The following video art lesson illustrates how to edit symbols in Adobe Illustrator to create interesting effects. It this tutorial, I will show you how you can use symbols to create interesting backgrounds or non-objective designs. By layering symbols, brushes, and gradients you can quickly create complex images in Adobe Illustrator CS 4.
To edit a symbol, simply double click on the symbol to send it into isolation mode. Edit the symbol as you would a normal Illustrator object. You may change the colors, the path, add shapes and images and so on. Remember, if you have other instances of that symbol, all instances will change too.
Don't forget that you can also create your own symbols in Adobe Illustrator. Just select the object and drag it into the symbol palette. Illustrator will ask you to save as a "Graphic" or as a "Movie Clip". Then your symbol is saved into the symbol palette.
Don't fall into the trap of just using the symbol that the program gives you. This limits your creativity. Learn to edit the symbols and not be limited by what you can create in Illustrator CS4. Editing symbols is easy. This lesson shows you just how easy it can be.
