FILE • EDIT• OBJECT • TYPE • SELECT • FILTER • EFFECT • VIEW • WINDOW

MENUS

FILE

New / command N
Choose "new" from the File menu to get a new document window.

New from Template / command shift N
You can save any document as a template, and CS ships with a whole slew of prefab templates as well. Use this command to open a template (ait) and create a new document using the saved components.

Open / command O
To open an existing Adobe Illustrator document. A dialog box appears asking you to open a file, and which one.

Open Recent Files
Shows you a list of the last ten documents that were open in Illustrator.

Close / command W
This closes the window, but DOESN'T QUIT the application.

Save / command S
This saves the current document. When you choose it the first time, you will be asked to name the document and to put it somewhere. In addition, make sure you choose the appropriate format (i.e. "Illustrator EPS") under format in order for your images to be accessible to XPress & PageMaker. InDesign can read native Illustrator files.

Save As/ command shift S
This allows you to rename, or relocate your already saved document. It creates a copy of the original, and puts it in whatever folder or disk you specify.

Save A Copy...
Save the current version of your document, and continue to work on the original. This is handy if you want to save several versions of the same project.

Save as Template...
The same "save" dialog box appears, but the format selected is "ait." You can simply choose "save" and select template from the format options as well.

Save for Web
This is identical to the Save for Web command in Photoshop. Specify image type and other parameters in the (huge) new window that will open when you choose this.

Save a Version
Version Cue is a new feature to the Adobe Creative Suite (CS). If you're in a collaborative environment where several people are working on the same project, you could open a shared file, make changes and/or add comments, and then save a version for your team mates to see and add to.

Revert
This will reopen your document, bringing it back to where it was when you last saved it (You can undo multiple changes with this option.)

Place...
This command brings up a dialog box which asks you what you want to bring into your document, and where to find it. If you're bringing in a Photoshop file, make sure it's using the same color profile as your Illustrator document.

Save for Microsoft Office...
Use this if your image is going to be used in Word, Excel, or Powerpoint. It saves your image in the png format

Export...
This allows you to specify a file format other than Illustrator, EPS or PDF. If you want to move an Illustrator file with its layers intact to Photoshop, for instance, use the export option.

Scripts
There are several “actions” listed here that you can choose, if appropriate (like add watermark).

Document Set Up / option + command P
Often, you may want to create an image within a shape that is not typical (i.e. not 8.5" X 11"). Use this command to create an image area which is different from the automatic default.

Document Color Mode
Choose RGB or CMYK

File Info
This dialog box allows you to put in information about the file - who created it and when, key words relevant to the file, and so forth.

Versions...
Again, this works when you have enabled Version Cue.

Print / command P
Choose "print" to create hard copy. There are several panels in the print dialog box that you should move through in order to get your image positioned on the paper correctly.

It's also a good idea to check your page setup and printer options using those buttons at the bottom left of the print dialog box.

When you've checked everything, click "done" to return to your document without printing, or "print" to send it to the printer.

EDIT
Undo / command Z
This is a wonderful command. It allows you to un-do the last several things you did, in case you made one or several moves which didn't work out as planned.

Redo / command shift Z
If you decide you liked what you had done and then went and undid, you can redo it.

Cut / command X
This literally deletes the selected item and places it in the clipboard, so you can paste it, or forget it.

Copy / command C
This places a copy of the selected item into the clipboard for pasting.

Paste / command V
Places whatever item is currently in your clipboard onto the document.

Paste in front / command F
This is a little confusing, and very different from other programs which allow you to layer something. It does not refer to the currently selected item, but to the current image held in your clipboard. It will place a copy of your object in front of everything else in the active layer, or in front of the currently selected object.

Paste in back / command B
This will paste a copy of whatever is in your clipboard behind everything else in the active layer or the currently selected object.

Clear
Eliminates the selected item without placing it into the clipboard.

Find and Replace...

Find Next...

Check Spelling...

Edit Custom Dictionary...

