Illustrator: The Tilde Trick
BittBox Reader Jeff F tipped me off about this neat little Illy trick. It just so happens that if you hold down the “tilde” key on your keyboard, you can get a neat effect using any of Illustrator’s drawing tools. Holding down the tilde key, (the little squiggly line above the tab key, left of the number 1 on your keyboard.) while using a drawing tool will cause Illustrator to repeat the shape rapidly as you move your mouse. Examples after the jump. Thanks Jeff!
For starters, here is a pic of the tilde key:
Here are some quick examples with some different drawing tools:
Also, remember that you can hold shift and/or option/alt at the same time you’re holding the tilde key to constrain your shapes if you like.
Star tool:
Rounded Rectangle tool:
Elipse tool:
Line tool:
Tags: Illustrator, Tilde, Tutorial
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on Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 1:03 pm and is filed under Illustrator.
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AWESOME STUFF! this could be combined with some other stuff to make some really cool stuff.
this is definitely going in the archives folder.
I feel like i am making a windows 95 screen saver. Very cool though. I am sure I will put this to use.
on my win machine its the apostrophe + @ key
It didn’t work on my cs2, is this only on cs3?
What key should I use on the white mac keyboard? Because the left of the 1 key is 0 on my keyboard…
I LOVE this! I really miss my Spirograph Deluxe Set~
Hi, it didnt work on my cs3, can you tell the name of the tool or accion so I can assign a key to it? thanks
Showing a example of the new Apple Keyboard is perhaps not in place, since the changed the layout of the keyboard..
this is awesome. works fine on my CS3. Thanks.
SPIROGRAPH LIVES.
That’s one of those things I like so much about bittbox – even though I might never have needed this little trick, It can open a whole new perspective on my workflow when I start trying around :)
its the key right next to “z”, try also with some combination of shift and alt while dragging. (older Apple Keyboards)
AWSOME!
I know what I’m doing at work tomorrow.
http://www.flashframer.com
para todos los que tengan un teclado con la “ñ” es exactamente la “ñ” la tecla con la que hacen este efecto ^_^
My mind, it is blown.
it doesn’t work on my computer… I use Illustrator CS and a french keyboard where the “tilde” key needs to be used holding down the “Alt Gr” key. So sad, any suggestion? :(
I have the same problem.
I use a german keyboard on mac with cs3.
If it isn’t working on your keyboard (say, if you have a german one) the workaround is:
set up another keyboard by going to System>International>input meun and add US or UK or Australian… Then when you are in Illustrator change the keyboard (flag top right of mac) to the UK one and your ~ key should work. (you might have to hunt for it!). Works a treat.
Just remember to switch back!
Sweet. Here are more shortcuts:
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/tutorials/pathtools/
Too bad for french and german designers. But you can contact me if you need these designs for a small fee :D
On german keyboard it’s the “<” key, to the right of shift
works well on cs3
Great effects!
Pour les petits frenchies, c’est la touche “% ù”
This is so awesome!
I run an old eMac with cs and it works with the “<” key on both Portuguese and English setups and it has a Portuguese keyboard.
I also run a PC and that was trickier but for the cs2 it needs a combination. Again Portuguese setup and keyboard. “%”+”ç”.
Now what is really cool is that you can combine it with other shortcuts and although the alt and shift are obvious ones try space bar.
Just don’t let anyone see you trying to hit all these keys with only one hand for they will think something is wrong with you.
Wow! Excellent find!
Just to note that may help others – on my Mac Keyboard the key appears between Z and Shift.
And on my particular PC keyboard it works with the @ key.
Chris
on the german keyboard (pc) it is % + ö
merci Gilles, ça marche perfectly ;)
On my french macbook core duo (first generation + french keyboard). It works with the “<” key with cs3
pour les français, sur mon macbook coreduo premiére génération avec clavier français, cela marche pour moi avec la touche “<” à coté du w sur la cs3.
apparament Gilles, ça doit être une question de machine pour les mac français.
merci à tous pour cette découverte et les équivalences de touches.
That is insane! I love working in illustrator, and this is yet another cool trick to add to my arsenal!
Works well in my CS3 install on XP.
This is one of the niftiest things I’ve seen all day!
Great tip. Now how best to use this….
Great!
Lo conocia pero no lo recordaba, tal vez por que no le encontre muxa utilidad!!
Españoles! usarlo con la Ñ apretada!
I’ve known about this but rarely have cause to use it…BUT it works well as part of a layered background, or overlayed on text (and then you can use the Divide tool to crop. Goodstuff…
Very cool. I don’t think I’ll have a lot of practical application for this one, but it’s fun to play with nonetheless, and to make some super intense brushes with.
Very cool! Nice trick!
awesome tip. Thanks!
and I just found out that your site was mentioned in this week’s episode of PhotoshopUserTV, so congrats!
Whoa, cool stuff! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the great tip!
To add an even more exciting effect, you can make the effect with the line tool, expand the stroke, then apply a gradient to it.
Can look something like this:
http://bildr.no/image/133438.jpeg
Keep up the good work!
Great tip, fun to play with. I just made this little picture with it:
( http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahalie/2127372617/ )
Hi!
today I decided I wanted to visit all of my favorite blogs and say Merry Christmas, and Bittbox is one of them. I just wanted to say thanks because I read you every morning and you bring a lot of inspiration to my artwork.
So:
Thank you very much. I really wish you a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!
I mailed you this a couple of times the last months .. grmpf.
But it keeps being a neat trick indeed :-)
you know you’re a sweetheart.
GOOOOOOD~
THANKS~
It’s a very knowed trick of some designers here in Rio de Janeiro. Some of then use it a lot. We call it ‘magic key’.
Here’s an example of an image that I did in Illustrator CS2 using the key, couple of months ago.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abstrato/453420013/
Add transparencies, let it flow and be happy.
I heard about some people who lost 10 pounds in only 5 days using the key.
Feliz Natal! Ho Ho Ho! Feliz Natal!
Fun effect, never knew about that one!
[...] saw this over at design blog BittBox: when drawing with the Shape tools in Illustrator (rectangle, circle etc.), holding the tilde key [...]
I’ve seen this effect in a tutorial at pinkzapp.com at must admit it is a fun effect. I like making stars and colour them and rotate them at angles. It looks fantastic.
Awesome! I can´t stop drawing psychedelic things!
I love this–thank you!
The coolest trick I’ve seen posted.
Ace. I definitely will be using this.
wonder if there’s any way of getting more control over it?
good, thx
I love this. It reminds me of the spirograph that I had as a kid growing up. I miss that! Thanks for letting us know. I will definitely try it.
Hey, Dude, lsn, it’s been a long time since you’ve posted anything, are you ok?? how’s everything going with you??
I love this–thank you!
bittbox oh bittbox where did you go?
Another great post, well done fella.
On a german keyboard it’s the “<” key.
Great tip.
On an Italian PC keyboard the Magic Key is @ (next to the L)
thanks to ben for the german version!
Did bitt go on vacation?
In Portuguese Keyboard is Ç key.
Em Português é o Ç de cedilha.
I was looking for this for a while and didn’t find the magic key in Portuguese keyboard. Tahnks to Mauricio I went look again in the keys that doesn´t exist in English and found it.
Does any one know a way to control the distance of the instances whith this effect?
very cooool!!
thx!!
Mauricio, on December 19th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
para todos los que tengan un teclado con la “ñ” es exactamente la “ñ” la tecla con la que hacen este efecto ^_^
Gracias Mauricio, andaba loco! ^oO^
That is so AWESOME! Its truly the simple things in life that make me so very happy! Thanks a bunch!!!!!!!
Kaitlyn
Philadelphia, PA
I’m 5 tonight ! :) Thanks Bittbox et merci Gilles ! ;)
[...] Illustrator: The Tilde Trick | BittBox Hold down the tilde key while drawing shapes in Illustrator to repeat the shape quickly and create interesting patterns (tags: illustrator tutorial) [...]
Brilliant! A lot of fun. Bittbox is THE place for tips and tricks! Thanx a million.
ITS THE @ KEY IF USING A PC!!!!!!!
at last it works….
[...] 28-Illustrator: The Tilde Trick-Holding down the tilde key, (the little squiggly line above the tab key, left of the number 1 on your keyboard.) while using a drawing tool will cause Illustrator to repeat the shape rapidly as you move your mouse. [...]
Thanks For Article
Hi
Thanks for sharing the nice trick
thank you for uncovering this trick!it’s such great fun:)
dont know what my keyboard is but im using a pc (dell 1720). anyway this trick worked for me yesterday using the @ key and today nothing. i was WTF for ages. eventually tried the `¬¦ key which is below esc on this keyboard….works. hope i help someone else out in a pickle
[...] Illustrator: The Tilde Trick [...]
It’s the ” < ” key on Norwegian keyboard also. Nice trick :)
[...] Illustrator: The Tilde Trick [...]
I have a norwegian keyboard, and “<” didn’t work for me.
The correct key here was “ø”.
good job – nice tricks
[...] 28-Illustrator: The Tilde Trick-Holding down the tilde key, (the little squiggly line above the tab key, left of the number 1 on your keyboard.) while using a drawing tool will cause Illustrator to repeat the shape rapidly as you move your mouse. [...]
[...] Illustrator: The Tilde Trick [...]
[...] 28-Illustrator: The Tilde Trick-Holding down the tilde key, (the little squiggly line above the tab key, left of the number 1 on your keyboard.) while using a drawing tool will cause Illustrator to repeat the shape rapidly as you move your mouse. [...]
[...] 28-Illustrator: The Tilde Trick-Holding down the tilde key, (the little squiggly line above the tab key, left of the number 1 on your keyboard.) while using a drawing tool will cause Illustrator to repeat the shape rapidly as you move your mouse. [...]
thanks you
Hey thats way cool! thanks!
hola no entiendo como duplicarlo presiono la tecla tilde y no me resulta nada alguien que me ayude por favorr!!!!!
the free graphics given here are more sophisticated than the tilde trick, have a closer look…
would probably be possible to create a script to make the steps sequential ensuring the same step and repeat for a precise geometrical drawing… !!
[...] Create a Themed Repeating Pattern in Illustrator Creating geometric patterns in Illustrator Illustrator: The Tilde Trick From Sketch to Vector [...]
Not working for me … on CS3, UK mac keyboard, tried pretty much every key including the ones mentioned :p
Maybe something to do with graphics tablet? Who knows.