Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Select similar Live Rectangles
You'll find Shapes in the Select Similar menu. It finds other Live Rectangles/
Rounded Rectangles, not other shapes.
Convert legacy rectangles
Convert rectangles made before Illustrator CC into Live Rectangles by
selecting them and choosing Object> Shape> Convert to Rectangle. Convert
back to ordinary rectangles by choosing Object> Shape> Expand Rectangle.
PEN TOOL CHANGES & RESHAPING PATHS
Without changing your customary methods to create or edit paths, Illustrator
CC adds functions, including a Reshape Segment cursor, accessible from your
Pen, Direct Selection, and Anchor Point tools. When hovering over a path
segment with the Pen tool, hold down the Option/Alt key to display a
Reshape Segment cursor that indicates you can now drag the segment freely
to reshape it. If you also hold the Shift key, your direction handles will be of
equal length and perpendicular to the path. Another enhancement to the Pen
tool is invoked if you press /Ctrl while dragging out Bézier handles, the In
handle freezes, while you can still drag on the Out handle to make it longer or
shorter without breaking the smooth pairing between them. While dragging
with the Pen tool, press the spacebar to relocate the current anchor point.
The Direct Selection tool will only display the Reshape cursor if at least one
of the anchor points connected to the path segment has a direction handle
connected to it. You won't see the Reshape Segment cursor on straight path
segments that have retracted handles on either side.
You also can use the Anchor Point tool (formerly called the Convert Anchor
Point tool), to reshape path segments by dragging directly on them.
Additionally, if you press Option/Alt, then click on a broken direction handle,
you can convert the anchor to a smooth anchor with paired, unbroken
handles.
Draw with a rubber band
The Pen tool has acquired a new preference; now as you move from placing
one anchor point to another, a “rubber band” can help you preview the shape
of your path. Enable/disable this feature in Preferences> Selection and
Anchor Display.
Dragging with the new Reshape Segment cursor to directly adjust a segment of a
path; you can access the Reshape Segment cursor from
the Pen tool, the Direct Selection tool, and the Anchor
Point tool (see details in “
Pen Tool Changes &
Reshaping Paths” section nearby)