Define Pattern...
Select some objects and choose this to have a pattern added to your swatch palette - see the section on patterns for more detail. Or simply select the pattern tile you created and drag it to the swatches palette.

Edit Original
This will open the file to an image that is linked to the current Illustrator document.

Transparency Flattener Presets...
If you've used any colors at less than opaque, this dialog box lets you choose how the transparent areas will print. Medium quality is most appropriate for comps. High quality is for professional output, and low is best for black and white proofing.

Print Presets...

PDF Presets...

Color Settings
You can choose here what kind of monitor you're using and which color system you prefer. But the coolest little thingy here is the "simulate print colors on display" option. Make sure you've chosen the appropriate printer above, and then check this. Honest to goodness, the colors you see on your monitor are the ones that will print.

Assign Profile
For advanced users - or more likely, printers. It’s where you determine which color profiles and other options are in effect.

Keyboard Shortcuts
You can select a tool by pressing a certain letter (like “P” for the pen tool) rather than going to the tool box and clicking on it. This dialog box allows you to assign keys to other tools - ones you use a lot, for instance - to save time.

OBJECT

Transform:
You can specify an number of transformations here - from scaling to skewing. One interesting option is "transform each," which affects individual elements in a discrete fashion, rather than treating the entire selection as a group. Use this to scale, rotate or distort pattern fills without disturbing the object itself

Arrange:
This allows you to move the selected object(s) forward or backward in the stacking order - remember that the stacking order is created as you draw several objects: the first object is at the bottom of the stack, and the most recently drawn object is on top.

Group / command G
This allows you to select several objects and combine them so that they are subsequently treated as a single unit. However, when you use the direct-selection tool (the hollow one) you can still select a single element within a group and manipulate it separately. Be careful!

Ungroup / shift + command G
This will ungroup - or separate - the elements previously created as a grouped object

Lock / command 2
This will set the selected item in place, never to be moved, deleted or otherwise disturbed until it is unlocked again. Or lock all other layers, or all items above the selected one.

Unlock All / option + command 2
This will unlock ALL locked objects. Hide command 3 You can "hide" elements temporarily by selecting them and choosing this option. If you forget to "show" hidden objects before you print, they will not print.

Hide / command 3
This will temporarily hide selected objects so you can see what's behind them or next to them.

Show All / option + command 3
This makes visible all previously hidden elements. You cannot "show" one element at a time.

Expand...
This turns gradient fills into blended strokes with a mask. Kinda complicated to explain, but VERY cool. It's also used to connect shapes that have been united.

Expand Appearance
Hooray for this one! You can turn a brush stroke into an object using Expand Appearance. Nice.

Flatten Transparency
Select an object in which you've used a transparent fill, and this will remove the transparency and make your object 100% solid. If you check the "preserve alpha transparency" box, nothing changes...

Rasterize
This command is the way Illustrator turns postscript images into bit mapped images. At that point, some of the filters and effects will be available to use on the rasterized image.

Create Gradient Mesh
This allows you to determine the grid used to define your gradient. Once applied, you can use your hollow arrow tool to move the points around. You can also select a control point, and change the color of the gradient.

Slice
Slices refer to areas of an image that has been divided up into small bits for use as web graphics.

Path
I use this menu a lot. You can average selected points (bring them in alignment with each other, join two selected points, or average and join them at the same time (command + option + shift J). You can outline a path and offset paths. Using the slice command will crop items to fit the top (selected) shape.

Blend
Blend options allow you to create intermediary steps from one object to another.

Envelope Distort
This is a neat way to distort objects using one of several methods - shapes (like arch, fisheye, and bulge), by using paths that can be adjusted with the hollow pen tool, or by using two objects to influence each other.

Text Wrap
Your text must be behind (under) the objects(s) around which you want to wrap it. This is also called a "runaround." Select the text and object(s) and choose this. A dialog box asks you how far away from the object you want the text to bounce—the default is 6 points, which is the minimum you'd want

Clipping Mask -> Make / command 7
A mask is really more like a matte that you cut when framing a picture. Adobe Illustrator used to call this a clipping path. It literally hides anything which lies outside its perimeter. A mask can be any shape or size, and must be on top of anything you want to mask. Select the items you want to mask, and the masking shape before choosing "make mask."

