ZOOM & HAND

Zoom Tool (Z)

Select in toolbox for zoom in & zoom out.

for zoom in :

1. click on image, or
2. click (hold) & drag over the image

3. fast shortcut for zoom in without deselecting other tools, (with other tool active), keyboard Ctrl + Spacebar hold & zoom in then release keyboard.

for zoom out :

1. click on image
2. fast shortcut for zoom out without deselecting other tools, (with other tool active), keyboard Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar hold & zoom out then release keyboard.
3. zoom 100% = double click or keyboard Ctrl+1
4. zoom all = double click or keyboard Ctrl+0

Hand Tool (H)

To scroll the artboard around without using vertical / horizontal scrollbar.

1. Toolbar - select
2. Click on any area & drag to move the document around.
3. Fast shortcut for hand without deselecting other tools, (with other tool active), keyboard Spacebar (hold), cursor will change to , click (mouse) & drag document.

← Previous - 02 Getting Started | Next - Drawing Basic Shape →

This tutorial, we will look at the Illustrator Work Space, the Tools and Palette that commonly used in working with Illustrator. So first, create a new document, study the environment - the Tools on the left, Palette on the right and Control Panel on the top. But most important are the Tools (left) & Palette (right).

WORKSPACE - TOOLS, PALETTE

Create New Document

Go to File > New Document to create your first document. Type in a Name for the document and click Advanced to select RGB for Color Mode as we will be working for the screen. Click Ok after that.

Note :

• CMYK Color Mode - for printing job purpose (i.e. brochure, letterhead, name card, etc.)
• RGB Color Mode - for jobs to be displayed on screen (i.e. for website design, video editing)
• Size document (A4 as shown above) will be the artboard size for the new document
• Set the Units – points / inches / mm / cm, etc.
• Orientation either portrait or landscape
• Size, Units & Orientation can be changed at anytime in the middle of your works, go to File > Document Setup

Illustrator Workspace

 

You’re advised to familiarize the Illustrator Workspace, there are 4 main features of the workspace besides the canvas itself.

1. Toolbox - the tools that we will used

2. Menu - the standard features for any applications

3. Control Panel - display the properties of selected tools & artworks

4. Palette - Holds the properties of the artworks - to modified, change colors, stroke, etc.

Toolbox

This is the handy toolbox which we will use most often. By default, it comes in one single column (collapse) as shown in the screenshot above. To switch it back to the old style 2 columns toolbox, simply click the top left mini arrow >> to toggle it into 2 columns. Some of the tools like Rectangle have more tools hidden. To expand, just click and hold the icon to reveal all the similar tools under that group.

Expandable Tools indicated with small arrow

Click & hold the selected tool to expand the extra tools

Toolbox with 2 columns view, the functions & the shortcuts indicated in bracket.

Floating Palette

This is the floating palette which contains properties for our artworks. It is commonly used for changing colors, stroke width, artworks size, effect, etc.

 

Next - 03 Zoom & Hand Tool →