Adobe Illustrator is a powerhouse for digital artists, graphic designers, and creative professionals worldwide. What truly sets it apart are the robust illustrator tools that make every concept and idea possible, whether you’re sketching vector art, designing logos, or building complex illustrations.
From basic drawing functions to the newest AI-powered innovations, the expanding landscape of Illustrator AI tools gives users more control and creativity than ever before.
Understanding the full range of tools in Illustrator—and how to use them efficiently—can make a dramatic difference in productivity and creative output.
Whether you are just beginning your design journey or seeking to boost your workflow as a pro, mastering Illustrator tools is the foundation for creating stunning artwork.
This design journal will guide you through the basics of the toolbar and showcase advanced options that support every stage of the creative process.
Overview of toolbars: Getting Started, basic, and advanced
Customizing and Managing Toolbars
Before diving into specific Illustrator tools, it’s helpful to become acquainted with the toolbars that organize and deliver these tools in a user-friendly manner.
Tools in Illustrator are grouped within three main toolbar configurations: Getting Started, Basic, and Advanced toolbars.
Getting started toolbar
The Getting Started toolbar is the default view for new users and offers the essential Illustrator tools needed for most beginner projects. Here, you’ll find a carefully curated set of tools, cleanly organized by category for quick access.
If you’re just getting familiar with Illustrator AI tools or want a clutter-free workspace, this is the best place to start.
At the bottom of the toolbar, you can select “Edit Toolbar (…)” to open the All Tools drawer, where a full list of available tools is displayed for easy selection or customization.
Basic toolbar
The Basic Toolbar is designed for everyday use, providing a concise yet powerful set of frequently used tools in Illustrator. This setup suits most users working on standard vector graphics or illustrations.
Like the Getting Started toolbar, you can open the All Tools drawer to view and manage the complete set of Illustrator tools if you need to expand your options or swap in specialty features.
Advanced toolbar
For professional designers and experienced users who require full access, the Advanced Toolbar provides all available tools within Illustrator in a single panel.
This mode is perfect for complex work that requires advanced drawing tools, unique typography or layout options, and the latest Illustrator AI tools.
Switching to the Advanced Toolbar is easy—just go to Window > Toolbars and select Advanced, or choose it from the flyout menu. This toolbar fully unlocks Illustrator’s creative potential.
Customizing and managing your toolbars
One of the most useful features in the modern Illustrator workspace is the ability to customize toolbars. You’re not limited to Adobe’s default arrangements—instead, you can adapt the tools in Illustrator to suit your workflow and project needs.
By dragging tools from the All Tools drawer into your preferred toolbar, you ensure quick, one-click access to your most frequently used features. Likewise, removing unnecessary tools keeps your workspace organized and free from distractions.
Professional designers often create custom toolbars tailored to their specific creative processes, whether they focus on illustration, logo design, or utilizing the latest Illustrator AI tools. If you’d like to restore the toolbar to its original layout at any time, simply click the reset option.
Specialized toolbars for different regions & workflows
Illustrator even tailors toolbars for specific language versions or regions. For example, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) users might need to access special type tools; these can be added from the All Tools drawer or accessed by selecting the Advanced Toolbar.
This flexibility ensures that all users, regardless of style or workflow, have access to the precise Illustrator tools they need.
With a strong understanding of how to navigate, customize, and manage the different toolbars in Illustrator, you’re ready to make the most of every tool—a foundation for exploring every creative possibility.
Top 14 Adobe Illustrator tools
Mastering the best illustration tools is essential for creating stunning vector artwork efficiently. Adobe Illustrator offers a rich toolbox that caters to all levels of creativity, from beginners to professionals.
In this section, we will explore some of the most important and frequently used tools in Illustrator, starting with the foundational ones.
1. Selection tool
The Selection Tool (shortcut: V) is the primary tool in Illustrator for selecting and manipulating entire objects or groups within your artboard. When you click on an object with the Selection Tool, a bounding box appears, allowing you to move, scale, and rotate the selected object easily.
You can select multiple objects at once by holding the Shift key and clicking additional elements—the bounding box will extend to encompass all selected items.
Additionally, you can drag a marquee (selection rectangle) around objects to quickly select several at once, even if they overlap or are grouped closely together.
The Selection Tool also enables you to enter Isolation Mode by double-clicking a group or object, so you can edit that object without affecting the rest of your artwork.
This tool is essential for reorganizing layouts, quickly adjusting the position of designs, and accessing alignment and transform features within Illustrator.
