Core Computer Studies: Tools

The Transform Palette:

The Transform palette displays information about selected objects. In addition, you can use the palette to move, scale, rotate, and resize objects.

Choose Window > Show Transform.

The rotate tool

The rotate tool rotates objects around a fixed point. All transformation tools (i.e. rotate reflect and twist) perform in relation to a fixed point on or around the object. This fixed point is called the point of origin.

The default point of origin is the object's centre point. For example, you can drag an object to rotate it around its centre, or you can set a new point of origin by holding down the option key and clicking another area of the object, one side of the object or outside the object and then dragging to rotate it.

Double click on the rotate tool icon and you get a dialogue box which enables you to set the rotation mathematically

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Reflect Tool

Reflecting an object flips the object across an invisible axis that you specify. Copying while reflecting lets you create a mirror image of an object.

Select the object you want to reflect.

To access the reflect dialogue box, you simply double-click the reflect tool. To change the point of origin from which to reflect the object, select the object then the reflect tool, hold down Option, and click the new point of origin.

To really tinker around and specify the reflect axis in the Reflect dialog box, choose Object > Transform > Reflect.

Select the axis across which you want the object to be reflected. You can reflect an object across a horizontal, a vertical, or an angled axis.

Twist tool

The twist is a new tool which will distort objects in a spiral - its best to use this in small steps as if you are too heavy handed with this tool the object can become unrecognisable.

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The Scale Tool:

The scale tool resizes objects around a fixed point.

With the selection tool, select the object or objects to scale.

Select the scale tool.

To scale the object from its centre: Select the object double click the scale tool, and drag to resize it around the centre point.

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To scale in proportion:

To access the scale dialogue box simply double click on the scale icon or in the object menu you will find transform.

Choose object >transform >scale. In both cases you will be presented with a dialogue box . If uniform is selected Illustrator will scale in a uniform manner. If Non-uniform is selected the object will be scaled in a non-proportional manner.

Shear tool

Use this tool to tilt or slant and object as it works by slanting two parallel sides of an object.

Reshaping tool:

This tool will edit the position of an anchor point while retaining the feel of the curve. Often when you use the direct selection too paths will twist about and flip in on themselves taking on unexpected shapes. This tool helps prevent this as you can set points that remain constant when reshaping.

The page tool in Illustrator:

If the page grid shifts it will effect where on a printed page your image appears. To fix it use the Page tool to move the page grid to right place.

These notes are written for students who undertake the Core Computer course at School of Art, Australian National University. Students of the course should feel free to contact any member of staff with comments questions and general suggestions..

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