live mirror while drawing object?

On 7th January 2021, Adobe added a new feature called Repeat which can be found under Object> Repeat. This will allow you to edit artwork using the symmetry of live instances in a radial, grid or mirrored arrangement. First added to the initial release of illustrator on the iPad, it has now quietly made its way onto the desktop version.

I've created a video rundown of this new feature:

https://youtu.be/dV9wqMnIRmg

Along with a blog post on each of the three repeats:

On 7th January 2021, Adobe added a new feature called Repeat which can be found under Object> Repeat. This will allow you to edit artwork using the symmetry of live instances in a radial, grid or mirrored arrangement. First added to the initial release of illustrator on the iPad, it has now quietly made its way onto the desktop version.

I've created a video rundown of this new feature on the following link:

https://www.creativefrontiers.co.uk/article/illustrator-repeat-artwork

Chopping block template worked great for me. Taking the object out of the layer still requires doing a grouped object tranform, or using the reflection tool.

Illustrator, this needs to be a feature. It's 2013 for chrissakes. Don't make me do grunt work.

ccp,

And then there is the version independent old fashioned solution to prove that Illy could do it even in her youth:

1) Create a larger symmetric no fil no stroke path object such as a circle placed with its centre at the desired centre;

2) Cut it at top and bottom and keep the part that is on the same side as the actual drawing, this is the enclosing half path;

3) Group the half drawing and the enclosing half path;

4) With the Group selected, Effect>Distort & Transform>Transform, with a move equalling the width of the enclosing half path, set Copies to 1, and tick Reflect X.

After that, the drawing should be mirrored live as you continue. You may Object>Expand Appearance when you are done and get rid of the enclosing half path, but always keep a copy of the live artwork.

Target the current layer and assign a "Transform - Reflect" effect (see attached). Then just draw on the layer.

I made a video tutorial that describes exactly how to do this and put up on Youtube for some friends, then someone pointed me here!  I think it's basically the same approach as the Chopping Block tutorial,  the main difference is that I like to make my bounding box bigger than the page.  If you draw outside of the bounding box the system breaks, so making it larger than the page gives you a little room on the edges.  I made the video before I saw the chopping block page, but this is a technique that I think people should know about.

Make sure you watch in HD.

http://youtu.be/KfXsIneeIHk

It is possible like Autocad

Follow this tutorial:

http://blog.choppingblock.com/2009/03/illustrator-cs3-cs4-reflection-templates/

Also you may draw one half of the objects and use Reflect tool (O) and reflect the other symmetrical half.

You can’t have a live reflection as you are drawing or editing the object’s path. You can apply Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform and have a near-live reflection to any object. As you edit, you don’t see the reflection, but when you release the mouse button, say after a rotation or after changing a curve, the reflection will update.