2. Direct selection tool
The Direct Selection Tool (shortcut: A) provides more precise control by enabling you to select and manipulate individual anchor points or path segments within shapes and objects.
Unlike the Selection Tool, which deals with entire objects, the Direct Selection Tool gives you the ability to refine curves, adjust specific lines, or modify corners for detailed editing. When you select an anchor point, it is highlighted, allowing you to drag it or its handles to reshape the path.
This tool is particularly valuable when you want to tweak only part of a shape without moving the whole object, and is especially useful in vector artwork that requires precision and unique contours.
By combining Smart Guides with the Direct Selection Tool, you can snap anchor points to other paths or points for exact alignment. It enables partial path selection and on-canvas adjustments, making it crucial for bespoke vector editing.
3. Pen tool
The Pen Tool (shortcut: P) is Illustrator’s main tool for drawing custom vector paths and creating both straight and curved lines with precision.
Using the Pen Tool, you plot anchor points and control handles, which form Bézier curves and segments. This allows for smooth, complex shapes that are easily adjustable at any time. Start by clicking to place anchor points for straight lines, or click and drag to add curve handles.
The Pen Tool supports closing or continuing paths, letting you create everything from basic polygons to intricate, freeform artwork.
You can also add or delete anchor points as needed, refine curves for clean results, and use live visual previews for each new curve segment before adding it, which enhances control and accuracy when designing professional-quality graphics.
The Pen Tool is fundamental for tracing, logo creation, and any project where perfect lines or customized shapes are needed, distinguishing it as the most powerful tool for vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator.
4. Rectangle tool
The Rectangle Tool (shortcut: M) is the go-to shape tool in Illustrator for quickly creating rectangles and squares. Simply click and drag on the artboard to draw a rectangle; hold Shift as you drag to constrain the shape to a perfect square.
The Rectangle Tool supports live shape properties, so you can adjust width, height, and corner radius after creation using on-canvas widgets or the Properties panel. This allows for non-destructive editing and perfect precision in your layouts.
You can also draw rectangles from the center outward by holding the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) key. This tool acts as a building block in your workflow—used for designing layouts, UI elements, and combining with other shapes or the Shape Builder Tool to create more complex designs.
The Rectangle Tool is integral to any designer’s process for its speed, accuracy, and foundational role in vector artwork.
5. Ellipse tool
The Ellipse Tool (shortcut: L) allows you to quickly create circles and ellipses, which are fundamental shapes in vector design.
By clicking and dragging on the artboard, you can draw an ellipse freely, and holding down Shift constrains the shape to a perfect circle. This tool is widely used for logos, buttons, icons, and decorative design elements.
The Ellipse Tool supports live shape editing, allowing you to adjust dimensions and shapes after creation without needing to redraw, making it highly flexible for any design process. Combining this tool with other Illustrator tools enables you to create complex graphics efficiently.
6. Brush tool
The Brush Tool (shortcut: B) lets you draw freehand strokes with a natural feel, ideal for adding expressive lines and artistic flair to your illustrations.
It supports various brush types, including calligraphic, scatter, art, and bristle brushes, allowing customization of stroke shape and texture. When using a compatible drawing tablet, you can take advantage of pressure sensitivity for dynamic, varying strokes.
Thanks to the integration of Illustrator AI tools, brush strokes can adapt to tilt and pressure, enhancing the digital painting experience. Each brush stroke is a vector path you can edit and modify later.
7. Type tool
The Type Tool (shortcut: T) is essential for adding and formatting text within your Illustrator projects. You can create point text for single lines or drag to form an area text box that wraps paragraphs.
This tool provides extensive control over typography, including font choice, size, kerning, tracking, and leading.
It also supports advanced functions like Type on a Path, which lets text follow custom shapes, and integration with paragraph and character styles for consistent application across your design.
With the support of AI illustration tools, text handling becomes smarter, enabling features such as font recognition and auto-suggestions.
8. Eraser tool
The Eraser Tool acts much like a traditional eraser but works on vector paths and shapes in Illustrator. You can erase sections of an object or multiple objects by clicking and dragging over them.
The tool breaks erased paths into separate editable segments, which allows for non-destructive editing since you can manipulate or undo changes easily.
You can adjust the size and shape of the eraser for precision work or broad strokes, making it flexible for cleaning up designs or creatively modifying artwork.
When combined with other Illustrator AI tools and features, the Eraser Tool helps maintain control over complex vector editing tasks.
9. Blob brush tool
The Blob Brush Tool (shortcut: Shift+B) stands out among Illustrator tools for its ability to draw filled, editable vector shapes with a freehand, painterly feel.