Masks -> Release / command + shift 7
This undoes the make mask command. Select the mask and all its masked objects first...

Compound Path -> Make / command 8
Creating a compound is how you create "see through" objects. Make sure the object you want to be the "hole" is on top of the element which will be the border surrounding the see through element. Select both, and choose this.

Compound Path -> Release / command + shift 8
Use this to undo the "make compound" command.

Crop Area
This will place printing crop marks at the corners of a rectangle you create. Useful if your actual image size is smaller than the printing page. Draw a rectangle with the rectangle tool—use your rulers to make it the correct size, or click with the rectangle tool to create a box in the dimensions you need. While the rectangle is selected, choose"crop area." The rectangle will disappear and be replaced with crop marks.

Crop Area -> Release
Choose this if you change your mind. It will put your rectangle back and get rid of the crop marks.

Graph
You must have data to input to create a graph. Choose the style you want first, then add your numbers.

TYPE
(see also the section on using the type tool)

Font
This is your list of available fonts. If it isn't showing here, you must open the one you want.

Recent Fonts
A list of the fonts most recently used in Illustrator; handy if you forget font names or get confused.

Size
Choose a point size from the list, or type in what you want by using the "other" option.

Glyphs
This handy chart (Adobe has included it in InDesign as well) is used for finding "hidden" characters in a font—the ones you get holding the option, or option and shift keys—as well as regular letters, numbers and punctuation. So if you need a • or a © you know how to get it. Select a letter or space in your text area, and then open this.

Area Type Options...
This takes a text block and turns it into multiple columns (you decide how many) and allows you to determine gutter width, and even to expand the width of the text block. This will only work on a block of type that was created by clicking and dragging the text tool to create a bounding box.

Blocks (link + unlink)
As with Quark XPress, and, using different words, Aldus PageMaker, this command allows text to flow from one linked object to another. It is most appropriately used when you have created columns or shapes. Select all the objects you want to link first. The order of the shapes fill depending on their layering. You can "send to back" and "bring to front" the elements you want to link to rearrange this order.

Type on a Path
You have some pretty funky options here. Select your type with the text tool, or with the solid arrow tool first.

Threaded Text
Shades of InDesign! This is how you connect one text box to another. Select several text boxes (only the first one has to have text in it), and this command links them so the text flows from one to another, in the order they were created. You can also do this manually, the same way you'd do it in InDesign. HINT: if you've created several boxes and then can't see them to select them, change to outline view (command Y).

Fit Headline
Don't ever, ever use this. It is the work of the devil, and Adobe should be ashamed for ever creating it. If you are still interested, figure it out yourself. (It only works on MM fonts.)

Create Outlines / shift + command O
This turns the selected type (use your selection tool, not the type tool) into compound objects. They are outlines with anchor points, but the counters (the middle of the "O" or "A," etc.) are "see through" and attached to the outer portion of the letter. You can manipulate each point, release the compound if desired, fill and stoke the letterforms individually in this mode.

Find Font...
Well this is a bit wacky, but it allows you to change the current fonts used in your document to other fonts. First select the font you used that you want to change, then in the lower window, select the font you want to change it to.

Change Case...
Highlight the text first, then decide if you want all upper case, lower case or sentence case text.

Smart Punctuation...
There are several options here, from using ligatures (if they are available) to curly quotes and more. Check the options you want and quit worrying.

Optical Margin Alignment
This aligns the left and/or right margins so that it appears more even, i.e. angled letters like A and W are set a bit outside the margin to make them look aligned, as vs. using a mechanical alignment.

Show Hidden Characters
Every time you use the tab key, return, or even space bar, you are inserting a character. Most software hides these characters. So does Illustrator, unless you select this option.

Type Orientation
This changes normal, nice horizontal text into stacked letters. I used to call it scrabble or crossword type. Now I call it Matrix type.

