Types of tools in Illustrator

Tools in Illustrator are divided into six categories. Select any of these
categories to learn about the tools within them.

Draw tools
Select tools
Navigate tools
Paint tools
Text tools
Modify tools

Draw tools
Draw tools help you to draw and edit objects and paths, and create
perspective. You can also add symbols and graphs to your artwork.
Watch this animation to see some of the Draw tools in action.

Pen tool[P]lets you draw connected lines and curves with precision using anchor
points and direction handles.
 Pencil tool[N]lets you draw freehand paths like drawing with a pencil.

Add Anchor Point tool[+]lets you add anchor points on paths.

Delete Anchor Point tool[-]lets you remove anchor points from paths.

Anchor Point tool[Shift+C]lets you convert from corner points to smooth anchor
points, and adjust the direction handles if smooth.

Curvature tool[Shift+~]lets you draw and edit connected lines and curves easily
using anchor points.
EXPAND TO SEE ADDITIONAL DRAW TOOLS
Select tools
Before you work on your artwork, you need to select some or all of its
elements. Select tools let you not just select, but move, rotate, scale, and
transform your artwork, with varying degrees of precision.
Watch this animation to see some of the Select tools in action. Use the
practice file to try them out.
Practice and learn

Selection tool [V] lets you select an object or a group of objects to move and resize.

Direct Selection tool [A] lets you select anchor points and path segments to reshape
objects.

Group Selection tool lets you select an object within a group, or a group of objects
within a parent group.

Magic Wand tool [Y] lets you select objects that share an attribute, like color or
opacity.

Lasso tool [Q] lets you drag to draw a shape around the elements that you want to
select.

Artboard tool [Shift+O] lets you select, create, and adjust artboards on the canvas.

Navigate tools
Navigate tools let you set your focus on an area of the artwork. You can
perform basic actions like zoom in or out, rotate the view, drag artwork, or
add grids to work on the canvas.
Watch this animation to see some of the Navigate tools in action.

Hand tool[H]lets you move the canvas around to view parts of your artwork.

Print Tiling tool lets you adjust the printable area of artboards.

Rotate View tool [Shift+H]lets you change the canvas orientation to a

Zoom tool[Z]lets you zoom in and out of the canvas.

Paint tools
Illustrator offers a fine collection of vector brushes with which you can apply
fills and strokes to elements in your artwork. You can also add blends and
build complex shapes to get the desired visual effect.
Watch this animation to see some of the Paint tools in action. Use the
practice file to try them out.
Practice and learn

Gradient tool[G]lets you create a gradual blend between colors.

Mesh tool[U]lets you blend colors and create contours on the surfaces of objects.

Shape Builder tool[Shift+M]lets you create complex shapes by merging and

Live Paint Bucket tool[K]lets you create a Live Paint group and apply color,
patterns, or gradients to different elements.

Live Paint Selection tool[Shift+L]lets you select elements of the Live Paint
group.

Text tools
Text tools help you to add and edit text (type) in your artwork. Apart from
plain text, you can also add text on a path or in an area, and apply the
desired text effects.
Watch this animation to see some of the Text tools in action.

Type tool[T]lets you enter text at a point or in an area.

Area Type tool lets you use the boundaries of objects to enter and control the flow
of text.

Type on a Path tool lets you enter text along the shape of a path.

Vertical Type tool lets you enter text vertically at a point.

Vertical Area Type tool lets you use the boundaries of objects to enter and control
the flow of vertical text.

Vertical Type On A Path tool lets you enter vertical text along the shape of a path.

Touch Type tool[Shift+T]lets you move, scale, and rotate individual characters
in a word.

Modify tools
Use advanced Modify tools in Illustrator to manipulate objects and paths.
Watch this animation to see some of the Modify tools in action. Use the
practice file to try them out.
Practice and learn

Rotate tool[R]lets you rotate an object around a reference point.

Reflect tool[O]lets you flip an object over a reference point.

Scale tool[S]lets you resize an object relative to a reference point.

Shear tool lets you slant or skew an object relative to a reference point.
 Reshape tool lets you reshape a path relative to an anchor point on the path.

Width tool[Shift+W]lets you change the thickness of strokes.

EXPAND TO SEE ADDITIONAL MODIFY TOOLS

Warp tool[Shift+R]lets you shape an object inward or outward.

Twirl tool lets you twirl an object around a reference point.

Pucker tool lets you stretch or shrink an object to give a spiky appearance.

Bloat tool lets you stretch or shrink an object to give a rounded appearance.

Scallop tool lets you add rounded projections on an object's outline.

Crystallize tool lets you add spiky structures on an object's outline.

Wrinkle tool lets you add wrinkled structures on an object's outline.

Puppet Warp tool lets you add pins to warp an object.

Free Transform tool[E]lets you distort an object freeform.

Measure tool lets you measure the distance between two points.

Eyedropper tool[I]lets you pick a color from one object and apply it to another.

Blend tool[W]lets you blend objects or paths together.

Eraser tool[Shift+E]lets you remove parts of the artwork.

Scissors tool[C]lets you split a path at a segment or an anchor point.

Dimension tool lets you easily measure and plot dimensions such as distance,
angle, and radius.

Objects on Path tool lets you attach and align objects to a path, and rearrange and
move them without losing alignment.