Unlike the standard Paint Brush Tool, which creates strokes as paths, the Blob Brush generates solid, filled vector objects as you draw.
When overlapping strokes of the same color are made, they automatically merge into a single shape, simplifying the process of building up forms, especially in sketching, character illustration, and loose artwork.
You can easily adjust the blob brush’s size using the left and right bracket keys ([ and ]), and double-clicking the tool icon opens options where you can fine-tune size, angle, roundness, and fidelity for more or less smoothing.
For tablet users, the Blob Brush Tool supports pressure, tilt, and rotation variations, allowing for even greater expressive control and dynamic stroke profiles.
The tool is ideal for graphic artists seeking both vector flexibility and an intuitive, organic drawing experience.
10. Eyedropper tool
The Eyedropper Tool is an essential feature for any creative workflow in Illustrator. Used to sample and apply attributes, it allows you to click any area of your design (or even an imported image) and instantly pick up its color, stroke, gradient, or even character and paragraph text styles.
Simply select the tool, then click on the color or style you’d like to capture, and it becomes active for the selected object. This tool is invaluable for maintaining consistent palettes and design harmony, eliminating color-matching guesswork.
Beyond color, the Eyedropper can transfer appearance attributes—including effects, transparency, and patterns—across shapes and text, making it a powerful asset for both speed and precision in complex layouts.
11. Artboard tool
The Artboard Tool empowers you to manage the workspace itself in Illustrator. By selecting this tool, you can create, move, resize, duplicate, or delete artboards—think of artboards as pages or screens for your design, print, or digital project.
Whether you’re designing a logo suite, a series of icons, app screens, or a multi-page PDF, the Artboard Tool enables you to keep all related designs organized in a single file.
You can enter exact dimensions for each artboard, align and distribute them, or rearrange their sequence for logical presentation.
Advanced options allow you to export individual artboards or batches for efficient handoff to web, print, or mobile developers. This makes the Artboard Tool a foundational part of any workflow involving multiple assets or responsive design needs.
12. Shape builder tool
The Shape Builder Tool transforms how you combine, merge, or subtract vector shapes. By simply clicking and dragging across selected overlapping shapes, you can easily fuse them into complex forms or hold the Alt/Option key to subtract sections, constructing custom icons, illustrations, and graphics with far greater speed and precision than working with Pathfinder alone.
The tool works interactively; you get live visual feedback as you mouse over intersections, making it intuitive for both simple and advanced vector edits.
Fill areas with the desired color directly as you combine shapes, turning geometric building blocks into smooth, organic graphic elements.
The Shape Builder Tool remains one of the most popular and efficient Illustrator AI tools for designers who rely on speed, experimentation, and a fluid creative process.
13. Width tool
The Width Tool in Adobe Illustrator lets you create variable-width strokes along any path. By selecting the tool (Shift+W), you can click and drag on a stroke to increase or decrease its thickness at specific points.
Multiple width points can be added to create dynamic lines that smoothly taper or swell. Holding the Alt (Option) key allows you to adjust one side of the stroke independently.
You can save custom width profiles and apply them to other strokes for consistency. This tool is ideal for adding expressive, calligraphic effects and enhancing the visual interest of your artwork.
14. Gradient tool
The Gradient Tool (shortcut: G) helps you add smooth color transitions to objects, text, or strokes. You click and drag on a shape to control the direction and length of the gradient. Illustrator offers linear, radial, and freeform gradients.
The freeform gradient allows you to place multiple color stops anywhere within the object for complex blends. You can adjust colors, opacity, and midpoints directly on the shape or in the Gradient panel.
Gradients can be saved and reused to keep a consistent look. With AI-powered features, the Gradient Tool also offers smart color suggestions for seamless blending and striking effects.
Practical tips for using Illustrator tools
Mastering Illustrator isn’t just about knowing what each tool does—it’s about using them together efficiently. Here are tried-and-true methods to help you get the most from your Illustrator tools:
Master keyboard shortcuts
Learning keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up your workflow. For example, use “V” for the Selection Tool, “P” for the Pen Tool, “M” for the Rectangle Tool, and “Shift+O” for the Artboard Tool.
Referencing Adobe’s official shortcut list ensures you’re using the quickest method for selecting and switching between the most important tools in Illustrator. Practicing these shortcuts will help you create designs faster and with more precision.
Customize your toolbar
Tailor the toolbar to fit your own design process. Right-click or use the “Edit Toolbar” option to add, remove, or rearrange Illustrator tools to ensure that the ones you use most are always accessible. This small change can make complex projects more manageable.
