Symbol Sprayer Tool
Spray multiple instances of a symbol onto the artboard for patterns and scatter effects.
Symbols
Shortcut: Shift+SIntermediate8 min readQuick Reference
Symbol Sprayer Tool
Adobe IllustratorKeyboard Shortcut
Shift+Skey
Toolbar Location
Illustrator toolbar
Best Used For
- ▸Refer to the tutorial content for specific use cases
- ▸Practice with sample projects to build experience
- ▸Combine with other tools for advanced workflows
Intermediate⏱ 30–60 minutes to master
Key Settings
Select symbol:Spray:Add more:Reduce:
The Symbol Sprayer Tool creates multiple instances of a symbol by spraying them onto the canvas. It is perfect for creating patterns, scatter effects, and populating scenes with repeated elements.
Where to Find It
Press Shift+S or select the Symbol Sprayer from the toolbar.
How to Use
- Select symbol: Choose a symbol from the Symbols panel (Window > Symbols).
- Spray: Click and drag to spray instances onto the artboard.
- Add more: Spray over existing instances to add more of the same symbol.
- Reduce: Hold Alt (Option) and spray to remove instances.
Pro Tips
- Create custom symbols for elements you need to repeat frequently.
- Use the other Symbol tools to edit sprayed instances.