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Reflecting


    Reflecting an object flips the object across an invisible axis that you specify. Copy while reflecting to create a mirror image of an object.

To reflect with the free transform tool:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to reflect.
  2. Select the free transform tool  the free transform tool .
  3. Drag a handle of the bounding box past the opposite edge or handle until the object is at the desired level of reflection.

To reflect with the reflect tool:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to reflect.
  2. Select the reflect tool  the reflect tool .
  3. Position the pointer on one point along the invisible axis across which you want the reflection to occur, and click to set the point of origin. The pointer changes to an arrowhead.
  4. Position the pointer at another point along the invisible axis, and do one of the following:
    • Click to set a point across which to reflect the object. When you click, the selected object flips over the defined axis.
    Click to set origin (left), then click again to reflect across axis (right).
    Click to set origin (left), then click again to reflect across axis (right).
    • Adjust the axis of reflection by dragging instead of clicking. Shift-drag to constrain. As you drag, the invisible axis of reflection rotates around the point you clicked in step 3. When the image is in the desired position, release the mouse button.
    Drag reflect tool to rotate axis of reflection.
    Drag reflect tool to rotate axis of reflection.
    • For finer control over the reflection, drag farther from the object's point of origin.

To reflect by specifying an axis:

  1. With the selection tool, select the object or objects to reflect.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To use the default (center point) point of origin, choose Object > Transform > Reflect or double-click the reflect tool.
    • To change the point of origin from which to reflect the object, select the reflect tool and click where you want the new point of origin.
  3. In the Reflect dialog box, select the axis across which you want the object to be reflected. You can reflect an object across a horizontal, a vertical, or an angled axis.
  4. If the object contains patterns and you want to reflect the patterns, select Patterns. (To reflect only the patterns, deselect Objects.)
  5. To preview the effect before you apply it, select Preview.
  6. Do one of the following:
    • To reflect the object, click OK.
    • To reflect a copy of the object, click Copy.