Using effects is a convenient way to reshape objects without making permanent changes to their underlying geometry. Effects are live, which means that you can modify or remove the effect at any time.

You can use the following effects to reshape objects:

Convert To Shape

Converts the shape of vector objects to a rectangle, rounded rectangle, or ellipse. Set the dimensions of the shape using absolute or relative dimensions. For rounded rectangles, specify a corner radius to determine the curvature of the rounded edge.

Distort & Transform

Lets you quickly reshape vector objects.

Free Distort

Lets you change the shape of a vector object by dragging any of four corner points.

Pucker & Bloat

Pulls a vector object’s anchor points outward while curving the segments inward (Pucker) or inward while curving the segments outward (Bloat). Both options pull the anchor points relative to the object’s center point.

Roughen

Transforms a vector object’s path segments into a jagged array of peaks and valleys of various sizes. Set the maximum length for segment paths using an absolute or relative size. Set the density of jagged edges per inch (Detail) and choose between soft edges (Smooth) or sharp edges (Corner).

Transform

Reshapes an object by resizing, moving, rotating, reflecting, and copying it.

Tweak

Randomly curves and distorts path segments inward and outward. Set the vertical and horizontal distortion using an absolute or relative amount. Specify whether or not to modify anchor points, move control points that lead into anchor points on the path (“In” Control Points), and move control points that lead out of anchor points on the path (“Out” Control Points).

Twist

Rotates an object more sharply in the center than at the edges. Entering a positive value twists clockwise; entering a negative value twists counterclockwise.

Zig Zag

Transforms an object’s path segments into a jagged or wavy array of uniformly sized peaks and valleys. Set the length between peaks and valleys using an absolute or relative size. Set the number of ridges per path segment and choose between wavy edges (Smooth) or jagged edges (Corner).

You can achieve the same results with filters (Filter > Distort in the top section of the Filter menu). However, you can’t change a filter after you apply it, whereas you can modify or remove the effect at any time.

Warp

Distorts or deforms objects, including paths, text, meshes, blends, and bitmap images. Choose one of the predefined warp shapes. Then select which axis the bending option affects and specify the amount of bending and distortion to apply.