Combine tools for efficiency
The real power of Illustrator comes from combining different tools in Illustrator. For example, you might use the Shape Builder Tool just after using the Rectangle Tool to quickly create custom icons, or follow up the Pen Tool with the Width Tool for expressive line work.
Try exploring how Illustrator AI tools, such as smart color suggestions or shape recognition, can further streamline your work.
Utilize layer organization
Stay organized by assigning your artwork to separate layers. Lock or hide layers you’re not currently editing to avoid mistakes and speed up your adjustments.
Illustrator’s Layers panel gives you non-destructive control and improves collaboration for larger projects.
Work non-destructively
Take advantage of layer masks, clipping masks, and appearance attributes. These “non-destructive” techniques let you experiment freely, as you can always go back and make changes without permanently altering your vector objects.
Take advantage of tool options
Many Illustrator tools have additional options that can be opened by double-clicking their icons or through the Properties panel.
These settings let you customize the tool’s behavior, such as adjusting the corner radius for the Rectangle Tool or fidelity for Brush Tools, giving you more precise outcomes.
Use smart guides and grids
Activate Smart Guides (Ctrl+U or Cmd+U) and grids (Ctrl+’ or Cmd+’) to align objects perfectly. Snapping ensures cleaner designs and makes layout tasks straightforward, especially when working with icons, logos, and UI elements.
Explore appearance and graphic styles
Experiment with the Appearance panel to stack multiple fills, strokes, and effects. Save your favorite combinations as Graphic Styles so you can quickly apply consistent looks to objects throughout your project.
Practice with tool presets
Many Illustrator AI tools and brushes come with preset options. Try these out to quickly achieve complex effects or create reusable assets that save time in future projects.
Refer to Adobe help and tutorials
Even seasoned users can benefit from Illustrator’s built-in tutorials and the extensive Adobe Help documentation.
These resources offer step-by-step guidance for everything from the basics of new Illustrator tools to mastery of the latest Illustrator AI tools.
Conclusion
Mastering Illustrator tools, from foundational features like the Selection and Pen Tool to advanced options including AI enhancements, is the key to creating efficient, versatile, and stunning vector art.
By learning best practices—such as keyboard shortcuts, toolbar customization, non-destructive editing, and combining multiple tools in Illustrator—users can boost both creativity and productivity.
Adobe consistently evolves its offering, so exploring the latest updates and leveraging both classic and emerging Illustrator AI tools will ensure your workflow remains powerful and up-to-date.
Resources for further learning and practice
To deepen your expertise, explore:
- The official Adobe Help and Tutorials provide up-to-date guides on all tools in Illustrator.
- The Adobe Community forums for troubleshooting, advanced tips, and peer support.
- YouTube channels dedicated to Illustrator techniques, offering visual walkthroughs and real-world solutions.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if a tool is missing from my Illustrator toolbar?
First, check that you haven’t accidentally hidden the tool or customized your toolbar. Go to Window > Toolbars and select “Advanced” to reveal all available tools.
If tools are still missing, you can reset your toolbar by clicking the three dots at the bottom, choosing the menu, and selecting “Reset” to revert the toolbar to its default state.
Resetting or changing your workspace (Window > Workspace > Reset [workspace name]) also restores toolbars and panels.
How do I reset Illustrator tools or preferences to default settings?
Reset your workspace via Window > Workspace > Reset [workspace name] or by selecting “Essentials > Reset Essentials” from the workspace switcher at the top right.
For a deeper reset, restart Illustrator while holding Shift+Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Shift+Command+Option (Mac) on startup, which resets all preferences.
Why does a tool behave differently than expected in Adobe Illustrator?
Tool behavior may change due to custom settings, workspace changes, or updates. Resetting the tool via its options panel (double-click the tool’s icon for settings), resetting your toolbar, or restoring default preferences typically resolves most inconsistencies.
How can I recover a workspace layout if Illustrator crashes?
After a crash, relaunch Illustrator and go to Window > Workspace > Reset [workspace name] to restore the default panel and toolbar layout.
You can also choose a different workspace or create and save a new, customized version for future backup.
What hardware is best for running Illustrator smoothly?
For optimal performance, use a system with a multi-core processor, at least 16GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU; SSD storage is recommended for faster file access and smoother operation.
A high-resolution monitor and a graphics tablet (for tools like the Brush or Blob Brush) further enhance the experience with Illustrator AI tools and other advanced functions.
Suyash
Jr. UI UX Designer