Symbols panel overview, Change the display of symbols in the panel, Duplicate a symbol in the panel – Adobe Illustrator CS4 User Manual
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USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4
Drawing
Note: For information on using symbols in Flash, see Flash Help. For a video on using symbols effectively between
.
After you place a symbol, you can edit the symbol’s instances on the artboard and, if you want, redefine the original
symbol with the edits. The symbolism tools let you add and manipulate multiple symbol instances at once.
Artwork with symbol instances
Symbols panel overview
You can use the Symbols panel (Window
> Symbols) or the Control panel to manage the symbols for a document. The
Symbols panel contains a variety of preset symbols. You can add symbols from symbol libraries or libraries that you
create.
Change the display of symbols in the panel
1
Select a view option from the panel menu: Thumbnail View to display thumbnails, Small List View to display a list
of named symbols with a small thumbnail, or Large List View to display a list of named symbols along with a large
thumbnail.
2
Drag the symbol to a different position. When a black line appears in the desired position, release the mouse button.
3
Select Sort By Name from the panel menu to list the symbols in alphabetical order.
Duplicate a symbol in the panel
Duplicating or copying a symbol in the Symbols panel is an easy way to create a new symbol based on an existing
symbol.
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Do one of the following:
•
Select a symbol in the Symbols panel and choose Duplicate Symbol from the panel menu, or drag the symbol
onto the New Symbol button.
•
Select a symbol instance and click Duplicate in the Control panel.
Note: If you want to duplicate a symbol instance on the artboard, for example, if you’ve scaled and rotated it and want
to add another instance with the same scale and rotation, duplicate the instance. (See “
84.)