Shapes
Hold this key while using shape tools to maintain the proportions.
Shift
"Lorem Ipsum" is an example of this automatic text box filler.
Placeholder Text
Magic Wand
This brush type paints a stroke that follows the path shape with smooth, tapered edges—often used for digital drawing.
PaintBrush
Adobe's fancy word for changing/editing an object or path.
Transform
Tool for creating round shapes.
Ellipse Tool
This is one way to align text, usually used for newspapers to evenly space words across a column.
Justify
Double-clicking an object will enter this mode, so you can work on it independently of the rest of the design.
Isolation Mode
This type of brush lets you paint freeform textures and colors that merge together like real paint.
Blob Brush
This tool flips your artwork like a mirror.
Reflect
Use this tool to combine shapes.
Shape Builder
Reach for this tool if you want your text to wrap around a circle.
Type on a Path
This tool allows you to select specific anchor points.
Direct Select
This brush type stretches a single image or artwork along the entire length of a path.
Art Brush
This tool lets you angle your object around a center point.
This panel allows you to combine, subtract, or intersect shapes to create new ones.
Pathfinder
Do this when your text doesn't fit in the box you put it in, and you want it to flow to another text box.
Thread Text
The shortcut for the selection tool.
V
A tool used to draw lines based on anchor points.
Pen
A tool that splits a path into two closed paths.
Knife
This function allows you to convert any shape into an editable outline path, making the anchor points visible for custom manipulation.
Expand
This turns your type into individual objects made of paths.
Create Outlines
This tool is great for selecting unusual shapes, or for winding in/around paths on your artboard.
Lasso Tool (Q)
Every anchor point has two of these, that allow you to control the contour between anchors.
Handles/ Wands
This panel allows you to combine, merge, split, exclude, minus front, and make a variety of other transformations to shapes.
Pathfinder