One Color Gradient

To create a gradient using only one spot color, youÕll get better printing results if you create a gradient that goes from 100% to 0% out of the same color (rather than using white as the second color).

Just drag your spot color twice to the Gradient Slider in the Gradient palette, then select one of the color stops, go to the color palette and change its percentage to zero in the Tint Percentage field.

Selecting Multiple Layers

Hold down the Shift key to select more than one layer in the Layers palette (how’s that for a staggeringly surprising tip?). Only problem is, you can only select contiguous layers that way (meaning layers that are above or below each other). To select multiple layers anywhere in the list of layers, hold down Command and click to select noncontiguous layers.

Change One Layer to Outline View

Changing to Outline view is a great way to see all the paths and anchor points of an object. If you want to change only one layer to Outline view (rather than the entire document), hold down the Command key and click on its Eye icon in the Layers palette. Repeat to change it back to Preview view.

Invert the Color

To pick the inverse of the current fill or stroke (depending on which one is active in the Toolbox) of a selected object, hold down Command-Shift and click on the color ramp on the bottom of the Color palette (or use the flyout menu in the Color palette and choose invert).

Fill and Stroke From the Keyboard

There’s a quicker way to switch between the fill and stroke than clicking on their icons at the bottom of the Toolbox. The icon in front indicates which is active, fill or stroke. If the stroke is active and you want to work on the fill (or vice versa) press "x". Each time you will toggle between an active fill or stroke (unless you’re using the Type tool).