What You’ll Do
If you use the same object in multiple places in a document, you can use the Symbols panel to store and use it as an instance. A symbol is stored once and used multiple times as an instance, which speeds up printing and reduces the size of your document. Each instance is linked to the original symbol. When you break the link between a symbol and an instance, the instance is converted back to a normal object.
You can place instances one at a time or create a collection of instances with the Symbol Sprayer tool, known as a symbol set. This allows you to quickly create artistic designs without a lot of experience.
With the Symbols panel, you can create, edit, rename, duplicate, and delete symbols. You can create your own symbol from a selected object or you can use the ones provided by Illustrator. Illustrator gives you access to more than 30 different symbol libraries, which include Arrows, Artistic Texture, Flowers, Fashion, Maps, and Nature to name a few.
The Symbol Sprayer allows you to create a symbol set. After you create a symbol set, you can use one of 7 other symbolism tools to modify it. The symbolism tools include: Symbol Shifter (to shift direction and bring forward or send backward), Symbol Scruncher (to move instances closer or farther apart), Symbol Sizer (to increase or decrease size), Symbol Spinner (to change the orientation), Symbol Stainer (to increase or decrease the transparency), Symbol Screener (to recolor with tints), and Symbol Styler (to apply a graphic style). With the Expand command, you can break the link between an instance and the original symbol or break apart a symbol set.
IL 6.5
If you use the same object in multiple places in a document, you should store it in the Symbols panel and use it as an instance. A symbol is stored once in the Symbols panel and used multiple times as an instance, which speeds up printing and reduces the size of your document. Each instance is linked to the original symbol. When you select an instance on the artboard, the symbol is selected in the Symbols panel. You can place instances one at a time or create a collection of instances with the Symbol Sprayer tool, known as a symbol set. This allows you to quickly create artistic designs without a lot of experience. With the Symbols panel you can create, edit, rename, duplicate, and delete symbols.
Select the Symbols panel.
To change the Symbols panel view, click the Options menu, and then select any of the following view available options:
Thumbnail View
Small List View
Large List View
Sort by Name
Select a symbol on the panel.
Click the Place Symbol Instance button on the panel.
You can also drag a symbol from the Symbols panel onto an artboard.
IL 6.5
Instead of creating your own symbols, you can use the ones provided by Illustrator. Illustrator gives you access to more than 30 different symbol libraries, which include Arrows, Artistic Textures, Flowers, Fashion, Maps, and Nature, to name a few. When you open a symbol library from the Symbols panel, a new panel appears, displaying the library symbols. Instead of opening each library separately, you can use the Load Previous Symbol Library or Load Next Symbol Library buttons on the panel to quickly view libraries to find the symbols you want. When you click a library symbol, it’s added to the Symbols panel.
Select the Symbols panel.
Select a path with any of the selection tools.
Click the Symbol Libraries Menu button on the panel, and then select a symbol library.
Click the Load Previous Symbol Library or Load Next Symbol Library button to view other libraries.
Click a symbol in the library panel to add it to the Symbols panel.
Select a symbol on the Symbols panel.
Click the Place Symbol Instance button on the panel.
You can also drag a symbol from the Symbols panel or any symbols library onto an artboard.
IL 6.5
With the Symbols panel you can create, edit, rename, duplicate, and delete symbols. You can use any object (path, type, and graphics to name a few) in Illustrator to create a symbol. There are two types of symbols: Graphic and Movie Clip (used for Flash, more later). As you create symbols in the Symbols panel or add them into the Symbols panel from other symbol libraries, it’s important to save them in a symbol library if you want to use them again in the future. The Save Symbols command saves all the symbols currently in the Symbols panel, so you need to delete the ones that you don’t want in the library.
Create the object that you want to use, and then select it using the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
Select the Symbols panel.
Click the New Symbol button on the panel.
You can also drag the object directly to a blank area on the Symbols panel from an artboard.
Type a name for the symbol.
Click the Graphic option.
Click OK.
Did You Know?
You can create a symbol with the dialog box. Select the object, and then Alt+drag (Win) or Option+drag (Mac) the object onto the New Symbol button on the panel.
You can change symbols options. Select the symbol in the Symbols panel, click the Symbol Options button on the panel, change the options that you want, and then click OK.
Select the Symbols panel.
Select the symbols that you want to delete.
Click the Delete Symbol button on the panel.
You can also drag a symbol over the Delete Symbol button to delete it.
