Adobe Illustrator CS6 Table of Contents Image Formats 3 ai (Adobe Illustrator) 3 eps (Encapsulated PostScript) 3 PDF (Portable Document Format) 3 JPEG or JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) 3 Vectors versus Bitmaps 3 Layers 4 The Layers Window 4 Creating a New Layer 4 Duplicating a Layer 4 Grouping Layers 4 Deleting a Layer 5 Naming a Layer 5 Re-arranging Layers 5 Editing Layers 5 Paths, Strokes, and Fills 5 Paths 6 Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 1
Strokes 6 Fills 6 Tools Palette 7 Summary of Tools 8 Paths and Curves 8 Straight lines 8 Symmetrical Curves 8 Converting Points To/From Curves/Straight Segments 9 Adding and Removing Anchor Points 9 Controlling Curves While Drawing 10 Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 2
Image Formats ai (Adobe Illustrator) ai files are the native file format of Adobe Illustrator. These files will retain all layers and additional information for editing your Illustrator files in the future. eps (Encapsulated PostScript) A format designed for high-resolution output to a printer. PDF (Portable Document Format) A file format used originally to share files. JPEG or JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) JPEG format is commonly used to display photographs and other continuous-tone images used in web pages. JPEG compresses file size by selectively discarding data. A JPEG image is automatically decompressed when opened. A higher level of compression results in lower image quality, and a lower level of compression results in better image quality but larger files. In most cases, the maximum quality option produces a result indistinguishable from the original. Vectors versus Bitmaps Illustrator s strength lies in its ability to create vector graphics. Vectors are mathematical code used to create an object as opposed to bitmaps, which are simply colored squares that you worked with in Photoshop. Think about a graphic consisting of only a line. When zoomed into 3200%, the user would see how Photoshop would use the pixels (bitmaps) to create the illusion of a straight line. Each cell of color would have to be stored differently (even more than that if you consider the channels used for the image). Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 3
In contrast, a vector program stores this line as something like line(123,42,450,150), tracking only the (X,Y) coordinates of the endpoints needed to create the line. This creates a significantly smaller file size. The graphic above is the same line represented in the previously only created in a vector-based program and zoomed to 6400%. Notice how sharp the edges are in comparison. This is another significant difference in vector images they are scalable. They can be enlarged without a loss of quality. With this in mind, the situation becomes a bit confusing as Illustrator allows you to embed bitmaps in its files. If scaled larger, these bitmaps will pixelate. Layers Layers in Illustrator are used to keep different objects in your image separate from one another. You can make a change to one item in a layer without affecting any of the others. You can arrange the different items in respect to the foreground and background. For example, if you have a text layer above an image layer in the Layers window, then the text will be in the foreground and the image will be in the background. In this case, the text will be stacked on top of the image. The Layers Window To open the Layers window choose Window from the main menu and select Layers. If there is a check mark next to Layers then the window is already open. Creating a New Layer To create a new layer, simply click on the Create a new layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers window. Duplicating a Layer To duplicate an existing layer: Click and hold on the layer you want to duplicate. Drag the layer to the Create new layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers window. Grouping Layers To help better organize your layer you can put them into groups. To create a group: Click on the Create a new group icon. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 4
The group will appear in the Layers windows with a folder icon similar to the one below. To put a layer or layers in the group: Click and hold on the layer or layers that you want in the group to select them. Deleting a Layer There are two ways to delete a layer: Option One - Click the layer you want to delete to select it. - Click the Delete layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers window. - Click Yes if you want to delete the layer. Option Two - Click and hold on the layer you want to delete. - Drag the layer to the Delete layer icon located at the bottom of the Layers window. - Drag the layer or layers to the group folder. A black outline will appear around the group as you drag over it. Let go of the mouse to drop the layers into the group. Naming a Layer To give a layer a new name: Right click on the layer and choose Layer Properties. Type a name in the Name text box. Click OK You can also double click on the layers name to highlight it and type a new name in its place. If you accidentally delete a layer, you can always Undo to get it back. To undo go to Edit > Undo in the menu. Re-arranging Layers To move a layer in the Layers window: Simply click and hold on the layer you want to move. Drag the layer up or down (depending on where you want to move the layer). When you see a black line appear above or below the layer you want to move to, let go of the mouse. This will drop the layer in that position. Editing Layers To edit objects in a layer, you first need to make sure the layer is selected in the Layers window. To select a layer, simply click on it in the Layers window and it will change to a blue color. Paths, Strokes, and Fills Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 5
The basic building blocks in Illustrator consist of Paths, Strokes and Fills. These items are designated in the following image. Paths Paths are created by the user to build the basic shape of the object(s). Strokes Strokes can be applied to paths. The width, style (dashed, solid), and color of a stroke can be set by the user. Fills Shapes that are created as closed objects (beginning and ending points overlap) can contain a color or pattern. Which object is being changed is set by selecting the appropriate object in the tool palette. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 6
Tools Palette The first time you start Illustrator, the tools palette appears on the left side of the screen. You can move the tools palette by clicking and dragging its title bar. You can also show or hide the tools palette by choosing Window > Tools from the menu. Below is a diagram of the Illustrator Tools palette. Notice some tools have a small black arrow in the bottom right corner of the tool icon. This indicates that there are more tools associated with that tool set. To view the list of tools in a set, click and hold on the tool icon until the window appears, then click on the tool in the set you would like to use. A black square indicates which tool in the set is currently active. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 7
Summary of Tools A comprehensive summary of the tools available in Illustrator is available online at: http:// help.adobe.com/en_us/illustrator/cs/using/ws14386a18-6b9b-436d-8ff1-b98770564424.html. Remember to hover the mouse of an individual tool to learn its name. Paths and Curves The pen tool is used frequently in Illustrator. With a little practice, this tool can be an effective way of creating vector images. Straight lines Creating a shape with straight lines involves clicking the initial point, followed by each subsequent point. This is the default mode of the tool. Clicking the initial point at the end will create a closed object that can be filled. Symmetrical Curves Symmetrical curves are curves that are symmetrical about a given point. To create a symmetrical curve, click and hold the point as you are drawing with a pen. You will see the Bézier curve handles appear. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 8
Each handle controls a different curve. The angel of the curve and the height of the curve is based on the placement of these handles. Converting Points To/From Curves/Straight Segments The default of each curve is to create a secondary curve, as shown above. It is possible, however, to alter curves. Do do so, click on a point with the Convert Anchor Point tool. Then you can manually adjust each curve individually. Adding and Removing Anchor Points Anchor points can be added and removed using the proper tool. However, it is highly recommend that you use the curves instead of a series of clicks to create a smoothed edge. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 9
Controlling Curves While Drawing You can control curves while you are drawing, too. This will save some time. To do so, set your first curve with the pen tool as described above. Then, before creating the second curve, click the pivot point again. From there, the next line drawn will be straight, not curved. Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research 10