Many beginners may not have heard of the “tilde” key trick. It’s the ~ key just beside the number 1 keypad. By holding the tilde key, you can drag to create new shapes following your mouse direction. You can only use it with other shape tools in your tool palette. Combine it with Alt/Option, Shift/Command and spacebar to create new effects. Have fun with the tilde key, below are some experiments I have done with it.
Back to 101 Illustrator Tips & Tricks »
Loading ...
May 15th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Excellent, Exactly what I’ve been looking for, thanks
May 28th, 2008 at 3:33 am
never ever heard of that technique.. really nice effect and so simple! I’ve been expirimenting with this technique for half an hour now and there are so many possibilities
thanks for sharing!
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
hi dear friends
i don’t know how to make this style pls teach to me and where is the “tilde” options.
tnks.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
The “tilde” key is right under Esc Key. Select the Circle Tool, hold down the “tilde” key and drag on the canvas to start drawing shapes. You can also try it with other shape tools.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am
yay! fun to play with! thanks!
August 5th, 2008 at 4:46 am
hopefully i’ll get a reply?
i was just wondering how i could add the gradient effect (as seen in your opening banner) to the lines? i’ve tried everything i can think of, but nothing seems to work!
August 5th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi Mickey, Go Object>Epxand to expand the lines into shapes. Select all and apply gradient to it.
August 5th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
love it!
August 16th, 2008 at 10:23 am
well…i dont know this trick…f***m
well if use a keyboard portuguese ur ~ key in this tut is “ç” key :d
tks for the trick :d
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 am
For spanish keyboards is the “ñ” letter, thanks god i found it! Great trick!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
For French keyboards it’s the “<” key. Very glad to have finally found it! Cool trick
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Hello dear friends
I don’t know how to make this style pls teach to me and where is the “tilde” options.my email ID is love_malhotra2007@yahoo.co.in
thanxs.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
cooooooooooooooool
that’s really awesome, great trick. M Loving it. 
thanks for sharing.
October 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Hey!
Great tutorial!
I would like to know what is the bet way to paint inside the draw. I made something like the stars and i don’t know how to paint the “other inside” draws that i’ve made by the experiment. It’s to much work to paint one piece by one
*sorry for my english haha
thanks
October 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Go Object>Expand to expand the lines. Next select all lines and fill it with gradient. Pull and drag to set the direction of the gradient. You will achieve something like what I have done.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Hi!
Can’t get this to work…
I have a Norwegian keyboard layout, and where the tilde / ~ symbol should be, I have ‘ and § instead. I have to press alt and ^ to get the ~ symbol. I can’t figure out how to do this trick..!
October 25th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Very good trick! Let me ask something. Which key replaces the mac’s option key, in the pc keyboard?
October 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
The Alt key.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Oh my god! Why did I not know this
Awesome, thanks for sharing.. I’ll be using this alot from now on 
October 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Btw. I have the new Mac keyboard with a danish layout. In case some of you can’t find the tilde key, you just need to press the key and go crazy