live mirror while drawing object?

[cut-copy-paste]

I have to design some things that will be fairly complex and also completely symmetrical.. am just wondering if there's anyway to have Illustrator automatically mirror something as i draw it, or some similar solution so that I can see how the object is coming along big picture-like.  I know this is possible in 3d programs I've used like 3DS max, but not sure about Illustrator. Or is there another CAD type program that'll do it that I could then import into illustrator?  Or should I just tape a mirror to my monitor?  I just know that if I do one side by itself I'm going to waste so much time mirroring it to see how it's coming along...

[Scott Falkner]

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.

[Ratko Asanovic]

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

[awkale]

It is possible like Autocad

Follow this tutorial:

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

[CouchCushion]

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

[Guest]

I had a similar issue to "cus-copy-paste;" I want to create a complex design, and would rather apply a mirroring effect. I ended up following the instructions in the video posted. It seemed to be working fine at first. But my only problem now is that whatever I draw in one side doesn't show once I unselect them, while the other side is being reflected completely fine. I'm not sure what it is that I'm doing wrong, but I want both sides to show, just like it does on the video. Can anyone help?

[Ray Yorkshire]

I had a quick go , it has a mind of it's own sometimes..

just a guess  but looks like yours has reset  copies to zero somehow in the transform effects panel

If it happens again :

Click on the layers target , so the transform link shows in the appearance panel and there

open the  link Tansform   and in the window that opens 

make sure these are selected :

transform objects

reflect X

copies 1

OK

maybe best to    Select > Deselect

and try drawing again

[sBirch]

In this day and age, is this feature active in Illustrator or do you still have to fork over for a plugin?

[rcraighead]

This feature has been available in AI for years. What, exactly, are unable to figure out?

[rcraighead]

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

[Jacob Bugge]

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.

[will_capellaro]

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.

[Michele Weisbart]

There is an amazing plug-in from Astute Graphics called MirrorMe that just came out that does exactly what you are trying to do. You might want to look into it.  It works great.

http://www.astutegraphics.com/products/mirrorme/

[will_capellaro]

Mind = blown.

[Bezier Kid]

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

[christineh87155753]

Hello
I love the 2021 Live Mirror feature. But is there a way to release the live mirror so the drawing becomes normal strokes?

When I click Release only half the image remains. When I click Expand the strokes expand!

[Monika Gause]

Please tell us what exactly is in your object.

When expanding it, which options are checked in the Expend dialog?