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akilleen
Participating Frequently
Feb 17, 2011 12:16 AM UTC
Answered

Reset star shape tool?

Somehow I narrowed the star shape tool so that it makes shapes like straight lines instead of a star. How do I reset it? For example, a four-point star looks like the letter X right now.

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      DayForceCorrect answer
      Inspiring
      Feb 17, 2011 12:38 AM UTC

      Make a really big thin star, hold down Command/Ctrl, and drag towards the center. Let go of Command/Ctrl and enlarge the star by moving away from the center. Do that a few times and the inner radius should come back.

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      14 replies

      HR32855713kfvf
      Participant
      Nov 18, 2024 7:44 PM UTC

      I found the old adage: when in doubt, reboot works. In this case, I exited Illustrator and reopened it. It defaulted to the 5-point star.

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      Jacob Bugge
      Community Expert
      Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Mar 18, 2020 1:18 PM UTC

      Thank you for sharing, SaitoHiro.

       

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        SaitoHiro
        Participating Frequently
        Mar 18, 2020 11:48 AM UTC

        Jacob_Bugge's answer did it for me. Ctrl+alt+shift resets the shape to normal so no need to eyeball any straight lines.

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          cheych
          cheych
          Participant
          Jul 16, 2020 2:47 AM UTC

          Thank you! This was the short cut I was looking for 🙂 

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          Jacob Bugge
          Community Expert
          Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          Jul 16, 2020 9:10 AM UTC

          For my part you are welcome, cheych.

           

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          dikla dana
          Participant
          Oct 1, 2014 8:12 AM UTC

          Thanks this really helped me

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          P.M.B
          P.M.B
          Legend
          Nov 12, 2017 2:44 AM UTC

          It seems at least for me that whatever "interactive" changes I make during creation remain the default.

          That's why the holding ctrl/cmd and dragging resets the radii.

          To reset the number of points tap the up and down arrow keys while you are dragging out the shape.

          This should reset the tool to whatever you chose permanently.

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          ~Gutterfish
          Jacob Bugge
          Community Expert
          Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          Feb 17, 2011 9:41 AM UTC

          akileen,

          At least here (10 on Win), apart from Alt/Option+Clicking, you may also DoubleClick somewhere with the Star Tool selected.

          In the Appearance palette/panel, you can set either New Art Has Basic Appearance or New Art Maintains Appearance.

          But if your default defaults to something strange, as seen upon restarting Illy, the preferences have probably fallen ill. If they are, you should be able to cure them by pressing/holding Ctrl+Alt+Shift/Cmd+Option+Shift.

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            SaitoHiro
            Participating Frequently
            Mar 18, 2020 11:47 AM UTC

            This solved the problem for me. Thanks!

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            Larry G. Schneider
            Community Expert
            Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            Feb 17, 2011 12:57 AM UTC

            Option-click with the Star tool and you should get an options dialog in which you can reset the Radius 1 and 2.

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              DayForce
              Inspiring
              Feb 17, 2011 1:09 AM UTC

              Larry, this seems to reset them only for the star that gets created when the dialog is OK'd. The next star you drag out with the star tool will retain the old, zero setting.

              DF

              Edit: You can always quit Illustrator and relaunch it to reset the star size.

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              DayForceCorrect answer
              Inspiring
              Feb 17, 2011 12:38 AM UTC

              Make a really big thin star, hold down Command/Ctrl, and drag towards the center. Let go of Command/Ctrl and enlarge the star by moving away from the center. Do that a few times and the inner radius should come back.

              Translate
              akilleenAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              Feb 18, 2011 3:30 AM UTC

              Thanks!  Moving in and out while holding down (or not) the ctrl/cmd button does the trick.

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