Do you use Adobe Illustrator for your designs? You might feel like you know all the tools. But some of the best Adobe Illustrator tools are often overlooked. They can help you work much faster.
Learning these tools can change how you design. This guide will show you five powerful tools you should try. You will learn what each tool does. You will also see why it is so useful.
Have you ever wanted a line to be thick in one spot and thin in another? The Width Tool lets you do this easily. It is not the same as just changing the stroke weight. The Width Tool gives you total control.
It creates a "width point" on a line. You can pull on this point to make the line thicker. You can also push it to make the line thinner. You can add as many of these points as you want.
Why is it useful?
It helps you create unique line art.
You can make hand-drawn effects.
It is perfect for making hair or leaves.
To use it, just select a line. Then click on the Width Tool. Click on the line and drag to change its thickness.
The Puppet Warp Tool is like magic. It lets you bend and reshape parts of a vector object. It does this without changing the whole object. You can think of it like a puppet with pins. You add pins to the parts you want to move. Then you pull the pins to change the shape.
This tool is great for characters. You can change a character's arm or leg. You do not have to redraw the entire thing.
Why is it useful?
It helps you pose characters.
You can make small, local changes.
It saves you a lot of time.
To use it, select the object you want to change. Choose the Puppet Warp Tool. Click on the object to add a pin. Drag the pin to move that part of the object.
The Shaper Tool is a simple tool for beginners. It is perfect for drawing basic shapes. You can draw a messy circle. The tool will turn it into a perfect one. You can also use it to combine or remove shapes.
Imagine you want to make a cloud. You can draw many rough circles. The Shaper Tool will join them into a single shape. You can also draw a line to cut a piece away.
Why is it useful?
It makes drawing shapes very easy.
You can combine or cut shapes quickly.
It is a good tool for fast design work.
To use it, select the Shaper Tool. Draw a rough circle, square, or polygon. The tool will make it perfect. Then draw over shapes to join them.
Most people know the Artboard Tool makes new artboards. But it can do so much more. It lets you manage all your artboards at once.
You can select an artboard to resize it. You can move artboards around your workspace. You can also name each artboard. This is very helpful when you work on many designs at once. For example, you can create a design for a mobile app. You can make an artboard for each screen.
Why is it useful?
You can change the size of any artboard.
It helps you keep your work organized.
It is great for creating multiple designs.
To use it, choose the Artboard Tool. Click on an artboard to select it. You can drag the corners to change its size. You can also rename it in the Artboards Panel.
You probably know about gradients. They blend colors from one side to another. The Freeform Gradient is a newer tool. It is much more powerful. It lets you add colors anywhere on an object.
You can add color points inside a shape. The colors will blend from each point. This creates smooth, realistic color blends. It looks less flat than old gradients. This is a great tool for adding light and shadow to your art.
Why is it useful?
It creates smooth, natural color blends.
You can add colors exactly where you want them.
It makes your art look more professional.
To use it, select your object. Choose the Gradient Tool (G). In the Gradient Panel, click on "Freeform Gradient." Then click inside your object to add color points.
Now you know about five useful Illustrator tools. The Width Tool, Puppet Warp, Shaper, Artboard, and Freeform Gradient. Each of these tools can help you work better. They can make your designs look more polished too. Try using them in your next project to see the difference they make.