Legacy Text
Illustrator CS uses a new type "engine" that affects kerning and leading. If you open a file that was created in a previous version of Illustrator, you will get a dialog box asking if you want to update the existing text. If you don't you'll still be able to move the text around, and modify it's looks, but you won't be able to edit it until you update it. Choose this command to do that, if you didn't update it when you first opened the file.

SELECT

All / command A
Selects everything on all unlocked layers.

Deselect / shift + command A
Unselects any selected objects

Reselect / command 6
Selects again what was just deselected (perhaps by mistake?).

Inverse
Unselects what’s currently selected, and selects everything else instead.

Next Object Above / option + command ] (right bracket)
Selects the object just on top of the currently selected object - this applies to stacking order, not layers.

Next Object Below / option + command [ (left bracket)
Selects the object just underneath the currently selected object - again, this applies to stacking order, not layers.

SAME

Blending Mode: select a blended object, and this will select any other object with the same blending properties.

Fill + Stroke
Select an object, and this will select any other objects with the same fill and stroke attributes.

Fill Color
Select an object, and this will select all other objects with the same fill color (regardless of stroke weight or color).

Opacity
Select and object, and this will select all others with the same opacity settings.

Stroke Color
Selects all objects with the same stroke color as the current selection.

Stroke Weight
Selects all objects with the same stroke weight as the current selection.

Style
There is a style palette with several pretty queer predefined styles. If you’ve applied one of these to several objects and change your mind (good idea!) this is the way to select all of them at once.

Symbol Instance
As with style, if you’ve used a symbol in several areas of your image, this will select them all (so you can delete them, perhaps?).

OBJECT

All on same layer
This will select everything on the layer that contains the current selected object (as vs. everything on all unlocked layers - very handy)

Direction Handles
This changes an object that is totally selected (i.e. all the control points are solid) to one that is partially selected (i.e. all the control points are hollow). It’s the same as selecting something's edge with the hollow pen tool - and takes much longer!!

Brush Strokes
This selects all brush stroke - regardless of their style.

Clipping Masks
Selects all existing masks in your document.

Stray Points
Hurray for this one! It should have a keystroke shortcut, it’s so handy. When you’re totally finished with your image, use this to select any control points that aren’t connected to anything—of course, you have to remember to delete them—this just selects them.

Text Objects
Use this if you want to change the font or point size of all the type in your document.

Save Selection
You can save a selected object - name it and it will appear at the bottom of the Select menu. Select it again by choosing it here. (Make sure you give it a name that makes sense!)

Edit Selection
All you can do here is rename a selection or delete it from the list.

FILTER

I debated whether to include everything here, or just provide a cursory look at this menu: it is mighty powerful. In the interest of continuity, I decided a simple explanation of filters would suffice for this section. See the section on Filters for more detail.

Apply Last Filter / command E
This will do again the last thing you chose from this menu to the selected item.

Last Filter / option + command E
This opens the filter dialog box so you can make changes.

Colors
This is a heading for several sub-menu items, which are a variety of transformations you can effect by merely choosing one, or choosing one and specifying information in the attendant dialog box.

Create
Again, a heading for a sub-menu which allows you to create object mosaics (dumb) and trim marks (like crop marks...).

Distort
Another sub-menu, this time including things you can do to distort objects including free distort, pucker + bloat, roughen, scribble + tweak, transform, twist, and zigzag. You can also distort objects using the distort tools.

Pen and Ink
This is scary. It will fill an object with a series of strokes - there are many options to chose from. Play with it! I have messed with it and I, quite frankly, hate it.

Stylize
This is similar to distort, but a bit more refined. You can: add arrowheads, bloat, create a calligraphic effect, create a drop shadow, punk, or create round corners on an object.

The next set of filters are the same ones you have in Photoshop. You must select objects and rasterize them (from the Object menu) before these filter will work. Of course, they will work on a placed image as well. Make sure you’re working in RGB mode, and not CMYK, to have all these filters available

EFFECT

Effects are a bit different from filters, even though they appear to be the same in certain aspects (like the same set of Photoshop filters at the bottom). The main difference is that these effects don’t change the original object. If you want to stop these effects from affecting everything you do, use the appearance palette to drag them to the trash.

