Create dotted or dashed lines, Change the caps or joins of a line – Adobe Illustrator CC 2015 User Manual
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Painting
Last updated 6/5/2015
Create dotted or dashed lines
You can create a dotted or dashed line by editing an object’s stroke attributes.
1
Select the object.
2
In the Stroke panel, select Dashed Line. If the Dashed Line option isn’t showing, choose Show Options from the
Stroke panel menu.
3
Click the icon: Align Dashes to Corners and Path Ends, Adjusting Length to Fit
. This option allows you to
make the dashes at the corners and ends of the paths consistent and predictable. If you need to retain the appearance
of the dashes without aligning then select the Preserve exact dash and gap lengths
icon.
A Preserved exact dash and gap lengths B Aligned dashes to corners and path ends, adjusting lengths to fit
4
Specify a dash sequence by entering the lengths of dashes and the gaps between them.
The numbers entered are repeated in sequence so that once you have established the pattern, you don’t need to fill
in all the text boxes.
5
Select a cap option to change the ends of the dashes. The Butt Cap
option creates square-ended dashes; the Round
Cap
option creates rounded dashes or dots; the Projecting Cap
option extends the ends of dashes.
A Butt cap B Round cap C Projecting cap
For a video on creating perfectly dashed strokes, see
Change the caps or joins of a line
A cap is the end of an open line; a join is where a straight line changes direction (turns a corner). You can change the
caps and joins of a line by changing the object’s stroke attributes.
1
Select the object.
2
In the Stroke panel, select a cap option and a join option.
If the options aren’t showing, choose Show Options from the panel menu.
Butt Cap
Creates stroked lines with squared ends.