How to Edit a Decorative Border in Illustrator

Decorative borders are just a few of the styles available from Illustrator's lavish brush collection. These decorative borders can be re-sized, colored or fitted with exquisite patterns. The borders can be applied to adorn existing artwork or your favorite image. Just access these creative objects from the brushes panel and begin your creation.

Instructions

1. Brush Options

   • 1
     Click the "F5" function key to open the Brush Panel.
   • 2
     Double-click the decorative brush you selected to open the options box.
   • 3
     Click the scale proportionately.
   • 4
     Click on an arrow to set the direction for the border.
   • 5
     Check the preview box to see changes applied on the artboard. Click OK.

   Apply Fill & Stroke

   • 1
     Click the Selection Tool and click on the border. Notice the one line that holds the border is a stroke. To apply a fill and stroke, you need to expand the single object into multiple objects.
   • 2
     Go to the menu. Click "Object," "Expand Appearance" then "Expand." The border has several anchor points outlining it.
   • 3
     Double-click the fill on the Tools Panel. Select a color from the color picker and click "OK."
   • 4
     Double-click the stroke. Select a color and click "OK." The decorative brush.
   • 5
     Click the drop-down arrow where it reads "Stroke" on the Control Panel at the top. Increase or decrease the width of the stroke.