Illustrator Tips & Tricks
This page will be the most important tool you will need in order to use Illustrator successfully. This is where you will find a list of shortcuts, what each tool is used for, helpful tips in case you get stuck, and tricks to make things a little bit easier.
Map of Illustrator
Video: Understanding the Control Panel
Understanding the Tools Panel
The first time you start the application, the Tools panel appears at the left side of the screen. You use tools in the Tools panel to create, select, and manipulate objects in Illustrator. Some tools have options that appear when you double-click a tool. These include tools that let you use type, and select, paint, draw, sample, edit, and move images. You can expand some tools to show hidden tools beneath them. A small triangle at the lower-right corner of the tool icon signals the presence of hidden tools. To see the name of a tool, position the pointer over it.
View hidden tools
View hidden tools
- Hold down the mouse button on the visible tool.
- Double-click a tool in the Tools panel.
- Drag its title bar.
- Click the double-arrow on the title bar to toggle between double-stack and single-column view of the Tools panel.
- Choose Window > Tools.
- Drag the pointer over the arrow at the end of the hidden tools panel and release the mouse button.
- Click the close button on the panel’s title bar. The tools return to the Tools panel.