- Introduction
- Selecting a Drawing Mode
- Creating Pixel Aligned Objects
- Creating Rectangles and Ellipses
- Creating Polygons and Stars
- Creating Line Segments
- Creating Arcs and Spirals
- Creating Grids
- Using the Shape Builder Tool
- Creating Perspective Objects
- Working with Perspective Objects
- Customizing a Perspective Grid
- Using the Selection Tool
- Using the Direct Selection Tool
- Using the Lasso Tool
- Using the Magic Wand Tool
- Selecting and Grouping Objects
- Selecting Similar Objects
- Saving and Editing Selections
- Moving Objects
- Duplicating Objects
- Aligning and Distributing Objects
- Transforming Objects
- Using the Free Transform Tool
- Rotating and Scaling Objects
- Reflecting and Shearing Objects
- Applying Multiple Transformations
- Reshaping Objects with Envelopes
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Customizing a Perspective Grid
If you create your own perspective grid, you save it as a preset for use later. You can create a perspective grid by using the Define Grid command to set exacting measurements and options or by manually adjusting an existing grid, and then saving it as a preset, which you can edit at any time. When you create or work with an existing perspective grid, you can set grid options to show or hide the active plane widget, change the widget position, and specify which points you want to use to temporarily hide the active plane with the Shift key.
Set Perspective Grid Options
Double-click the Perspective Grid tool on the Tools panel.
Select the Show Active Plane Widget check box to display it.
Click the Widget Position list arrow, and then select a position.
Select the Anchor Point Of Perspective Artwork or the Intersection Of Gridlines check boxes to specify the points where you want to temporarily hide the active plane with the Shift key.
Click OK.
Create a Perspective Grid Preset
Click the View menu, point to Perspective Grid, and then click Define Grid to create a grid (steps 3 thru 6) or manually create one.
Click the View menu, point to Perspective Grid, and then click Save Grid As Preset.
Type a name for the preset.
Specify the perspective grid settings you want.
Specify the grid color & opacity settings you want.
Click OK.
To edit a grid preset, click the Edit menu, click Perspective Grid Presets, select a preset, click Edit, make changes, and then click OK.
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Understanding Selections
When you create vector graphics in Illustrator, they are comprised of distinct segments that can be selected separately or as a whole with a variety of selection tools. The type of editing you need to perform determines which tool you use. For example, a simple rectangle is comprised of four line segments that surround the contour of the shape and one fill in the center. Each of these parts can be selected as a group with the Selection tool or individually with the Direct Selection tool. To select an object using the fill, you need to deselect the Object Selection by Path Only check box in Selection & Anchor Display preferences. If an object is behind another object, you can use the keyboard shortcut 
+click (Mac) or Ctrl+click (Win) to select it. The pointer changes to an arrow with a small caret on the first /Ctrl+click; as you continue to click, the selection moves through the objects under the pointer. To use this option, you need to select the Control (Win) or Command (Mac) Click to Select Objects Behind check box in Selection & Anchor Display preferences.
In addition to the Selection and Direct Selection tools, you can also use the Group Selection tool to select all the anchor points on a single path. With the Group Selection tool, click to select an object, click twice to select the object’s group, and click three times to select the group within the group (if available). The Group Selection tool is useful for working with multiple objects. If you want to work with an individual object without affecting other objects, it’s better to use Isolation Mode.
The Lasso tool is a classic selection tool that allows you to select path points and segments by dragging a freeform marquee around them.
The Magic Wand tool allows you to select objects of the same or a similar fill color, stroke color, stroke weight, opacity, or blending mode.
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