Document Raster Effects Settings
Use this dialog box to determine certain aspects of how Illustrator will rasterize objects - resolution, margins, color mode and so on. The decisions you make here affect all rasterized objects.

Convert to Shape
Select something you’ve created then choose to convert to rectangle, rounded rectangle or ellipse. Give me some time and I’ll figure out why this is a good thing...

Distort & Transform
These effects include free distort, pucker + bloat, roughen, scribble + tweak, transform, twist, and zigzag.

Path
This is supposed to outline or offset a path, stroke or object.

Pathfinder
These filters work the same as those in the Pathfinder palette.

Rasterize
This changes the selected object(s) from vector-based drawing to a bit-mapped image.

Stylize
This is similar to distort, but a bit more refined. You can: add arrowheads, bloat, create a calligraphic effect, create a drop shadow, punk, or create round corners on an object.

SVG filters
SVG filters are for use on images that will be viewed on the web.

Warp
Now these are fun, and handy, since they work on vector-based objects (that is, you don’t have to rasterize something to have these work). Choose from flag, wave, fish, rise, fisheye, inflate, squeeze, and twist.

check out some 3-D effects!

VIEW
N.B. Adobe Illustrator works differently than most other programs in that what you see isn't always what you get. In Illustrator, while you are drawing, you may only be looking at the outlines of the elements you are making. When you fill them with paint attributes, you will not see what they look like unless you are in "preview" mode (command Y).

Preview / command Y
Choosing this will show you your illustration in all its colorful glory. You can work on your illustration in this mode, but you can't always see or get to items you need to modify. When this occurs, choose "artwork" mode.

Outline / command Y
The image you see on your screen while in this mode is a wire frame of what you are really doing; no color, fill, or stroke attributes are visible. It is a faster way to draw, but often confusing to a new user of Adobe Illustrator. Better to stay in "preview" mode...

Overprint Preview / option + shift + command Y
When using the pure CMYK colors, you can use the attributes palette to show what these colors will look like when the print on top of each other. Since printing inks are transparent to some degree, a magenta object printed on top of a cyan object will turn blue. If you want a true magenta next to (or on top of) a cyan object, you'd have the printer "knock out" or eliminate the cyan underneath it.

Proof Setup
If you're working with a color management system other than the default, you can preview what your image will look like on a Mac or PC, or general monitor settings.

Proof Colors
This is also called "soft-proofing." If you've set up your color management system to anything other than "emulate Adobe 6..." (from the Edit menu) you can choose this to preview what your image will look like when it prints.

Zoom In / command + (=)
Allows you to get a closer look at what you're doing, but doesn't actually change the size of anything

Zoom Out / command - (minus)
Moves your "further away" from your image so you can see more of it.

Fit in Window / command 0 (zero)
This reduces your view to show you the entire page size. It's also very handy when you are so close to what you're working on, you loose track of the "bigger picture."

Actual Size / command 1
This will put your view at 100% - that is, what you see is what you'll get.

Hide - Show Edges / command H
This is rather funky. When "hide edges" is in action, you can select things all you want, but you'll never know it because the control points aren't visible. Very disconcerting...

Show/Hide Artboard
Handy. If you want to get rid of all the rule lines/guides that define the size of your image, select this.

Show/Hide Page Tiling
Selecting this will hide the dotted lines around your document - the ones that represent the printing area, as defined in Page Setup (under the File menu).

Show/Hide Slices
If you're creating an image for a web page, you can "slice" it up into bits, which will make a large image load faster. These slices can be any color you may assign them, and they can be disconcerting. Hide them using this command.

Lock Slices
Choose this to lock any slices you've created so you don't move them inadvertently.

Show/Hide Template / shift + command W
A template is a file which is typically a scanned image on it's own layer. You can use a template in Illustrator to guide your drawing. Show it, or hide it, to see what you need to see. You can also hide this layer, and/or any others using the layers palette.

