Everything You Should Know About Selection Tools In Adobe Illustrator
The Selection Tools in Adobe Illustrator
Selection Tools in Adobe Illustrator
Today I’m gonna talk about "Selection Tools" and selection techniques in Adobe Illustrator but don't try to underestimate it even though it doesn't sound important but its function can be very helpful if we really want to understand it and we know how to use it properly.
The Selection Tools
On this occasion I will explain in detail some of the tools used for selection and try to reveal the secret techniques in using these tools that will not be found anywhere else.
There are lots of selection techniques in Adobe Illustrator, on the toolbar itself there are 8 tools that are used specifically for selecting only and another interesting fact is that there are still many techniques or selection methods in Adobe Illustrator besides those on the toolbar.
but today I will only talk about the 5 selection tools in the toolbar, although there are still 3 more tools that are used for selection. These tools are the "Artboard Tool", "Perspective Selection Tool", and "Live Paint Selection tool" and I think I'll talk about it in another article so for this time I only talk about the Selection Tool that is most commonly used for object or path.
And before we go on it should be noted that all selection tools have a main function that is not just selecting objects there are further actions from the selection results. Further action that I mean is to edit the object or path that has been selected, that's the main point.
Before we can edit an object or path we must highlight it or separate it from other objects around it. To edit we only need to select the object after the object or part of the object is selected then we can edit it. maybe that is the main purpose of selecting object.
Selection Tool
The Selection Tool
The first tool is the "Selection Tool". It is the main tool, or basic tool, or master tool, Or whatever you call it whose main function is to select content, or objects, or groups. But did you realize that this tool is also used to edit objects or groups?.
Apart from being able to select objects we can also use the selection tool to edit objects such as moving objects, or groups. If the Selection Tool is active and you are selecting a content or object then you will see a box covering the object, that is called "Bounding Box". But if you don't see it, then you can bring it back in the View menu and look for Show Bounding Box.
Apart from being able to select objects we can also use the selection tool to edit objects such as moving objects, or groups. If the Selection Tool is active and you are selecting a content or object then you will see a box covering the object, that is called "Bounding Box". But if you don't see it, then you can bring it back in the View menu and look for Show Bounding Box.
The Bounding Box
This bounding box is used to move, rotate, duplicate, scale, and flip objects by dragging the object or a handle, while for the handle it self is one of the hollow squares along the bounding box.
But if you just want to select the object and don't want to edit it, or you just don’t want to move it accidentally then you can hide it for a while.
And another interesting fact is that we can move objects using this Selection Tool without dragging the object. This is not magic but it is possible. The trick is by double clicking the Selection Tool on the Toolbar, but first you have to select an object so the Move Panel will appear.
But if you just want to select the object and don't want to edit it, or you just don’t want to move it accidentally then you can hide it for a while.
And another interesting fact is that we can move objects using this Selection Tool without dragging the object. This is not magic but it is possible. The trick is by double clicking the Selection Tool on the Toolbar, but first you have to select an object so the Move Panel will appear.
Move Panel
This panel allows us to change the position and angle of the object. You can check the preview to see the result. You can just click the ok button or you can also press the copy button so that the position of the original object is not affected and only the duplicated object will move.
In general we visually transform objects by dragging them but in this way we can transform an objects using numbers.
When using this tool, the objects will be highlighted if you point your cursor over a piece of content or an object. By highlighting an object with this tool you can get some information about that object.
First you will immediately know the full shape of the object especially if the object is covered by other objects on it, you can see the shape of the content or an object because this tool highlights objects based on the line path that the object has, So that you can find out whether the object is the open path or not. Secondly you can find out the X and Y location of the object. if you point your cursor right at the center of the object, as well as if you point it to one of the anchor points.
Next, you just have to click to select it. Here, you will find additional information on the object you have selected. Namely information about the path, and information on the number, and position of the anchor points of the object. Then you can edit it using the bounding box.
In general we visually transform objects by dragging them but in this way we can transform an objects using numbers.
When using this tool, the objects will be highlighted if you point your cursor over a piece of content or an object. By highlighting an object with this tool you can get some information about that object.
First you will immediately know the full shape of the object especially if the object is covered by other objects on it, you can see the shape of the content or an object because this tool highlights objects based on the line path that the object has, So that you can find out whether the object is the open path or not. Secondly you can find out the X and Y location of the object. if you point your cursor right at the center of the object, as well as if you point it to one of the anchor points.
Next, you just have to click to select it. Here, you will find additional information on the object you have selected. Namely information about the path, and information on the number, and position of the anchor points of the object. Then you can edit it using the bounding box.
Information of The Object
This bounding box allows you to easily control these objects. In other words the bounding box is a tool that the selection tool has to make it easier for us to visually control or edit content.
Most beginners in Adobe Illustrator use this tool only for moving, rotating, flipping, and nothing more. But it will be very easy to work in adobe illustrator if we maximize its function. Like using this selection tool to duplicate. You only need to press the ALT key on the window or the OPTION key on a mac Until your cursor icon changes to two then you just have to drag it.
Most beginners in Adobe Illustrator use this tool only for moving, rotating, flipping, and nothing more. But it will be very easy to work in adobe illustrator if we maximize its function. Like using this selection tool to duplicate. You only need to press the ALT key on the window or the OPTION key on a mac Until your cursor icon changes to two then you just have to drag it.
