How to use the dynamic live shapes tools in Adobe Illustrator. Discover how to level up your graphics shapes with the updates to these handy tools.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Rectangle Tool
- Select the Rectangle Tool from your toolbar.
- Draw your rectangle or hold down shift to draw a square.
- Look for the inner ‘widgets’ (small circles) and drag them to round the corners to your desired shape.
Rounded Rectangle Tool
- Select the Rectangle Tool from your toolbar.
- Draw your rectangle or hold down shift to draw a square.
- Look for the inner widgets (small circles) and drag them to round the corners to your desired shape.
Ellipse Tool
- Select the Ellipse Tool from your toolbar.
- Draw your oval or hold down shift to draw a circle.
- Look for the outer widget (small circle) on the right hand side of the shape and drag it to create a cut out of your circle at different angles.
Polygon Tool
- Select the Polygon Tool from your toolbar.
- Look for the outer widget (small diamond) to increase or decrease the number of sides. This tool now also creates triangles.
- Look for the inner widgets (small circles) to round the corners of your chosen shape.
Star Tool
- Select the Star Tool from your toolbar.
- Look for the outer widget (arrows pointing up and down) to increase or decrease the number of points.
- Look for the inner widgets (small circles) to round the corners of your chosen shape.
- Look for the very inner widget or very outer widget on the right (blank circles) to increase or decrease the inner and outer radius of the star.
TIPS:
- Remember that holding the shift tool is very useful for keeping proportions correct.
- Spend time experimenting with how many different versions of a shape you can create.
- Think about what effect layering different shapes might have.
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