Illustrator

Distort objects

You can distort objects by using the Free Transform tool or a liquify tool. Use the Free Transform tool when you want to distort freely; use a liquify tool if you want to take advantage of specific preset distortions such as twirls, puckers, or wrinkles.

Distort objects with the Free Transform tool

  1. Select one or more objects.
  2. Select the Free Transform tool .
  3. Start dragging a corner handle on the bounding box (not a side handle), and then do one of the following:

    • Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) until the selection is at the desired level of distortion.

    • Hold down Shift+Alt+Ctrl (Windows) or Shift+Option+Command (Mac OS) to distort in perspective.

      Distorting in perspective

Distort objects using a liquify tool

You cannot use liquify tools on linked files or objects that contain text, graphs, or symbols.

  1. Select a liquify tool, and click or drag over the objects you want to distort.
  2. (Optional) To isolate the distortion to specific objects, select the objects before using the tool.
  3. (Optional) To change the size of the tool cursor and set other tool options, double-click the liquify tool and specify any of the following:
    Width and Height
    Controls the size of the tool cursor.

    Angle
    Controls the orientation of the tool cursor.

    Intensity
    Specifies the rate of change for the distortion. Higher values equal faster changes.

    Use Pressure Pen
    Uses the input from a tablet or pen instead of the Intensity value. If you don’t have a pressure-sensitive tablet attached, this option is dimmed.

    Complexity (Scallop, Crystallize, and Wrinkle tools)
    Specifies how closely the results of the particular brush are spaced on the object’s outline. This is closely tied with the Detail value.

    Detail
    Specifies the spacing between points introduced into the object’s outline (higher values space points closer together).

    Simplify (Warp, Twirl, Pucker, and Bloat tools)
    Specifies how much you want to reduce the superfluous points that do not measurably affect the overall appearance of the shape.

    Twirl Rate (Twirl tool only)
    Specifies the rate at which the twirl is applied. Enter a value between –180° and 180°. Negative values twirl the object clockwise and positive values twirl counterclockwise. The object twirls faster with values that are closer to either –180° or 180°. To twirl slowly, specify a rate close to 0°.

    Horizontal and Vertical (Wrinkle tool only)
    Specifies how far apart the control points are placed.

    Brush Affects Anchor Points, Brush Affects In Tangent Handles, or Brush Affects Out Tangent Handles (Scallop, Crystallize, Wrinkle tools)
    Enables the tool brush to make changes to these properties.