THREE LEVELS OF TRANSFORMATION

There are three major ways to perform a step-and-repeat rotate transformation.  Each level becomes more difficult but can do more.

1. Level One: Use the Free Transformation Tool
1. Click on the Free Transform Tool (E) and the make a transformation.  For example, you can hold down the SHIFT key and rotate the object 45 degrees.  The drawback to the Free Transformation Tool is that you can only rotate the object from its center but you can not make a copy.
2. Click CTRL+D to do the step-and-repeat rotation based off of the previous transformation setting.
   
2. Level Two: Use the Rotate Tool
   Manually:
   
   
   1. Single-click on the Rotate Tool and then click again to set its registration point inside of outside of the object. Then, drag the cursor to set the angle.  You can hold the SHIFT key to constraint the angle to 45 degrees increments.  Add the ALT key to make a copy.  Release the mouse, then the keys.
   2. Click CTRL+D to do the step-and-repeat rotation based off of the previous transformation setting

Automatically:

1. Double- click on the Rotate Tool to open the Rotate dialog box.  Set an angle and then click the preview button and then click the Copy button and then the OK button. The drawback of double-clicking on the Rotate Tool is that you can only rotate the object from its center
2. Click CTRL+D to do the step-and-repeat rotation based off of the previous transformation setting.

3. Level Three: Use Appearance Panel
   1. In the Appearance Panel, select the Distort and Transform > Transform from the Add New Effect icon (fx). In the Transform dialog box, you can set how many copies you want at once (instead of clicking CTRL+D repeatedly). Click on the preview button to see the result. You can also set the copies Scales, Movement and Reflections.

NOTE: Once you use an effect, you an save that effect and apply it to other objects. If you create an object from an effect and you click on the View > Outline, you will only see a single shape that makes up that effect.  You can; however, convert the object that has been created from an effect to simply paths with the Expand Appearance. (This is similar to Break Apart in Flash).

NOTE: If you apply the step-and-repeat rotate transformation on an circularobject, it is important to note that the object will rotate 45 degrees as it rotate around a circle. To get around this problem and have the object remain upright, create a brush of the object and then apply the brush to a path (i.e., circle)