One of Illustrator’s most powerful and overlooked tools is the Appearance Panel. Think of this tool as a super-Style feature: you can add an infinite number of effects that remain completely editable and the Appearance you create can be quickly added to new objects. Many designers close the Appearance Panel because it seems redundant when you have swatches and styles available. But as we will demonstrate, the Appearance Panel creates opportunities for incredible efficiency and creative exploration.

1. Start with a new document in Illustrator.

2. Draw a square, a circle, and type some text like “Appearance Panel” across your canvas. We used Arial at 48 pt.

 
3. Grab your square with the Selection Tool and open your Appearance window (Window -> Appearance) and notice what you have available.

 
4. With your square still selected, make your stroke 10 pt and the color dark blue.

 
5. Go to Effect -> Path -> Offset Path

 
6. Use the following settings or create your own:

 
7. Now, look in your Appearance Panel and note the changes. Click on the fly-out and select Add New Stroke.

 
8. Click on your new stroke you just added. Change the color to Gray and go to Effect -> Path -> Offset Path and use the following settings:

 
9. In your Appearance Panel, select Fill and make the color orange. Click on the fly-out and select Add New Fill.

 
10. Select the new fill you just created, make the color green, and go to Effect -> Path -> Offset Path with these settings:

 
11. Now, we know this is hardly a beautiful design, but this is a tutorial to show you the power of the Appearance Panel. Click on the Graphic Style tab, select your rectangle, and drag it onto the Graphic Style Panel.

 
12. Click on your circle and click on the new thumbnail in your Graphic Styles Panel.

 
13. Repeat this process on the text you have on your canvas. Then go back to your Appearance Tab.

 
14. Click on the Stroke options and adjust them back down to 1 pt. Move the orange Fill above the green Fill.

 
You can adjust the offset path effect on a per shape basis and then make a new Graphic Style that can be quickly added to new shapes. The shapes are still editable, as well as the text. Want a new Graphic Style? Just drag the shape onto the Graphic Styles Tab or Panel. Want to move one of the effects to be on top? Just go to the Appearance Panel for the shape and adjust the layers.