Making a squiggly line in Adobe Illustrator is very easy and fun to create. You can watch the tutorial below.
You can also learn this trick by reading this complete article. So, let’s start the tutorial:
First thing first, open the Adobe Illustrator and Select your desired size or document.
Focus on your left side vertical toolbar. You will see a rectangle or “Rectangle Tool”. Right click and select “Line Segment Tool (\)” You can also press “\” key from your keyboard, which is located near the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
Now focus on your artboard.
If you press left click of your mouse. The “Line Segment Tool Options” dialog box will appear.
In the first option, choose the Length of the Line.
In the second option, choose the angle of the Line.
In the third option, you can choose the line color replaced by your current selected stroke color.
Another way to draw a line is left click and drag the cursor on your artboard.
If you want to draw a straight line horizontally or vertically, then also press and hold the “Shift” key on your keybaord.
By default, the line is very thin and not clear.
You can increase it’s size by going to right side “Properties” panel. Under the “Appearance section”, choose your value next to “stroke” option.
You can also change the color by pressing left click on the little square shape before “Stroke” option.
Now to go to left side toolbar and select the first tool, which is always “Selection Tool (V)” or Press “V” from your keyboard.
Make sure the line is selected. Now go to “Effects” menu >> “Distort & Transform” >> “Zig Zag…”
“Zig Zag” dialog box will appear. Don’t forget to turn on the “Preview” option in the lower left corner.
First option is about the size of the Zig Zag, By default value is 10 px Absolute. If you choose the “Relative” option, “10 px” will be converted to “10 %”. Increasing the value of “Size” option will increase the height and depth of the zig zag.
Second option is about the “Ridges per segment”. Enter the number of ridges you want in your line.
Third option is about the smoothness and corners of the zig zag.
You can change the options as you want. Here is the setting I choose.
You can edit this shape as you desire. To change the object shape, go to “Object” menu and click “Expand Appearance”.
Now, choose the “Direct Selection Tool”.
Click any point and drag it to get your desired shape. Here is a sample.
Note: You can also download the file used in this tutorial here.
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