How to add an arrow shape?

[lesley_hilton]

Hi, I'm new here. Just trying to add an arrow to a document. I don't see it in the available shapes.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI · Accepted solution]

Take a look at Arrowheads in the Stroke panel.

[lesley_hilton]

OK thanks! I see the Arrowhead menu. Now how do I make the stem of the arrow curved? I used the line segment tool to make the stem, but it seems I can't make a curved line unless I use the arc tool?

[Monika Gause]

Use the pentool to draw any shape you like.

How to draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool in Illustrator

[KShinabery212]

The other great thing is if you do not find arrow you like in the stroke panel there are other things you can do.

1.) You can create your own with a Triangle and Rectangle and then use the path tool to combine them.  I usually make my own.

2.) Go on Google and look up 'Free Vector Arrows'.  In fact there you will probably get more stylized arrows.  I know that some people have designed some really fancy arrows that you can download for free!

Have fun with it!

[lesley_hilton]

Thanks for your help.

1) Adding a vector from Google, it won't let me change the color.

2) In making my own arrow, I made a stem with 2 arcs but I don't know how to group it, or make Illustrator treat it as one object so it will fill it. I can't make it fill the whole thing with one color cause I don't know how to group it.

-----------------------

I did this, but Illustrator won't change the color of the arrow I pasted onto the document.

-----------------------

I like this, but I want the arrow to be slightly wider at the base of the stem & I don't know how to do that.

[ triple posts merged - by moderator ]

Please use the Edit function

[lesley_hilton]

Like, here is the arrow I've drawn using shape, arc and line segment. How do I 1) Erase that little part where the line is too long inside the triangle, because Eraser Tool won't do it and 2) How do I get Illustrator to treat this whole thing like 1 object and outline it, fill it in with a color?

L

[Monika Gause]

Select both those shapes and use the first button in the top rom of the pathfinder panel.

How to combine objects in Illustrator

Please do read the introductory pages of the documentation.

[KShinabery212]

Here are some visual aids to help.

1.) Plot your points with the Pen Tool

2.) Adjust the curve with Anchor Point Tool.  Click on the center point to adjust.

3.) Go to Stroke Menu change weight to desired thickness.  Choose what end you want the arrow head.

Again there are other ways to do this as well.  Just depends.

[KShinabery212]

Another way.

Create your own.

1. I made a square and deleted one point to make the triangle.  Make a rectangle.

2. On the Rectangle.... choose Effects>Warp>Arc

3. On the Rectangle.... Objects>Expand or Expand Appearance

4, Rotate Square

5. Place Square

6. Pathfinder Tool to combine the Square and Curved Rectangle into one object.

[KShinabery212]

Or go to Google and find free vector Arrows....