parameter. The interesting fact is that the initial object shape is not altered - you can check it in outline mode (Command + Y). Moreover, you can apply several transformation effects with different settings to one object.
Free Distort Effect
In the Effect > Distort & Transform > Free Distort there is an effect that works much like the Free Transform Tool we spoke about above. Here you'll see a model of your object with a bounding box and four corner points. You can change the object shape freely by dragging corner points in any direction to distort it manually. Again, the effect is listed in the Appearance panel and does not affect the initial object's shape.
Other Distort & Transform Effects
There are other interesting effects in Effect > Distort & Transform group that can alter the object's visual appearance drastically. Pucker & Bloat drags object anchor points inwards or outwards on the distance you insert. Roughen, Tweak, and Zig Zag create nice random effects. Twist will twist an object to the desired angle. We won't observe them in detail, but try them all to get familiar with these Transform effects.
Any topic in such a powerful program like Adobe Illustrator can be discussed for hours - you always find more secrets, tricks, and new features. It is especially true with Transformation - one of the most popular Illustrator features.
I tried to sum up everything I know about Transformation fundamentals in this tutorial, but I'm sure any of you can practice and find your own secret to transformations. Below is a simple abstract composition created with transformed geometric shapes - an example of how transformation can be applied in your artwork.
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