Warp an Object in Adobe Illustrator with the Warp Tool

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Adobe Illustrator is popular with graphic design firms because it allows you to create 3D images and work with typography. Illustrator also allows you to use tools to change, distort and warp Illustrator objects and text. The way you change or warp objects and text differs from 1 version of Illustrator to another. They are also commonly called "envelope distortions." Creative Suite 5 (CS5) uses the Effects Menu to choose different warp distortions for an object. Read more to find out how to warp an object in Adobe Illustrator.

Steps

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  1. Open an existing or new document in Adobe Illustrator. Use the "Place" option under the File Menu to import an object, or create an object using the Shape Builder Tool or the Rectangle Tool. Then, click on the object you have created that you want to warp. Ensure you have selected the right layer in the Layer Panel before you start to warp your object.
  2. Find the word "Warp" under "Illustrator Effects." Drag your cursor to the word and hover until the option drops down on the right hand side.
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  3. For example, you can warp your object into a wave, fisheye, arch, or a number of other options. Select the Illustrator warp effect of your choice.
  4. Scroll down and click on the word "Appearance." The Appearance Panel will appear on the right and lists the warp effect that you just produced.
  5. They will appear on the Appearance panel. You can delete a warp by clicking on it in the Appearance Panel and clicking on the small trash can on the bottom right of the panel.
  6. You should see a dialogue box that lists your warp options. Change the warp and click "Preview" to ensure you have done what you wanted to do.
  7. You can still change it using the Appearance Panel.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Are there any other ways to warp objects on Illustrator?
    Shari Fairclough
    Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
    Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.
    Shari Fairclough
    Social Media & Graphic Design Expert
    Expert Answer
    If you have the newest version of Illustrator, you can use the Puppet Warp tool. Start by selecting the object you want to warp using the Selection Tool. Then, activate the Puppet Warp tool by clicking it on the toolbar. Then, pin and click on the areas of the object where you want to add control points, each click adds more pins that anchor for the warp effect, and pressing Delete removes excessive pins. You can then drag these control points to distort the object to your specifications. 
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      Tips

      • In other versions of Illustrator, you can warp objects by hand using the "Free Transform" tool. Select your object. Type "Command" and the letter "t" if you are using an Apple computer, and type "Control" and the letter "t" if you are using a Windows operating system (OS). Right click on the object and select "Warp." A grid will pop up. Use your mouse to drag and warp the image with your mouse.
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      • In another version of Illustrator there is a Warp tool to the left of the Free Transform tool. The Warp Tool here is used to create effects that are referred to as "distortions" in other versions. The Free Transform Tool looks like an outlined rectangle with a cursor in the lower left hand corner. Click on the object and then click on the Warp tool to warp the object using the pre-set warp functions, such as the "Twirl" or "Pucker."
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      Things You'll Need

      • Illustrator application
      • Object
      • Mouse
      • Keyboard


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      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about adobe illustrator, check out our in-depth interview with Shari Fairclough .

      References

      1. https://helpx.adobe.com/support.html

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