Adobe Illustrator CS3 - Manual (Page 94)

ILLUSTRATOR CS3
User Guide
88
Symbolism tools and symbol sets
About symbol sets
A symbol set is a group of symbol instances that you create with the Symbol Sprayer tool. You can create mixed sets
of symbol instances by using the Symbol Sprayer tool with one symbol and then using it again with another symbol.
Artwork created with the symbolism tools
As you work with symbol sets, keep in mind that the symbolism tools affect only the symbol or symbols selected in
the Symbols panel. For example, if you create a mixed symbol instance set that represents a meadow with grass and
flowers, you can change the orientation of just the grass by selecting the grass symbol in the Symbols panel and then
using the Symbol Spinner tool. To change the size of both the grass and the flowers, select both symbols in the
Symbols panel and then use the Symbol Sizer tool.
Note: When you select a mixed symbol set on the artboard, the symbol instance most recently added to the set is
automatically selected in the Symbols panel.
Create symbol sets
The Symbol Sprayer acts like a particle sprayer—letting you add a large number of identical objects to the artboard
at one time. For example, use the symbol sprayer to add hundreds of grass blades, wildflowers, bees, or snowflakes.
See also
“Symbolism tool gallery” on page 30
“Symbolism tool options” on page 91
Spray sets of symbol instances onto artwork
1 Select a symbol in the Symbols panel, and then select the Symbol Sprayer tool .
2 Click or drag where you want the symbol instances to appear.
Add or delete symbol instances from an existing set
1 Select the existing symbol set.
2 Select the Symbol Sprayer tool and a symbol in the Symbols panel.