Colors Palette: (Ctrl+J)

Colors palette can also be used to apply colors for open or closed shapes.  It can also be used to create new colors.

Three selection modes to select color from Colors palette:

1. Outline color
2. Fill color
3. Outline and Fill Color

Move a selected object from one place to another: Cut(ctrl+x)àPaste(Ctrl+v)

Duplicate a selected object from one place to another: Copy(Ctrl+c)àPaste (Ctrl+v)

Duplicating object with pointer tool: Hold Ctrl+AltàDrag with pointer tool

Duplicating Aligned object with pointer tool : Hold Ctrl+Shift+AltàDrag with pointer tool

Paste in Place: ctrl+alt+V

This option can be used to paste the copied object exactly at the same place from where it was copied on the same page or another page.  This is useful to place common objects to be maintained in multiple pages at same place.

Paste a cut/copied objects multiple times:

1. Select an object àcut/copy
2. Edit menuàPaste Multiple
3. Paste Multiple dialog appears
4. Enter number of copies you want.
5. Enter Horizontal and Vertical Offset.

Offset is the displacement of newly pasted object from its previous object.

Re arranging Objects:

Objects are placed on the page in the order they were drawn.  There is a stacking order for the objects on the page.  But objects cannot be drawn in order with plan while designing.  It becomes necessary to change order later.

Place an object in front of all objects:

Ctrl+Shift+] (or) ElementàArrangeàbring to Front

Place an object just above to its neighbor object:

            Ctrl+] (or) ElementàArrangeàBring forward

Place an object behind of all objects:

            Ctrl+Shift+[ (or) ElementàArrangeàSend to Back

Place an object just below to its neighbor object:

            Ctrl+[ (or) ElementàarrangeàSend backward

Group/Ungroup Objects:

Grouping makes more than one objects to be treated as a single object.  Grouped object can be selected, moved, resized or deleted as they were single object. 

1. Select the objects to be grouped/ungrouped
2. Element menuàGroup (Ctrl+G)

Ungroup objects, Press Shift+Ctrl+G (Or) Element MenuàUngroup

Lock the objects

Locking makes the object reject moving from its place.  It can be useful to prevent from accidental moving of objects on the screen which may disturb the design.

Apply Lock:

1. Select the object(s) to be locked
2. Element menuàLock (Ctrl+L)

To Unlock: Alt+Ctrl+L (or) Element MenuàUnlock

Masking Objects:

Masking is an effect in which one object controls the visibility of one or more other objects.  The object which is controlling visibility or others is known as Mask object and the objects whose visibility is being controlled are known as Clipped objects.  There can be many clipped objects but only one mask object.

The object that can be acted as mask must have the following properties:

1. It should be the top of remaining objects that are going to be clipped.
2. It can have outline but should not have fill

Procedure of applying/removing mask:

1. Select mask along with clipped objects.
2. Element Menuàmask (or) Ctrl+6
3. Select the masked groupàunmask: ctrl+shift+6

Masking is not grouping or locking the objects.  So, both mask or clipped objects can be moved or resized individually even after masking.  Masking can be also be used with grouping and locking.

Aligning Objects:

1. Select the objects to be aligned
2. Element menuàAlign Objects (or) Shift+Ctrl+E
3. Select a Vertical or Horizontal alignment style

Distributing Objects:

1. Select the objects to be distributed
2. Element menuàAlign Objects (or) Shift+Ctrl+E
3. Select a Vertical or Horizontal distribution style
   1. Distribute within bounds
   2. Distribute fixed amount