFIC AREAS, OR CLICK ONCE ON A POINT TO SMOOTH THE ENTIRE OBJECT.

Eyedropper tool
WITH THIS TOOL SELECTED, HOVER OVER ANY COLOR TO PICK THAT COLOR FOR
USE. I EXPLAIN THIS IN LESSON 6.

(I)

THE ARTBOARD TOOL

EASILY RESIZE/SCALE YOUR ARTBOARD TO BETTER SUIT THE PROJECT YOU’RE
WORKING ON

(SHIFT + O)

THE RECTANGLE TOOL

DRAW A RECTANGLE OR HOLD THE SHIFT KEY TO MAKE A PERFECT SQUARE

(M)

THE SHAPE BUILDER TOOL

THIS TOOL CONNECTS SHAPES TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE LARGE SHAPE. IT

COMES IN HANDY FOR DIGITIZING WHEN YOU NEED TO CLOSE UP A BLANK SPACE.
I USE THIS FUNCTION AT THE BEGINNING OF LESSON 5!
(SHIFT + M)

notes