Reshaping objects with the liquify tools


    Illustrator provides a variety of liquify tools to reshape an object. To distort objects with liquify tools, simply drag over the object with the tool--the tool adds anchor points and adjust paths as you draw.

    Note: You cannot use liquify tools on linked files or objects that contain text, graphs, or symbols.

    Use any of the following liquify tools to distort an object:

    The Warp tool Warp tool

    Stretches objects as if they were made of clay. When you drag or pull portions of an object using this tool, the pulled areas attenuate.

    The Twirl tool Twirl tool

    Creates swirling distortions of an object.

    The Pucker tool Pucker tool

    Deflates an object by moving control points toward the cursor.

    The Bloat tool Bloat tool

    Inflates an object by moving control points away from the cursor.

    The Scallop tool Scallop tool

    Adds random, smooth, arc-shaped details to the outline of an object.

    The Crystallize tool Crystallize tool

    Adds random spike- and arc-shaped details to the outline of an object.

    The Wrinkle tool Wrinkle tool

    Adds random arc- and spike-shaped details to the outline of an object.

To distort an object using a liquify tool:

  1. Select the liquify tool in the toolbox.
  2. Click or drag over the object you want to distort.

To specify liquify tool options:

  1. Double-click the tool in the toolbox.
  2. In the tool's Options dialog box, specify the following Global Brush Dimensions settings:
    • Width and Height to control the size of the tool cursor.
    • Angle to control the orientation of the tool cursor.
    • Intensity to specify the rate of change (higher values equal faster changes), or select Use Pressure Pen to use the input from a tablet or pen instead of the Intensity value.

    Note: If you don't have a pressure pen attached, the Use Pressure Pen option is dimmed.

  3. Specify values for any of the following options or select the option:
    • Complexity (Scallop, Crystallize, and Wrinkle tools) to specify how closely the results of the particular brush are spaced on the object's outline. This is closely tied with the Detail value.
    • Detail to specify the spacing between points introduced into the object's outline (higher values space points closer together).
    • Simplify (Warp, Twirl, Pucker, and Bloat tools) to specify how much you want to reduce the superfluous points that do not measurably affect the overall appearance of the shape.
    • Twirl Rate (Twirl tool only) specifies the rate at which the twirl is applied. Enter a value between -180° and 180°. Negative values twirl the object clockwise and positive values twirl counterclockwise. The object twirls faster with values that are closer to either -180° or 180°. To twirl slowly, specify a rate close to 0°.
    • Horizontal and Vertical (Wrinkle tool only) specifies how far apart the control points are placed.
    • Brush Affects Anchor Points, Brush Affects In Tangent Handles, or Brush Affects Out Tangent Handles (Scallop, Crystallize, Wrinkle tools) enable the tool brush to make changes to these properties.
  4. Select Show Brush Size to see the size of the brush as you use the tool on the artboard.