illustrator 101, shortcuts

Become A Pro When Adding Gradients To Text In Illustrator

 

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assigned custom keyboard shortcuts for the functions :

edit > keyboard shortcut  link 

Basic setting 

[ smart guide ] ⌘ + U / preference > smart guides    link 

[ Ungroup ]⇧ + ⌘ + G 

[ Snap to Grid (pixel) ]⇧ + ⌘ + '  / magnet icon in the top tool bar

⇧ + ⌘ + I = view > perspective grid > show/hide grid

[ turn on/off a ruler in a group ]

 

[ left tool bar > set it up in the tool bar ] Click the Edit Toolbar at the bottom of the tool panel. (3 dots icon)  where is smooth tool

 

[ top toolbar on top : window > control  = Control panel overview adobe workspace basics ] = property panel

in top right corner, 'Application header' icons > the last icon (list icon) 'Workspace overview' > select 'essential classic'
this includes 'control panel'
By default, the Control panel is docked at the top of the workspace.  adobe workspace basics

Tools

[ pen    ⌘ ]  line : adjust curve / point : select

[ pen    ⌥ ]  line : adjust curve / point : make it straight

[ pen 'click' line ]   add a point 

[ pen  'click' point ]   delete the point

[ pen 'delete' point ]   delete the selected point and both lines connected

 

[ curvature  'click' line ]  add a point 

[ curvature 'click' point ]  select

[ curvature 'delete' point ]  delete the point

 

[ create a template layer ] Select File > Place while placing raster artwork into Illustrator as a template. In the Place dialog box, select the Template check box in the lower-left corner; then press Place. link

[ convert an existing artwork layer into a template ] Double-click a layer thumbnail name in the Layers panel. In the Layer Options dialog box that appears, select the Template check box and press OK. 

 

[group selection tool] direct select > link ????

 

[ move the object to another group ] click 'indicate selected arts'(rectangle next to layer) and drag to the group  drawing pizza

 

[ smooth Paintbrush / Pencil Tool ] double click in the tools palette on the pencil tool. 
fidelity :smooth, accurate  how to smooth

[smooth tool]  click the pencil tool and hold how to smooth
Click and draw to draw over the rough edges you want to smoothen, remember to hold your mouse while drawing. where is smooth tool

 

[ The Expand appearance function ] object > expand appearance

make sure you have the fill color and not the stroke color so you shouldn't have any stroke color on just fill when you expand the appearance because that means your center point will be perfectly aligned. link

[ The Expand function ] object > expand

transforms brush strokes, text, patterns, blend into vector shapes with editable outlines and anchor points link

transform blend into a shape object.  digital line art effect

[ Converting a Stroke to a Shape ] object > path > outline stroke

[ Create Outlines / outline fonts ]     ⇧ + ⌘ + O 

 

[ offset path ]   object > path > offset path :  offset  -**px or **px
CLEAN LOGO DESIGNS With Illustrator Offset Path
a smaller sliver of shadow alongside the shape : 
offset the stroke (-) > cut into part of the line > taper off the strokes  drawing pizza

 

[ creat the clipping mask ] select more than one object,  ⌘+ 7
ULTIMATE GUIDE to MASKING in ILLUSTRATOR CC
drag the object into the clipping group to affect the mask link

[ draw inside the mask ]  click the shape and press '⇧ + DD'

[ move both mask + object ]  by default 

[ move clipping mask shape only ]  click the circle icon next to the mask layer link 

[ move the object only ]  click 'edit content' on the top tool bar  link

[ fill background color in mask ] select the clipping path (circle icon next to the layer ) and pick a color for it. link

default - transparent : normally or by default the clipping mask loses its original color.

your clipping paths don't have to be transparent they can have colors on them. link

 

[ opacity mask ]  select more than one object, open transparency panel : click 'make mask'

select the object and the mask together. -> click on 'make mask' in the transparency panel. link

disable the mask : hold ⇧ + 'mask layer'
show mask mode : hold ⌥ + 'mask layer'
show the part of object outside clipping mask :  uncheck 'clip' check box

 

[ do math in the transform window in a top bar ] w: --px / 1.618  link (with chain link on link)  

we can change those at 25% and then hit enter link

 

[ join/connect the points ] ⌘ + J     link  

[ connect the points ] ⌥ + ⌘ + J  (object > path > average : both) converge lines to a certain point.  link

[ convert a straight line to a curve ]  once you have made the points around the shape hold down the command or the control key you can actually cover to the vector path in between those enter points. link

Become A Pro When Adding Gradients To Text In Illustrator

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Shortcuts

⌘ Y = view > outline / view > preview (switch)

O  : reflect

R : reflect

⇧ + X  : Swap Fill/Stroke

⇧ + W : Width

⇧ + M  /  ⌥for -  : Shape builder

⌘ + L : new layer

V : Selection

A : Direct Selection

Q : Lasso

⇧ + C :  Anchor Point

= : Add Anchor Point

- : Delete Anchor Point

⌘ + / : Add New Fill

⌘ + B : paste in back

⌘ + F : Paste in Front

⌘ + [ : Send Backward

⇧ + ⌘ + [ : Send to Back (all the way back within the group)

⇧ + ⌘ + O : Create Outlines / outline fonts

W  : Blend

⌘ + J = object > path > join : join   link  

⌥ + ⌘ + J = object > path > average > both : converge lines to a certain point   link

⌘ + U : Smart Guides

⇧ + ⌘ + G : Ungroup

⇧ + ⌘ + ' : Snap to Grid (pixel)

  https://redokun.com/blog/illustrator-shortcuts

Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts (Printable and practical cheat sheet)

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html

Default keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator

https://www.trainingconnection.com/downloads/illustrator/AI-CheatSheet.pdf