Where Is The Knife Tool In Illustrator 2021

Ah, the Knife Tool. A humble digital utensil in the vast kitchen that is Adobe Illustrator. But where on earth *did* they put it in the 2021 edition?

It's like playing hide-and-seek with your favorite kitchen gadget. You *know* it's in the drawer somewhere, nestled amongst the whisks and spatulas, but finding it can be a mini-adventure.

Fear not, fellow digital chefs! Let's embark on this lighthearted quest.

The Great Toolbar Treasure Hunt

The usual suspect, of course, is the toolbar. That long, vertical strip on the left side of your Illustrator window. We tend to take it for granted, don't we? But it's a repository of creative power.

Take a peek in the toolbar! Scan for the *Eraser Tool*. Yes, the *Eraser* is right where it always is.

Now, for a little secret… The Knife Tool is often nestled *underneath* the *Eraser Tool*. It's like the Eraser is guarding a more mischievous sibling.

Click and Hold: A Magic Trick

Here's the trick: click and *hold* down your mouse button on the *Eraser Tool* icon. A little menu will pop out, revealing the hidden tools within. Kind of like a digital clown car.

And there it is! The Knife Tool, patiently waiting to slice and dice your vector shapes. You might even let out a little "aha!" when you see it.

Isn't it funny how the most useful things are sometimes hidden in plain sight?

When the Knife Goes AWOL

But what if the *Knife Tool* is playing a *really* good game of hide-and-seek? What if it's not under the *Eraser Tool*? Don't panic! Illustrator gives you plenty of options to customize your tool bar!

Go to the *Edit* menu at the very top of your screen. A cascade of options will appear. Look for an option called *Toolbar*.

Clicking on it will reveal the Customize Toolbar window, where you can drag all the *missing* tools in place.

A Personal Touch

This lets you arrange your tools to *your* liking. Maybe you use the *Knife Tool* all the time, so you want it front and center.

Or maybe you rarely use it, so you tuck it away in a less prominent spot. It's your digital workspace, after all!

Think of the *Customize Toolbar* window as a giant toolbox where you can organize your instruments. It's actually a quite liberating experience.

The Joy of Discovery

So, next time you're searching for the Knife Tool in Illustrator 2021, remember this little adventure. Remember the click-and-hold trick, the customizable toolbar, and the joy of rediscovering a tool you thought you'd lost.

And remember that even the most powerful software can have its little quirks. These are the things that give it character. Embrace the quirks!

Happy slicing and dicing, my friends! May your vector creations be filled with perfectly executed cuts and delightfully unexpected shapes.