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Editing Paths in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Contents

  1. #31 Selecting Path Segments and Paths
  2. #32 Defining, Selecting, and Isolating Groups
  3. #33 Selecting, Editing, and Aligning Anchors
  4. #34 Selecting Similar Objects
  5. #35 Editing with the Bounding Box
  6. #36 Duplicating
  7. #37 Scaling
  8. #38 Rotating
  9. #39 Shearing (Skewing)
  10. #40 Distorting with Envelopes
  11. #41 Using Pathfinders

Chapter Description

David Karlins shows you how to use selection and editing techniques in Adobe Illustrator CS4, including selecting paths and path segments, grouping paths, and aligning anchors.

From the Book

Adobe Illustrator CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques

Adobe Illustrator CS4 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques

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#36 Duplicating

There are many ways to duplicate objects in Illustrator. The simplest is to select an object (or objects), hold down the Option/Alt key, and click and drag. When you release your mouse button, you place a copy of the selected paths on your artboard (Figure 36).

Figure 36

Figure 36 Copying with the Option/Alt key.

NOTE

When you press the Option/Alt key, a white arrow appears underneath your selection tool, indicating that you are copying.

You can also copy and paste selected objects by choosing Edit > Copy from the menu. Three paste options are available from the menu. In addition to the regular Edit > Paste, you can also paste in front or in back.

Illustrator allows you to manage stacking order as you paste. Edit > Paste in Front stacks pasted objects on top of other objects, and Edit > Paste in Back stacks pasted objects below other objects.

You can use the Copy and Paste commands to transfer objects in and out of Illustrator.

7. #37 Scaling | Next Section Previous Section