If there are no instances of the deleted symbol, click Yes to confirm the deletion. If there are instances, click Expand Instances to convert the instance to paths or click Delete Instances to remove them.
Select the Symbols panel.
Display the symbols that you want to save in the Symbols panel. Remove the ones that you don’t want.
Click the Symbol Libraries Menu button, and then click Save Symbols.
Enter a name for the symbols library.
Click Save.
To open the symbol library, click the Symbol Libraries Menu button, point to User Defined, and then select the saved library.
IL 6.5, 8.2
Instead of creating your own symbols, you can duplicate an existing symbol (from a symbol library) that is close to what you want and then edit it. It’s faster than creating one from scratch. When you edit a symbol, Illustrator creates a temporary instance in Isolation Mode, where you can make your changes. When you exit Isolation Mode, your changes are applied to all linked instances in your document.
Select the Symbols panel.
Select the symbol that you want to duplicate.
Drag the symbol onto the New Symbol button on the panel.
You can also select an instance on the artboard, and then click Duplicate on the Control panel.
Click the Symbol Options button on the panel.
Type a name for the symbol.
Click OK.
The two symbols are the same and linked to the same instances on the artboard.
To make them different, click the Break Link to Symbol button on the panel, and then edit it.
Select the Symbols panel.
Double-click the symbol that you want to edit.
You can also select the symbol, click the Options menu, and then click Edit Symbol.
If you’re working with an instance, select it, and then click Edit Symbol on the Control panel.
A temporary instance of the symbol appears in isolation mode.
Make the changes that you want to the symbol.
Click the gray bar above the document to exit Isolation Mode.
The symbol updates in the Symbols panel and all instances of the symbol are updated as well.
IL 6.5
When you create an instance of a symbol, the instance is linked to the symbol, which speeds up printing and reduces the size of your document. When you break the link between a symbol and an instance, the instance converts to a normal object. If you don’t want an instance to be updated when you edit a symbol, you can break the link between the symbol and the instance (which creates a normal object), and then create a new symbol with the normal object.
Select the instance on the artboard in which you want to break the symbol link.
Select the Symbols panel.
Click the Break Link to Symbol button on the panel.
You can also click the Break Link button on the Control panel.
Select the instance on the artboard in which you want to break a symbol link.
Select the Symbols panel.
Click the Break Link to Symbol button on the panel.
You can also click the Break Link button on the Control panel.
Make the changes that you want to the object (no longer an instance) on the artboard.
Drag the object to a blank area on the Symbols panel from an artboard to create a new symbol.
Type a name for the symbol.
Click the Graphic option.
Click OK.
IL 6.5
The Symbol Sprayer tool allows you to spray multiple instances of a symbol to create a symbol set. The symbol set appears on the artboard containing all the instances within a bounding box. After you create a new symbol set, you can add or delete instances or quickly create another set. You can customize the way the Symbol Sprayer tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the Symbol Sprayer tool on the Tools panel.
Select the Symbols panel.
Select the symbol that you want to use.
Click once to create a single instance or click and hold or drag to create multiple instances.
The symbol set of instances appears in a bounding box.
Do any of the following:
Create New Symbol Set. Ctrl+click (Win) or Command+click (Mac) in a blank area outside the bounding box, and then click again, click and hold, or drag.
Add Instances to Symbol Set. Select the symbol set, click a symbol on the Symbols panel, and use the Symbol Sprayer tool.
Delete Instances from a Symbol Set. Select the symbol set, select the Symbol Sprayer tool, Alt+click (Win) or Option+click the instances in the symbol set that you want to delete.
IL 6.5
Illustrator comes with 8 symbolism tools: Symbol Sprayer, Symbol Shifter, Symbol Scruncher, Symbol Sizer, Symbol Spinner, Symbol Stainer, Symbol Screener, and Symbol Styler. While each tool does a different job, you can set common and specific options for any of them in one place: the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box. The common options are Diameter, Intensity, and Symbol Set Density.
Double-click any symbolism tool on the Tools panel.
Enter a Diameter value (1-999 points) to specify a default size for the symbols.
Enter an Intensity value (1-10) that designates the rate at which the tools create symbols or changes. The lower the value, the slower the action.
Enter a Symbol Set Density value (1-10) to specify the distance between instances. The higher the value, the closer the instances.
Select the Show Brush Size and Intensity check box to have the current diameter setting display as a ring around the tool pointer.
