Using tools


    You use tools in the toolbox to create, select, and manipulate objects in Illustrator. The name of the tool appears below the pointer when you hold it over the tool--this is called the tool tip. In parentheses within the tool tip is the keyboard shortcut to select that tool.

    You must first select a tool to use it. The currently selected tool is highlighted in the toolbox. Some tools also have additional tools beneath them--these are called hidden tools. When you see a small triangle at the lower right corner of the tool icon, you know that there are hidden tools.

    Illustration of Selecting a hidden tool with these callouts: A. Toolbox B. Active tool C. Hidden tool D. Hidden tool triangle E. Tool name and shortcut
    Selecting a hidden tool A. Toolbox B. Active tool C. Hidden tool D. Hidden tool triangle E. Tool name and shortcut

To show or hide the toolbox:

    Choose Window > Tools. (A check mark next to the command means that the toolbox is already displayed.)

To display a tool tip:

    Hold the mouse pointer over the tool.

To specify whether to show or hide tool tips:

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS).
  2. Select Show Tool Tips to display tool tips, deselect it to hide them. Then click OK.

To select a tool:

    Do one of the following:

    • Click a tool in the toolbox. If there is a small triangle at a tool's lower right corner, hold down the mouse button to view the hidden tools. Then drag the pointer over the tool you want to select, and release the mouse button.
    • Press the tool's keyboard shortcut. The keyboard shortcut is displayed in its tool tip. For example, if the tooltip says "Hand Tool (H)," you can select the tool by pressing the "h" key on your keyboard. (See Keys for selecting tools.)

To move the toolbox:

    Drag the toolbox by its title bar.

To detach a toolbar from the toolbox:

  1. Hold down the mouse button on a tool that has hidden tools underneath it.
  2. When the hidden tools appear, drag to the arrow at the end of the toolbar and release the mouse button. The toolbar detaches from the toolbox and you can drag it by the title bar.

To close a detached toolbar:

    Click the close box.