Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Selecting objects
Whether you are creating artwork from scratch or editing existing artwork in Illustrator,
you will need to become familiar with selecting objects. There are many methods and tools
for doing this, and in this section, you'll explore the most widely used, which includes the
Selection (
) and Direct Selection (
) tools.
Using the Selection tool
The Selection tool ( ) in the Tools panel lets you select, move, and resize entire objects.
In this first section, you'll become familiar with the tool.
1.
Select the Selection tool ( ) in the Tools panel, if it's not already selected. Move
the pointer over different shapes on the artboards, without clicking.
The icon that appears as you pass over objects ( ) indicates that there is an object
that can be selected under the pointer. When you hover over an object, that object
is also outlined in a color like blue (in this instance).
2.
Select the Zoom tool ( ) in the Tools panel, and drag a marquee around the two
red circles on the artboard on the right to zoom in.
3.
Select the Selection tool in the Tools panel, and then position the pointer over the
black edge of the red circle on the left. A word such as “path” or “anchor” may ap-
pear, because Smart Guides are turned on by default.
Smart Guides
are temporary snap-to guides that help you align, edit, and transform
4.
Click anywhere in the red circle on the left to select it. A bounding box with eight
handles appears.
The bounding box is used when making changes to objects, such as resizing or ro-
tating them. The bounding box also indicates that an item is selected and ready to
