1. Performing Essential Operations

2. Objectives Create an object Resize an object Duplicate an object
Transform and color an object
Use the Transform Again command
Specify a point of origin
Use the Star and Reflect tools
Use the Polygon tool

3. Creating an Object Illustrator is all about creating objects:
Circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, stars, polygons, and other freeform shapes
Several techniques:
Freehand
Specific
Press [X] repeatedly to toggle between activating the Fill button and Stroke button

4. Creating an Object
When an object is selected anchor points become visible
FIGURE B-2: Points and paths on a selected object

5. Creating an Object Rectangle dialog box
Offers the ability to enter specific values for width and height
FIGURE B-3: Rectangle dialog box

6. Resizing an Object Several options: Bounding box Transform panel
Size matches width and height of the object
Selection handles are used to drag and resize the object
Transform panel
Shows specific height and width values for an object, along with other information

7. Resizing an Object
FIGURE B-4: Using the Transform panel to resize the square

8. Resizing an Object
FIGURE B-5: Handles visible on an object with bounding box showing

9. Resizing an Object
FIGURE B-6: Repositioning the 4" x 4 " square

10. Duplicating an Object Part of the drawing process Several methods
Copying and pasting or “dragging and dropping” a copy
Move dialog box
Allows an object to be moved a specific distance
Also allows a copy of an object to be moved a specific distance

11. Duplicating an Object
FIGURE B-7: The copy of the square pasted at the center of the artboard

12. Duplicating an Object
FIGURE B-8: “Dragging and dropping” the second copy

13. Duplicating an Object
FIGURE B-9: Move dialog box

14. Transforming and Coloring an Object
Refers to tools and operations that modify objects
Examples: move, scale, rotate, reflect, and shear
You can also change an object by applying color to it
Fill: color applied to the inside
Stroke: color applied to the outline or border

15. Transforming and Coloring an Object
Stroke panel:
Used for changing the weight (thickness) of the stroke
FIGURE B-10: Activating the Stroke button on the Tools panel

16. Transforming and Coloring an Object
FIGURE B-11: Applying a stroke to the rotated object

17. Using the Transform Again Command
Repeats the last transformation applied using the same values
Power comes in combination with copying transformations
A great way to create complex geometric shapes from basic objects

18. Using the Transform Again Command
Grouping objects
When multiple objects are grouped, Illustrator regards them as a single object
Notable result:
Click on any grouped object with the Selection tool and all objects in the group will be selected

19. Using the Transform Again Command
FIGURE B-12: Positioning the stroked ellipse

20. Using the Transform Again Command
FIGURE B-13: Seven ellipses created from one original

21. Using the Transform Again Command
Helpful quick keys

22. Specifying a Point of Origin
Point from which a transformation is executed
However, a different point from which you want to execute the transformation can be selected

23. Specifying a Point of Origin
FIGURE B-14: Positioning the ellipse

24. Specifying a Point of Origin
FIGURE B-15: Ellipse rotated from specified point of origin

25. Specifying a Point of Origin
Options for transforming objects using Rotate as an example

26. Using the Star and Reflect Tools
Used to “flip” an object over an imaginary axis
Star tool
Offers a number of options for creating stars
Radius: straight line extending from the center of a circle to its outer edge
A star has two radii: center to the inner point and center to the outer point

27. Using the Star and Reflect Tools
FIGURE B-16: Identifying a star’s radii

28. Using the Star and Reflect Tools
FIGURE B-17: Positioning the star

29. Using the Polygon Tool Used to quickly create basic shapes
Triangles, pentagons, octagons, etc.
Located on the Tools panel

30. Using the Polygon Tool
FIGURE B-18: Positioning the triangle

31. Summary Create an object Resize an object Duplicate an object
Transform and color an object
Use the Transform Again command
Specify a point of origin
Use the Star and Reflect tools
Use the Polygon tool