Show/Hide Rulers / command R
The rulers in Adobe Illustrator are at the top and left of the window. The ruler zero point is at the top left corner. Change your unit of measure from the default in the "preferences" dialog box. You can drag guide lines from these rulers to help you position objects, as well.

Show/Hide Bounding Box
A bounding box is a rectangle drawn around anything you’ve selected. I find it extremely annoying. Here’s where you can turn it off. Whew!

Show/Hide Transparency Grid
This places little gray boxes all over everything - just as in Photoshop when you are working on a transparent layer. Luckily, you can turn this off.

Guides
Show/Hide Guides command ; (semicolon)
You can hide (or show) all those dotted lines you created to assist you in your drawing, without your having to go get rid of them all; another pain in the... (I am happy to note that Adobe finally created a keystroke shortcut for this one!)

Lock Guides / option + command ; (semicolon)
Immovable guides are the default in Illustrator. If you want to move or delete them, you must unlock them first. Don't forget to lock them again or you will drive yourself crazy. SHORTCUT: command + shift + option and double clicking on a guide will turn it back into it's original self.

Make Guides / command 5
This will change your selected object into a dotted line, which will not print, but is visually available for you to align other objects or text to. You can also drag t-squares and triangles, to use as guides, from the ruler.

Release Guides / option + command 5
This changes all guides into objects - including t-squares and triangles! Be careful! To delete a t-square or triangle guide which has been turned into an object, select and delete them. To move a guide back into the ruler, hold down the command + shift + control keys, and double click on the guide, then immediately delete it! This take some practice!

Clear Guides
Voila, they're gone!

Smart Guides
I don't know much about this one, except that it can really screw up the way Illustrator works. Keep it unchecked.

Show Grid / command ” (quote)
Set up the units and color for your grid using preferences.

Snap to Grid / shift + command ” (quote)
When an object gets within a certain number of pixels to a grid line, it will snap to that line. Handy for aligning objects but also annoying when you want to move something just a bit and it keeps snapping to someplace else.

Snap to Point / options + command ” (quote)
When this is on, you'll sometimes see a little blue X hovering around your selection tool. When a point of one object is over the point of another, it changes to an inverted V, indicating the points are overlapping, and the object will snap to that point.

New View
Now this is handy: if you typically like to work at, say, a 200% view, you can save this information. Illustrator assigns your view a keystroke shortcut (starting with command + control 1), so you can get there faster (maybe) than you might using other magnifying or reducing tools/techniques.You have to be in the view you want to save, before you can save it. And, these views are saved with the current document only, and not as defaults for the program.

Edit Views
If you find you've saved views that you really don't use, you can delete them with this command.

WINDOW

New Window
This is cool. It opens a duplicate window of the one you're working in. Make this window small, and make the original window a little smaller so you can see both of them on your monitor. Choose "preview" for the duplicate window, and voila! You have a view of colors, textures, etc. in one window, and can make changes and otherwise continue working on the document in "artwork" mode (faster) in the other window. This saves time because you can work in black and white (faster) and don't have to switch between views to see what you're really doing.
The following list shows or hides (by being unchecked) the variety of palettes available to speed up your work processes. Several palettes are grouped together as tabs within one floating window - you can separate them by clicking on the tab and dragging the palette away from its “parent.”

Minimize / command M
This is the same as clicking on the little minus button at the top left of your document window—it hides the window, placing an icon of the document in your dock.

Bring All to Front
This just makes sure that all Illustrator files are at the top of the pile, rather than having files from other programs on top of some Illustrator ones.

Actions
With the advent of Illustrator 7, we saw a lot of features that resembled Photoshop in their capabilities. This is one of the better ones - IF you happen to have to do the same thing over and over again. As usual, there are some preset options here that are pretty awful. You can record your own set using the "new action" and "start recording" options in the pop down menu. Just don't forget to stop recording when you've finished!

Align
This handy palette is used to line objects up to each other in a variety of ways.

