Symbol Sprayer - used to spray a particular pattern around your layout in free form. To use it select from the Tool Menu Palette, then from the Symbol menu, select a symbol, and spray by clicking around the layout. If the symbol menu is not in view, select it from the top menu: Window > Symbols.

Creating your own symbols - You can create your own symbols, which you can spray at will in the same way as described above. To create your own symbol, create your design, then when you are ready to turn it into a symbol, select it and go to the Symbol menu, then click on the top right arrow, click on "new symbol" the object on the canvas is now a symbol. Check your symbol list.

Saving Symbol Libraries - If you create a large symbol library, you may find that you need to move it from one computer to another. To do this, go to the Symbol menu, then click on the top right arrow, on the drop down menu select "create library." name it, then decide where you want to save it. If you are taking it home, save it to your flash drive, or other portable storage device. To import symbol libraries, go to the top right arrow and select "Open Symbol Libraries", in the drop down menu select "Other" then select your library. It will be imported.

Swatches - useful to keep a set of colors you always use. To create a swatch, open the swatch menu at the top menu: Window > Swatches, then select a swatch. To create a swatch, go to the top right arrow, click it, and on the drop down menu select new swatch. A menu palette will show up. Adjust the color as you wish, then click OK, and the new swatch should appear in your library.

Save Swatch Library - same as Symbol Library.

Brushes - useful for the pen or any other drawing tool. You can access this one in various forms. Usually at the top menu of any drawing tool, or you can select at the top menu: Window > Brushes, then select the brush according to the tool that you are working with.

Note: if you have a particular object selected and you choose a different brush, the stroke on the object will change to the current brush you've selected.

Stroke - Can have round edges, or cornered edges as well as round ends or cornered ends. Select a stroke and experiment. You may decide to have a round edge over a cornered edge depending on how clean you want your lines to look. To access this tool go to the top menu, then select Window > Stroke.

Note: Strokes work in conjunction to brushes and may not be too visible if the brush is really complex.

Filters - These work with vectors, but not all of them. They also vary according to the type of effects that you may have applied to the object. Also they work with raster graphics but not all of them will be available.

Rasterizing objects - you may decide to rasterize an object to give it a certain effect. To do this, go to the top menu and select: Object > Rasterize. The object will be treated like an imported raster. You can then apply effects and filters to the rasters.

Note: not all of filters and effects will work on rasters, as well as with vectors. Experiment. Raster graphics increase your file size dramatically. Think twice before using this feature.

Styles - You can access preset attributes from the top menu: Window > Styles. To create your own styles, work on a look by combing strokes as well as other effects such as gradients, etc, then when you have the look that you want go to the Styles menu and click the top right arrow, from the top down menu select "New Graphic Style." If you want to save your style library follow the same instructions for swatch and symbol libraries.