Choosing drawing and editing tools

The following table describes each tool's basic function in each mode. Some tools work only in one mode, while others work in both. The characteristics of some tools change according to the mode in which you are drawing.

Tools that behave exactly the same in both modes are omitted from this table.

Tool In object mode In image edit mode

Pointer

Selects and moves paths on-screen.

Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee. Double-click an image to edit its pixels.

Select Behind

Selects an object behind the selected object.

Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee.

Sub-selection

Selects and moves paths on screen, selects an object within a group or symbol, displays points on a path, and selects points.

Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee.

Marquee or Ellipse Marquee

Activates image edit mode and selects a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels.

Selects or moves a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels.

Lasso or Polygon Lasso

Activates image edit mode and selects a freeform area of pixels.

Selects or moves a freeform area of pixels.

Magic Wand

Activates image edit mode and selects an area of similarly colored pixels.

Selects an area of similarly colored pixels.

Line and Basic Shapes

Draws objects as editable paths.

Paints pixel brush strokes on an image object.

Pen

Draws objects as editable paths.

Activates objects mode and draws objects as editable paths.

Text

Creates and edits text blocks and opens the Text Editor.

Activates objects mode, creates text blocks, and opens the Text Editor.

Pencil

Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as freeform paths.

Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as pixels.

Brush

Draws brush strokes as paths.

Paints brush strokes as pixels.

Freeform

Pulls or pushes a selected path to reshape it.

Activates object mode.

Reshape Area

Reshapes the parts of a selected path that lie within the pointer's Reshape Area.

Activates object mode.

Path Scrubber

Alters a path's pressure and speed characteristics without changing its shape.

Activates object mode.

Knife/
Eraser

When in object mode, this tool is the Knife.
It cuts a selected path into separate paths.

When in image edit mode, this tool is the Eraser.
It erases pixels from an image.

Rubber Stamp

Activates image edit mode and clones portions of an image object.

Clones portions of an image object.

Tool	In object mode	In image edit mode
Pointer	Selects and moves paths on-screen.	Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee. Double-click an image to edit its pixels.
Select Behind	Selects an object behind the selected object.	Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee.
Sub-selection	Selects and moves paths on screen, selects an object within a group or symbol, displays points on a path, and selects points.	Moves the image or moves pixels bound by a marquee.
Marquee or Ellipse Marquee	Activates image edit mode and selects a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels.	Selects or moves a rectangular or elliptical area of pixels.
Lasso or Polygon Lasso	Activates image edit mode and selects a freeform area of pixels.	Selects or moves a freeform area of pixels.
Magic Wand	Activates image edit mode and selects an area of similarly colored pixels.	Selects an area of similarly colored pixels.
Line and Basic Shapes	Draws objects as editable paths.	Paints pixel brush strokes on an image object.
Pen	Draws objects as editable paths.	Activates objects mode and draws objects as editable paths.
Text	Creates and edits text blocks and opens the Text Editor.	Activates objects mode, creates text blocks, and opens the Text Editor.
Pencil	Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as freeform paths.	Draws 1-pixel pencil strokes as pixels.
Brush	Draws brush strokes as paths.	Paints brush strokes as pixels.
Freeform	Pulls or pushes a selected path to reshape it.	Activates object mode.
Reshape Area	Reshapes the parts of a selected path that lie within the pointer's Reshape Area.	Activates object mode.
Path Scrubber	Alters a path's pressure and speed characteristics without changing its shape.	Activates object mode.
Knife/ Eraser	When in object mode, this tool is the Knife. It cuts a selected path into separate paths.	When in image edit mode, this tool is the Eraser. It erases pixels from an image.
Rubber Stamp	Activates image edit mode and clones portions of an image object.	Clones portions of an image object.