Bounding Box
In addition you can select a hidden objects. Objects that are covered with objects that are on it. Normally we cannot select and edit the object behind other object, it possible if you move the object that on top of object we want to move, or we can activate the outline mode in the view menu so we can see the circle and then edit it.
Outline Mode
But do you know that without doing all of that and by only using the selection tool we can easily select the object behind the other object on top of it. We just need to hold the Control Key on the keyboard the Click once until there is a sign "Less Then" on the cursor, then you just have to click one more time to select the circle. Now you can edit the object that behind other object without moving it.
This method can also be used to select objects, on several layers.
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Direct Selection Tool
Direct Selection Tool
This tool allows us to select anchor points or paths. The differences with the selection tool is that the selection tool is used to select or edit objects or groups as a whole, while the "Direct Selection Tool" is used to select and edit anchor points or paths. In other words the Selection Tool is used to select content as an objects while the Direct Selection Tool is used to select content as a path or anchor point.
This tool has a function to control anchor points and paths. where the anchor points and paths are part of a shape that forms an object. With this tool we can edit, move one or more anchor points or paths. if we select one or more anchor points then we only move the anchor points or paths that we only select. But if we select all the anchor points that the object has, it means we are moving an object. This tool also has the function to change and control the curvature of the path.
Selected Path with Handle
Just like the selection tool we can open the Move Panel to move anchor points or paths using numbers. You can try it for yourself and do some experiments. So you'll know when you'll need it.
So in brief, the function of this tool is not only for selection, but also has a function to control and edit anchor points or paths.
Something to note when using this tool is that if you select one or more corner anchor points, a control widget will appear which will then allow us to change the shape of the corner.
Corner Widget
You can just drag it towards the inside corner and automatically change it to a round corner. But there are still corner type options if we double-click the this corner widget, this will open a corner panel.
Corner Widget Panel
There are three types of corners that we can choose. The first is round, inverted round, and the third is a chamfer. Then there is a radius to control how much radius we want and the last one is rounding.
For absolute rounding it will make the corners perfectly round but if you use relative rounding the resulting round will be adjusted according to the angle.
So for a sharper angle it will produce a sharp round too. Furthermore you can do some experiments using only this corner widget.
I you try to select an anchor point that has a curve path, the effect will be different and the controller will be different too. If the anchor point is a corner the controller is a corner widget which is a small circle with a point in the middle, but if the anchor point forms a curve then the controller is the handle, a thin line with a point at the end.
Corner Widget and Handle
In adobe illustrator you will often use this tool to make edits to your objects and control the anchor points and curves. And if you are new to adobe illustrator it would be better if you often practice with this tool, especially practice using the handles.
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Group Selection Tool
Group Selection Tool
This is a special selection tool, I mean that all selection tools are special because they have their own special functions. You will agree with me if you have worked with many shapes or objects or work with groups.
This tool allows us to select an object or shape on a group, even choosing a group that is in a group. Uniquely, you can select objects that are in the group without having to enter the group or even without having to ungroup them.
You can select a group even the innermost group that is in the large group. Even select several objects that are in different groups or select one group or more group in large group. But you need to know that this tool only allows us to select and move, we cannot edit objects with this tool but it is very necessary if working with many objects or many groups.
All you need is practice, and do some experiment to find out what this tool is capable of.
Magic Wand Tool
Magic Wand Tool
The next one is the "Magic Wand Tool". The function of this tool is to allow you to select objects based on the same color, stroke weight, stroke color, opacity, or the same blending mode by clicking on an object as an example.
You only need to select one object and this tool will automatically select another object that is similar to the object you selected. You just need to double-click this tool on the toolbar to determine which equation you want to select.
Magic Wand Panel
Note: If you use RGB Color mode the maximum number is 255 and if you use CMYK the maximum number is only up to 100.
The specificity of this tool panel is, it can be accessed in the window menu which means you can lock it as a collapsed panel. But if you want to use it you still have to choose the magic wand tool first.
Lasso Tool
Lasso Tool
The last one is the "Lasso Tool". With this tool you can select anchor points and paths independently of a single object or in a group with a lasso pattern. You only need to drag around the anchor point or path that you want to select.
There is not much explanation about this tool, because this is only a tool to select anchor points or paths with a lasso and to know more for sure you can try it.
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The Conclusion
After knowing these facts we can distinguish the specific functions of all these tools So that we can maximize its use when working in Adobe Illustrator.In general, I divided these five tools into two categories, the first is a single tool for selection and the second is a tool that has multiple functions which not only has a function to select but also a tool used to edit objects anchor points or path.
For the Selection Tool, Direct Selection Tool and Group Selection Tool are included in the category of tools that have multiple functions, in addition to selection this tool allows us to perform further actions namely to edit the content that we select. As for Lasso Tool and Magic Wand Tool have no follow-up to make edits or we are not possible to edit from the results of the selection of these two tools even to simply move objects or content, we are only possible to select and for follow-up we are required to use other tools to edit it.
Many people out there do not take full advantage of these five tools they often do work related to the capabilities of these tools but never use them. That's a waste of time and energy in my opinion. And that's why this tool is made to make it easier.
What do you think about these five tools? I want to know what you think in the comments and see you in the next articles.
Video Version: The Selection Tools in Adobe Illustrator
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