You can see the pathfinder tool if you go to Window > Pathfinder. There are multiple ways to cut a shape, but the easiest way is to draw a line where you want the cut to occur, then divide the shapes using the pathfinder tool. The basic shape tools don’t include some popular options like half circles, and in order to make these shapes, you actually have to cut your basic shapes. Both options are shown below, so pick whichever one works best for you. You can choose from common colors using the color pickers at the top left of the screen or you can choose from every color possible using the color pickers in the toolbar. First, you’ll need to make sure your shape is selected. A box will pop up, and you can enter the exact dimensions for your shape.Ĭoloring in your shapes is easy. If you know the exact size shape you want to create, then with the shape tool selected, click on the screen and don’t drag.Holding the Alt key (the Option key for all you Mac users) will allow you to draw a shape from the center rather than the corner.If you hold the Shift key when creating an ellipse, you’ll get a perfect circle.If you hold the Shift key when creating a rectangle or rounded rectangle, you will get a perfectly proportioned square.Helpful Shortcuts for Drawing the Basic Shapes From here, all you need to do is click and drag to make your shape. To choose from these other shapes, right click on the Rectangle Tool and select the one you want to make. The default shape is a Rectangle, but you can also choose from a Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Star, or Flare. To make a shape in Illustrator, you’ll need to choose from the Shape Tools. Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to geometric mastery in Adobe AI-or save yourself the time and download the shapes you need from our library.ĭownload Vector Shapes How to Make Basic Shapes in Illustrator While you can get both basic and complex shapes from the Storyblocks vector library, it’s nice to know how to create the basics on your own when you need them. Shapes are a basic element that you’ll find in most designs, and they can make drawing in Adobe Illustrator much easier.

Draw in adobe illustrator