In this lesson, you’ll learn about the following shapes:

• Rectangle
• Rounded Rectangle
• Ellipse
• Polygon
• Star
• Flare

Many objects in the Adobe® Illustrator® program can be created by starting with basic shapes and then by editing them to create new shapes. In this lesson, you will learn about the six basic shapes Illustrator has to offer, and how to control them.

Getting started

Before you begin you’ll need to start Adobe Illustrator and then create a new file.

• Start Adobe Illustrator.
• Choose File > New to open a new untitled document. Click on the Size drop-down menu and select the 800x600 preset. Choose the landscape orientation. Also, make sure RGB is selected under Color Mode.

• Choose File > Save As, name the file shapes.ai, and click Save. In the Illustrator Format dialog box, select version 11.0 of Illustrator and click OK.

Rectangle

The rectangle shape is the most basic of all shapes; four line segments, four anchor points. To create a rectangle, simply choose the rectangle tool () from the toolbar and click anywhere in the artboard. The rectangle palette will appear, giving you the option of setting width and height. The dimension units are the same as those you chose when creating the new file (i.e. points, inches, etc.).

Enter the sizes you want and click OK to create a new rectangle. Click Cancel to close the rectangle palette.

Another way to create a rectangle is to click in the artboard and then drag the size you want. While holding the mouse button, there are a few keys you can use to control your rectangle’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the rectangle tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Rounded Rectangle

Rounded rectangles are the same as rectangles except with, obviously, rounded corners. Creating a rounded rectangle is the same as creating a rectangle with the added option of modifying corner radius. The corner radius represents an imaginary circle drawn around the corners of the rectangle. Select the rounded rectangle tool () by clicking on the rectangle tool () and waiting until the rectangle tool flyout appears. All other shapes featured in this lesson can be selected from the rectangle tool flyout.

Releasing the mouse button over the small arrow (circled above) at the outside of the flyout will remove it from the toolbar completely. Click anywhere in the artboard to open the rounded rectangle palette.

Enter the sizes you want and click OK to create a new rounded rectangle. The larger the corner radius value, the greater amount of each side becomes a rounded corner. Entering a 0 will result in a normal rectangle. Click Cancel to close the rounded rectangle palette.

Another way to create a rounded rectangle is to click in the artboard and then drag the size you want. While holding the mouse button, there are a few keys you can use to control your rounded rectangle’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the rounded rectangle tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Ellipse

The ellipse tool allows you to draw a variety of circular and oval shapes. All shapes drawn with the ellipse tool are made up of four arcs (joined by four smooth anchor points) which divide it into four equal pieces. Select the ellipse tool () by clicking on the rectangle tool () and waiting until the rectangle tool flyout appears. Click anywhere in the artboard to open the ellipse palette.

Enter the sizes you want and click OK to create a new ellipse. Click Cancel to close the ellipse palette.

Another way to create an ellipse is to click in the artboard and then drag the size you want. While holding the mouse button, there are a few keys you can use to control your ellipse’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the ellipse tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Polygon

The polygon tool can create a variety of geometric shapes. All shapes created are equilateral (having sides of equal length) and are made in a different way than the rectangle, rounded rectangle, or ellipse. Select the polygon tool () by clicking on the rectangle tool () and waiting until the rectangle tool flyout appears. Click anywhere in the artboard to open the polygon palette.

Enter the radius and number of sides you want and click OK to create a new polygon. Click Cancel to close the polygon palette.

Another way to create a polygon is to click in the artboard and then drag the size you want. Unlike other shapes, polygons are created about the center point naturally. All you control with the mouse is rotation and radius. While holding the mouse button, there are a few keys you can use to control your polygon’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the polygon tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Star

The star tool is used to create stars. Creating a star is similar to creating a polygon, in that they’re equilateral by default. Select the star tool () by clicking on the rectangle tool () and waiting until the rectangle tool flyout appears. Click anywhere in the artboard to open the star palette.

A star’s shape is controlled by two separate radii and a number of points. Each radius controls its own set of points, given by you. This setup gives stars their unique shape.

Enter the radii values and number of points you want and click OK to create a new star. Click Cancel to close the star palette.

Another way to create a star is to click in the artboard and then drag the size you want. Like the polygon, stars are created about the center point naturally. All you control with the mouse is rotation and both radii values proportionally. While holding the mouse button, there are a few keys you can use to control your star’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the star tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Flare

The flare tool creates objects resembling a lens flare from photography. Flares have a center and end handle, rays, halos and rings. They’re an easy and quick way to spice up your artwork.

A – Center handle B – End handle C – Rays D – Halo E – Rings

Select the flare tool () by clicking on the rectangle tool () and waiting until the rectangle tool flyout appears. Click anywhere in the artboard to open the flare palette.

Options under the Center heading control the appearance of the halo that surrounds the center handle. These include its opacity, diameter, and brightness. The options under the Rays heading control the appearance of the rays coming out of the center handle. These include their total number, the length of the longest ray, and their fuzziness. Fuzziness is a measure of the randomness of the rays’ lengths. Setting this to 0 will result in every ray having the same length.

Halo options include modifying their growth and fuzziness. Growth is a relative measurement of the diameter of the halos and rings. Rings options include path (the distance between the center and end handles), number (number of rings), largest (size of largest ring) and direction (angle of path from center handle to end handle).

Another way to create a flare is to click in the artboard and then drag to create the size of the center. Click again to set the position of the end handle. While holding the mouse button (the first time), there are a few keys you can use to control your flare’s shape.

While holding the mouse button (the second time), there are a few keys you can use to control your flare’s shape.

Use the above keystrokes along with the flare tool () to explore the variety of shape options available.

Congratulations! You’ve completed the shapes lesson.

Click here to download a Microsoft Word version of this tutorial.

Copyright © 2005, Bloomsburg University Department of Instructional Technology.
All rights reserved. This material may not be used without written permission.
Contact Dr. Mary Nicholson at mjnich@bloomu.edu