Appearance
This new palette lists all the attributes of each element on every layer. If you’ve applied any effects to an object, you need to delete the effects here, or they will be applied to every object you draw from then on. What a pain.

Attributes
This is an esoteric little palette. It allows you to disappear the "x" in the center of an object, and it's where you specify whether something should "overprint" or not. Overprint means that objects will print over (and thus be affected by) any color underneath it. Select both objects and group them, make sure "overprint fills" is selected in the "attributes" palette, then choose "mix soft" from Effects -> pathfinder. Where the objects overlap, the colors will mix with each other.)

Brushes
“Sigh.” Why is it that when some things get better, other things get worse? The brushes in version 10 are dumber than one could imagine. Use these with caution - better off making your own, if you can think of a good reason to. However, they can be handy for some things, especially if you "expand appearance" to turn them into shapes, rather than strokes. Just remember that the brush tool is about creating strokes, NOT FILLING IN OBJECTS!

Color
This command opens the window where you determine what fill and line attributes you want the selected element to have. You can choose colors/fills, gradients, and your line weight. I have to say that I miss the old color palette, but this works.

Document Info
This little window (usually at the bottom left of your screen, but you can move it) just shows you size and position information about the selected object. You can't do anything in it...

Gradient
This palette hangs out with the color and stroke palettes. Choose your colors for each side of the gradient from the color palette, and add additional colors by clicking in the middle area of the color bar.

Graphic Styles
This palette has some presets that alter your selected object(s) using distortion and color... You can create new styles by using the Effects menu to create the look you want, then drag that object to the graphic styles pallete. Alter an existing style by applying one to an object and using the appearance palette to add or delete effects.

Info
This is the same as document info... go figure.

Layers
This command either shows, or hides, the layer palette.

Links
Linked files are images that have been placed or embedded in the current document. This palette will let you manage those files by making sure they are still viable.

Magic Wand
Here is where you establish the parameters that guide the magic wand in making selections.

Navigator
For those of you who can't remember the scroll shortcut (the space bar) this palette let's you move a red box around your image in miniature to find the area in which you want to work and enlarge or reduce your view.

Pathfinder
I love this palette. It allows you to blend and/or subtract, divide—all kinds of things—selected objects. See the section on the Pathfinder palette for more detail.

Stroke
Determine the width of your stroke, the nature of the corners and ends, and whether you want a dotted/dashed line.

Styles
These are a bunch of predetermined effects that can be applied to a selected object. They’re pretty lame.

SVG Interactivity
I have to admit here that I am clueless about SVG and urls as far as Illustrator goes. These are new options in version 10.

Swatches
This palette is better off untouched. It presents even fewer options than the old "custom colors" palette did. You can add your own colors by mixing them in the color palette, then clicking on the "new color" icon at the bottom of the swatches palette or dragging an object with that color to the palette.

Symbols
Another palette developed, I’m sure, with the best of intentions, but better left alone. Unless, of course, you have a serious need to create a field of wheelchair access symbols...

Tools
You can’t live without this one. If it disappears by mistake, get it back by selecting it here. If that doesn’t work, try the Tab key (hitting tab hides all the open palettes - hit tab again to make them reappear).

Transform
A handy little palette that lets you specify the size, location, skew and rotation of an object. You can do these things using Object -> transform, or the various transformation tools in the tool palette as well.

Transparency
This little feature is the only reason I really like version 10 and CS. Select a filled object and make the fill transparent. Very, very cool.

Type
Select the character or paragraph palette here, or just type command T.

Variables
This goes along with SVG Interactivity. If you know how to use it, please let me know!

Brush Libraries
Open presets of various brush sizes and styles.

Graphic Libraries
Different presets of graphic styles can be opened to use on objects.

Swatch Libraries
Used to be you had to open the Pantone colors etc. using the file menu. This is much nicer. Choose from the pop down list and all the colors in the world show up at your fingertips. Then again, it's rare that you'd need to use spot color in Illustrator...

Symbol Libraries
Open various presets of symbols—food symbols, map symbols, and so on.