Creating symbols


    You can create symbols from any Illustrator art object, including paths, compound paths, text, raster images, mesh objects, and groups of objects. (However, you cannot use linked placed art as a symbol, nor can you use some groups, such as groups of graphs.) Symbols may also include active objects, such as brush strokes, blends, effects, or other symbol instances in a symbol.

    To create new symbols from existing symbols, duplicate a symbol and edit it. You can also rename new and duplicated symbols after you create them.

To create a symbol:

  1. Select the artwork you want to use as a symbol.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Drag the artwork to the Symbols palette. Press Shift as you drag if you want the selected artwork to become an instance of the newly created symbol.
    • Click the New Symbol button New Symbol button in the Symbols palette.
    • Choose New Symbol from the palette menu.

To duplicate a symbol in the Symbols palette:

    Do one of the following:

    • Drag the symbol to the New Symbol button.
    • Select the symbol, and choose Duplicate Symbol from the palette menu.

To rename a symbol:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Double-click the symbol.
    • Select the symbol, and choose Symbol Options from the palette menu.
  2. Enter a name for the symbol, and click OK.