Click a symbolism button to specify or display options for the tool.
Symbol Sprayer. For the available options, select Average to add instances based on an average sampling of adjacent instances or User Defined to set a value.
Click OK.
IL 6.5
The Symbol Shifter tool allows you to modify the attributes of an existing symbol set. You can shift the direction of instances or change the stacking order (bring forward or send backward) of instances. You can set either of these with a click of the mouse. You can customize the way the Symbol Shifter tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Shifter tool on the Tools panel.
Drag in the symbol set to shift the instances in the direction you want.
Do any of the following to shift the position of an instance:
Bring Forward. Shift+click an instance.
Send Backward. Alt+Shift+click (Win) or Option+Shift+click (Mac) an instance.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Shifter options. Double-click the Symbol Shifter tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 6.5
The Symbol Scruncher tool allows you to move instances in an existing symbol set closer together (scrunched) or farther apart. It’s easy to do. Simply click and hold or drag inside the symbol set to scrunch instances. Press an additional key to move instances farther away. You can customize the way the Symbol Scruncher tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Scruncher tool on the Tools panel.
Do any of the following to move instances closer for farther apart:
Move Closer. Click and hold an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Move Away. Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Scruncher options. Double-click the Symbol Scruncher tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 6.5
The Symbol Sizer tool allows you to resize individual instances in the symbol set. It’s easy to do. Simply, click and hold or drag inside the symbol set to enlarge instances. Press an additional key to reduce instances. This way, you can get the visual look you want. You can customize the way the Symbol Sizer tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Sizer tool on the Tools panel.
Do any of the following to resize instances:
Larger. Click and hold an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Smaller. Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Sizer options. Double-click the Symbol Sizer tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 6.5
The Symbol Spinner allows you to change the orientation of individual instances in the symbol set. Unlike other symbolism tools, click and hold doesn’t do anything. With this tool, you drag inside the symbol set in the direction you want to rotate the instance. A rotation icon appears as you drag to specify the current direction. You can customize the way the Symbol Spinner tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Spinner tool on the Tools panel.
Drag an instance in the symbol set in the direction you want it rotated.
A rotation icon appears as you drag to indicate the current direction.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Spinner options. Double-click the Symbol Spinner tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 2.10, 3.6, 6.5
The Symbol Stainer allows you to recolor instances in an existing symbol set. You can recolor solid fills, patterns, and gradients with different tints (shades) of the current fill color for individual instances in the symbol set. This is useful for adding variation to instances. You can customize the way the Symbol Stainer tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Stainer tool on the Tools panel.
Select the fill color that you want to use.
Do any of the following to recolor the tint of instances:
Increase Tint. Click and hold an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Decrease Tint. Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Stainer options. Double-click the Symbol Stainer tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 3.3, 6.5
The Symbol Screener tool allows you to make instances in an existing symbol set more transparent. You can increase or decrease the opacity for individual instances in the symbol set. This is useful for creating a faded look to instances. You can customize the way the Symbol Screener tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Screener tool on the Tools panel.
Do any of the following to increase or decrease instance opacity (transparency):
Increase. Click and hold an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Decrease. Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Screener options. Double-click the Symbol Screener tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
IL 5.2, 6.5
The Symbol Styler tool allows you to apply the currently selected graphic style on the Graphic Styles panel to instances in an existing symbol set. It’s easy to do. Simply click and hold or drag instances inside the symbol set to apply the graphic style. The longer you hold down the mouse, the greater the intensity of the applied style. You can customize the way the Symbol Styler tool works by setting options in the Symbolism Tools Options dialog box.
Select the symbol set that you want to use.
Select the Symbol Styler tool on the Tools panel.
Select the Graphic Styles panel.
Select the graphic style that you want to apply to instances in the selected symbol set.
Do any of the following to apply or remove a graphic style:
Apply Style. Click and hold an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
The longer you hold down the mouse, the greater the intensity of the applied style.
Decrease Style Intensity. Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) an instance or drag across instances inside the symbol set.
Did You Know?
You can set Symbol Styler options. Double-click the Symbol Styler tool on the Tools panel, specify the options you want (see page 297 for details), and then click OK.
With the Expand command, you can break the link between an instance and the original symbol or break apart a symbol set. When you break the link between an instance and a symbol, the individual paths become nested in a group. When you break apart a symbol set, the individual instances are nested in a group, but the links to the original symbol are maintained.
