Complete Guide on How to Use the Lasso Tool in Adobe Illustrator

PDF download Download Article
Master the lasso tool in six simple steps
PDF download Download Article

Do you want to know how to use the Lasso tool in Adobe Illustrator? The Lasso tool is one of many selection tools you can use in Illustrator. It allows you to select many shapes and/or vector points at once by freely drawing around the objects you want to select Then you can move them around or manipulate them however you wish. This wikiHow article teaches you how to use the Lasso tool in Adobe Illustrator.

Things You Should Know

  • Click the Lasso tool to get started. It is represented by a mouse cursor over a lasso.
  • Freely draw around the shapes or vector points you want to select. Be sure to close the loop.
  • Click the Selection tool to move the selected lasso area as you wish.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do so, you can double-click an existing Illustrator (.ai) file, or double-click the Illustrator icon on your PC or Mac, and then click Create New on the title screen to create a new document Enter the desired height and width of your artboard and click Create . [1]
    • Alternatively, you can create a new document at any time in Illustrator by clicking File in the menu bar at the top and then clicking New .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It has an icon that resembles a mouse cursor over a lasso. You can find it in the toolbar, which is usually to the left. Alternatively, you can press " Q " on your keyboard to select the Lasso tool.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can draw around one or more shapes and/or vector points. Draw a complete circle around the shapes and/or vectors you want to select. [2]
    • Unlike in Adobe Photoshop, the Lasso tool in Illustrator does not create a selection in the shape you draw. Instead, it selects all the shapes and vectors inside the shape you draw with the Lasso tool.
    • For improved accuracy, you may want to zoom in on the area you want to select before using the Lasso tool.. To do so, press " Ctrl and + " (or " Command and + " on Mac) to zoom in. You can also click the magnifying glass icon in the toolbar to the left and then click on the area you want to zoom in on.
    • If you do not draw a complete shape with the Lasso tool, Illustrator will automatically connect the ends of the shape for you.
    • If you want to add more shapes or vectors to your selection, select the Lasso selection too. Hold Shift and draw around the shapes and/or vectors you want to add to your selection. To subtract objects or vector points from your hold " Alt " (or " Option " on Mac) and use the Lasso tool to draw around objects you want to subtract from your selection.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The Selection tool has an icon that resembles a black mouse cursor in the toolbar to the left. The Selection tool allows you to move entire shapes. The Subselection tool has an icon that resembles a white mouse cursor in the toolbar to the left. The Subselection tool allows you to move individual vector points.
    • Alternatively, you can press " V " on the keyboard to select the Selection tool, or press " A " on the keyboard to select the Subselection tool.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This moves your selection.
    • If you use the Subselection tool to move vector points from a shape that is not completely selected, this will warp and distort the shape.
    • Alternatively, you can copy and paste your selection. To do so, press " Ctrl + C " (or " Command + C " on Mac) to copy the selection. Then press " Ctrl + V " (or " Command + V " on Mac) to paste the selection.
    • You can also apply effects to your selection. To do so, click Effects in the menu bar at the top. Then click the effect you want to apply.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-the-Lasso-Tool-in-Adobe-Illustrator-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    There are lots of things you can do in Adobe Illustrator. Play around and see what you discover. Figure out creative ways to use the Lasso tool in conjunction with other Illustrator tools.
    7. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Draw a Moon in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Change Artboard Size in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Create an Outline in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Change the Background Color in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Add a Hyperlink in Illustrator
      How to Create a Table in Adobe Illustrator
      How to Add Artboards in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Measure in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Remove Backgrounds in Adobe Illustrator
      How to Add Fonts in Adobe Illustrator: Windows & Mac
      2 Easy Ways to Wrap Text in Adobe Illustrator
      How to
      Add an Image in Illustrator
      5 Quick Ways to Change the Background in Illustrator
      How to
      Add Borders in Illustrator
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/create-new-document.html
      2. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/tool-techniques/lasso-tool.html

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 99,381 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement