Using the Symbol Styler tool


    The Symbol Styler tool lets you apply or remove a graphic style from a symbol instance. You can control the amount and location of the application. For example, you can apply a style gradually so that some symbol instances display the style at full strength and others display the style at partial strength.

    Graphic style applied at full strength (top) compared to graphic style applied at varying strengths (bottom)
    Graphic style applied at full strength (top) compared to graphic style applied at varying strengths (bottom)

    Tip iconYou can switch to the Symbol Styler tool when using any other symbolism tool by clicking a style in the Graphic Styles palette.

To apply a graphic style to a symbol:

  1. Select the Symbol Styler tool Symbol Styler tool .
  2. Select a style in the Graphic Styles palette, and do one of the following:
    • Click or drag where you want to apply the style to the symbol set. The amount of style applied to the symbol instances increases, and the style gradually changes.
    • Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you click or drag to decrease the style amount and reveal more of the original, unstyled symbol.
    • Hold down Shift as you click or drag to keep the amount of style constant, while gradually changing the symbol instance style to the selected style.

    Note: It is very important to perform steps 1 and 2 in the specified order. If you select a style while a tool other than the symbolism tool is selected, the style will apply immediately to the entire selected symbol instance set.

To set options for the Symbol Styler tool:

  1. Open the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box, and set the general options as desired. (See Setting options for symbolism tools.)
  2. Click the symbol styler icon in the dialog box.
  3. Choose an option from the Method pop-up menu, and click OK:
    • User Defined to gradually increase or decrease the application of the selected style.
    • Random to gradually change the amount of style applied to symbol instances by a random amount.
    • Average to gradually average the styles and style amounts of the symbol instances in the set.