How to Reflect in Illustrator

You might need to reflect objects or shapes of hand, foot, arms, or many others like this while creating a design. Reflect objects are the same but opposite. The reflected objects help you to make a design fastly so that you don’t have to draw each side of the design and the reflection speeds up your work process.

There are multiple ways that can help you to reflect in Adobe Illustrator. You can use Reflect Tool, Reflect from Transform, and Mirror to Reflect shapes easily. If you have drawn a side of any shape, you might not be able to draw the same on the opposite side, sometimes. So Reflect works best for you here.

You can also watch the detailed video tutorial, to learn how to reflect in Adobe Illustrator.

If you are new or don’t have the idea to reflect in Adobe Illustrator, then you are in the right place. In this tutorial, you will learn how to reflect in Illustrator.

So let’s start.

How to Use the Reflect Tool in Illustrator

To Reflect in Illustrator, select the shape. Go to Object > Transform > Reflect. Reflect panel will appear. Select Vertical Axis, or horizontal depending on the shape you want to reflect. You can also set the Angle. Click on Copy. The shape will be reflected and its copy will be created. You will also have the original shape as well and the reflected copy.

Below are the details and different methods to reflect in Illustrator.

1^st Method: Reflect Tool

In Adobe Illustrator, you can easily reflect any shape or text, or image easily. Reflect Tool works best when it comes to making a reflection of any design. You can reflect easily to make amazing drawings and illustrations.

Step 1: Select any shape, text, or image using the Selection Tool that you want to reflect. Here we are using some text to reflect it.

You can add text using the Type Tool or if you want to add any shape, you can draw shapes using the shapes tools available. You can free-transform text according to your choice before reflecting.

Step 2: From the left toolbar, you can select the Reflect Tool which is available under the Rotate Tool. If you long-press or right-click, more tools will appear. From the list of different tools, you can select Reflect Tool.

The shortcut key for Rotate Tool is O in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 3: As you select the Reflect Tool, you will see, a little icon appeared on the text.

Note: You can click and then drag it anywhere on the text to change its location. The little icon will help to reflect the text according to its appearance in the text.

Step 4: Now click and move the pointer, you will see the text is reflected.

Release the click to have a reflected text.

But if you don’t want to change the original text, and want to copy the reflection then first click on the text, press the Alt key, and drag.

Release when you think it’s the perfect location for the reflection.

Now you will have the original text as well as the reflection of the text.

You can change the Opacity of the reflected text to make it more attractive. Change the Opacity by Properties > Appearance > Opacity. Reduce the Opacity to 40%.

Here is the text after changing the opacity.

2^nd Method: Reflect by Transform

The second way to reflect any shape, text, or image is by using the Reflect option available in the Transform panel.

Step 1: Select the shape or text that you want to transform, using the Selection Tool.

Here we are using a shape that we want to reflect.

Step 2: Right-click on the shape, and select Transform > Reflect.

You can also go to Object > Transform > Reflect.

Reflect panel will appear.

From the Reflect panel, you can select Horizontal or Vertical Axis. Here we are selecting Vertical Axis.

You can also set the Angle according to your choice.

Note: These options are also available in the Properties > Appearance panel.

After you set the setting for Reflect, make sure you click on Copy. If you click on Copy, the original object will remain the same and its reflected copy will be created.

Here you can see the reflected copy is created.

Click and drag to adjust its position. Make sure to turn on Smart Guides, so that you can adjust the position of the reflected object. Here is the final result of the object that we have reflected.

3^rd Method: Mirror

You can also use the Mirror Tool to reflect the objects quickly. The same but reflect the selected object which could be text, any shape, or an image.

Step 1: Select the object you want to reflect using the Selection Tool. Here we are selecting a shape that we want to reflect.

Step 2: Go to Object > Repeat > Mirror.

Mirror Repeat will appear. As you click on the Mirror, you will see the reflection of the shape that you have selected.

You can click and drag the line to adjust the position of the mirror and the object’s reflection appearance as well.

If you want to add more details, you can add them easily on one side, and their reflections will appear on the other side.

As you can see, we have added shapes to one side, and they automatically appear on the other side.

You have learned to Reflect in Adobe Illustrator.

In this tutorial, you have learned to reflect in Adobe Illustrator. You can choose from three different methods to Reflect any objects, shapes, text, or images. You can create an opposite reflection of hands, draw the half side of any shape and reflect to make it complete.

Have More Questions?

If you have any questions related to reflection in Adobe Illustrator, you can ask in the comment section below. We have also answered some most frequently asked questions below.

How to Flip Horizontal in Illustrator

To Flip an object horizontally, select the object, in the transform panel under the Properties, select Flip Horizontally. The selected object will be Horizontally flipped.

Reflect Tool not Working in Illustrator

Make sure to select the object first before you use the Reflect Tool.

Reflect Shortcut in Illustrator

The shortcut key to reflect in Illustrator is O. The reflect panel appears. Select the Axis horizontally or vertically. You can also set the Angle and then click OK. You can also click on Copy so that the original object remains the same.

How to Flip a Letter in Illustrator

To Flip, a letter in Illustrator, select it using the Selection Tool, go to Properties Transform and select one option from Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically. The letter will be flipped in Adobe Illustrator.

All Done! Enjoy.