Operation Manual

USING ILLUSTRATOR

Workspace

Last updated 11/8/2011

View the Tools panel in double-stack or single-column

❖ Click the double-arrow on the title bar to toggle between double-stack and single-column view of the Tools panel.

Hide the Tools panel

❖ Choose Window > Tools.

Tear off hidden tools into a separate panel

❖ Drag the pointer over the arrow at the end of the hidden tools panel and release the mouse button.

Close a separate tool panel

❖ Click the close button on the panel’s title bar. The tools return to the Tools panel.

Select a tool

❖ Do one of the following:

• Click a tool in the Tools panel. If there is a small triangle at a tool’s lower-right corner, hold down the mouse button

to view the hidden tools, and then click the tool you want to select.

• Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and then click a tool to cycle through and select hidden tools.

• Press the tool’s keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut is displayed in its tool tip. For example, you can select

the Move tool by pressing the V key.

To hide tool tips, choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS),

and deselect Show Tool Tips.

Selecting a hidden tool

A. Tools panel B. Active tool C. Tear off panel with hidden tools D. Hidden tool triangle E. Tool name and shortcut

Change tool pointers

The mouse pointer for most tools matches the tool’s icon. Each pointer has a different hotspot, where an effect or

action begins. With most tools, you can switch to precise cursors, which appear as cross hairs centered around the

hotspot, and provide for greater accuracy when working with detailed artwork.

❖ Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS), and select Use

Precise Cursors. Alternatively, press Caps Lock on the keyboard.