How to Use the Appearance Panel in Adobe Illustrator

Learn how to use the powerful and often overlooked Appearance Panel to enhance text and objects with multiple strokes, objects and special effects in Adobe Illustrator. Susan Rutledge covers the basics of layer hierarchy, shows how text and objects are treated differently in the Appearance Panel, and demonstrates how to make Graphic Styles from the designs you create, to use them over and over again. Keyboard shortcuts provided for both MAC and PC users.

[@007Yasir]

Wow, you are so precise, you didn’t leave off anything without explaining. I just learned so much about the Appearance panel. I just subscribed and will look at your other videos. 👌

[@SusanRutledge]

Thanks for watching and subscribing. I'm glad you found the video helpful. It's truly an amazing tool in Illustrator!

[@ifebabs7855]

I haven't finished watching this video, but I already wish it is possible to like it several times. It definitely deserves more views and Likes. Thanks for being detailed and methodical👍👍👍

[@SusanRutledge]

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you found the tutorial helpful!

[@ursalaoutrageous9249]

I love your teaching methods. So many instructors fly through the information as if you are as experienced as they are and know exactly what to do. I’ve been using illustrator for years, but I confess, it is a huge world that has only been explored timidly from the edges in my case.

[@SusanRutledge]

Ursula thank you for your comment. I'm glad to know you find my teaching style easy to follow. That's my goal! Keep watching!

[@timothymachiridza8125]

Thanks so much Susan. You break down concepts to something that is easy to grasp. I am learning a lot from your tutorials.

[@SusanRutledge]

You are welcome! Glad you’re learning. That’s what it’s all about!

[@timothymachiridza8125]

@@SusanRutledge Thanks so much you a doing a great job

[@mimilapin]

You're an amazing teacher, thanks for posting this!!

[@SusanRutledge]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. It encourages me to keep making videos!

[@cw4608]

You are an excellent instructor. I have been using Illustrator for quite a while, but you are so thorough, I am learning things I didn’t know. Thank you, new subscriber.

[@SusanRutledge]

Thank you CW. I'm so glad you're learning from my tutorials. It makes me happy that you're learning things even after using Illustrator a long time. I'm constantly finding hidden gems in this great software too! I appreciate you watching and subscribing!

[@79sketches]

Very useful I have worked with AI since 2003, never used the appearance panel. thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@SusanRutledge]

You are welcome. Glad you found this helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@STAMPER-DESIGN]

Great lesson! Thank you

[@SusanRutledge]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@bunyaminalbayrak6047]

Teşekkür ederim... Çok faydalı ve yararlı bir bilgiler...

[@SusanRutledge]

You are welcome

[@cw4608]

I pray you, and your family and friends are safe.

[@keremgurcan5315]

Hello Susan. First of all thank you so much for this tutrorial. English is not my main language but thanks to your clean diction, its easy to follow your tutorial. i have in trouble in a point on the appearence panel. i set up all my effects for a text. I'm gonna use this text effect on a package design. so i have to flip the text for the back side of the pack. The problem is the drop shadow effect doesn't flip. i have tried to convert the text and flip too but it doesn't works. Even when i try to reverse the x and y coordinates of that effect, the result is different.i mean not in the same value as the original one. so i had to expand the appearance. I just wanted to ask if there is another way to flip the drop shadow effect by keeping it as text or keep saving the appearance. best regards...

[@SusanRutledge]

If I understand your question correctly, you want the drop shadow and text to be the same on both sides, but one side is flipped. Could you create BOTH sides without a drop shadow, then when you have the text like you want it, add the drop shadow to the front, write down your settings, then go to the flipped side, select THAT text and add a drop shadow to it too. That way you create the text once, but apply the drop shadow twice. Hope this answers your question. If I misunderstood what you're trying to do, let me know and perhaps I can help you come up with a different solution.

[@garycoates8502]

Good

[@SusanRutledge]

Thanks Gary! Thank you for watching and for leaving a comment!