REFINE STROKES MYGRAPHICSLAB: ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS6
IN THIS LESSON, YOU WILL LEARN THAT: Defining the features of generated strokes is an important skill for creating illustrations Strokes can have: Different kinds of endings (round, square, etc.) Effects (dashes, dots, etc.) Arrowheads at one end or the other or both Brush strokes have complex sets of attributes assigned to them creating the appearance of anything from a paintbrush to a calligraphic penstroke
THE STROKE PANEL The Stroke panel defines the minute features of a stroke, including line thickness, plus: How ends look (square, rounded, etc.) How corners look (mitered, round, beveled) How strokes are aligned (centered, inside, or outside) The Stroke panel can be used to apply arrowheads as well as dashed or patterned lines
TWO VERSIONS OF THE STROKE PANEL The Stroke panel To open the permanent Stroke panel, choose Window > Stroke To expand the panel and display all options, click the double arrowheads on the panel tab To access a full but temporary Stroke panel: Click the underlined Stroke link on the Control panel (objects with mixed stroke attributes can be selected) OR When object is selected or when multiple objects that have the same stroke attributes are selected, click the underlined Stroke link on the Appearance panel
SETTING STROKE WIDTH Three ways to change the weight (width) of a selected stroke or strokes Define stroke width by clicking the Up or Down arrow, by entering a value, or by choosing a value from the Weight pop-up menu (this works in the permanent Stroke panel and the temporary Stroke panel that opens from the Control panel) In the Appearance panel, select a Stroke square to display the Stroke Weight controls Choose a Stroke width directly from the Control panel
DEFINING STROKE ALIGNMENT Stroke thickness (weight) can be added to the outside of the stroke, the inside of the stroke, or centered on the stroke To define the alignment of stroke on a path, choose one of these options from the Stroke panel: Align Stroke to Center Align Stroke to Inside Align Stroke to Outside Caution: When you connect strokes, they must have the same alignment or they will not merge properly.
DEFINING STROKE CAPS Endpoints of strokes can be: Butt ending at the anchor that ends the stroke Round Projecting extending beyond the edge of the stroke Stroke caps are relevant only to open paths (where the ends of the path are visible) Choose one of the three caps from the Cap row in the Stroke panel
CONTROLLING JOINS Three ways to join angle paths Miter Join (pointed bends) Round Join (semicircular bends) Bevel Join (beveled bends) Which kind of join might be good for a picture frame? Which type of join might be good for a sharply pointed star? Image shows from left: miter, round, and bevel joins
DEFINING ARROWHEADS To apply an arrowhead (or two!) to a selected path, choose an arrowhead style from either of the Arrowheads pop-up menus in the Stroke panel Use the Align buttons to toggle between having the arrowheads end at the end of the path, or extend beyond the edge of the path Remove an arrowhead by selecting None from the relevant Arrowheads pop-up menu
DEFINING DASHED AND DOTTED STROKES Dashed and dotted lines are the bread and butter of many kinds of illustrations, including maps and flowcharts To define a dashed and/or dotted line for a selected path: Select the Dashed Line checkbox in the Stroke panel Enter a value in the first Dash field for the length and a value in the first Gap field to define the width of the first gap To create a dot instead of a dash, define the length of the dash to match the weight of the stroke Defined dashes and gaps repeat, so to create more complex dashed/dotted lines, enter values in additional dash and gap fills To control how dots or dashes fit around the corners, click the Preserves Exact Dash and Gap Lengths button to specify no adjustment at the corners, or click the Aligns Dashes to Corners and Path Ends button to have the dashes adjust to fit symmetrically at the corners
BRUSHES Illustrator provides a wide variety of preset brushes, ranging from charcoal strokes to calligraphic strokes to arrows to patterns There are five types of brushes: Art Bristle Calligraphic Scatter Pattern
BRUSHES ARE VECTOR Brushes have the advantages of being easily editable, scalable vectors You can apply them to existing paths created with the Pen or Pencil tool, shapes, and so on You can draw with a brush using the Paintbrush tool
APPLYING A BRUSH STROKE TO A PATH To apply a brush to an existing path: Select a path, and click a brush on the Brushes panel or on the Brush Definition menu on the Control panel OR Drag a brush from the Brushes panel onto a path
USING BRUSHES FROM LIBRARIES Illustrator offers an impressive set of preset brushes Open brush libraries by clicking the Brush Libraries Menu button at the bottom of the Brushes panel Apply a brush from the library directly to any path, or add brushes from the library to the Brushes panel for later use
CREATING A CALLIGRAPHIC BRUSH Calligraphic brush strokes vary in thickness as you draw, simulating calligraphy To create a calligraphic brush: Click the New Brush button in the Brushes panel In the New Brush dialog box, click Calligraphic Brush, and then click OK Enter a name in the Calligraphic Brush Options dialog box Define brush parameters angle, roundness, and diameter Click OK, then apply the new brush to a path
CALLIGRAPHIC BRUSH SETTINGS Angle: An angle of 0º produces a stroke that is thin when drawn horizontally and thick when drawn vertically; an angle of 90º produces the opposite result Roundness: Lower is less round Diameter: Size Drop-down menus: Fixed keeps the value constant Random randomizes the value Other options are available depending on whether you have a drawing tablet, and what kind Preview your stroke in the dialog box, adjust settings, and click OK
CREATING ART BRUSHES Art brushes are based on selected artwork, which is then converted into a brush As the brush is applied, the artwork stretches to fill the applied stroke To create an art brush: Select the artwork that will become the brush stroke Choose New Brush from the Brushes panel menu Select Art Brush in the New Brush dialog box Adjust the brush options in the Art Brush Options dialog box, name it, and click OK to add the brush to the Brushes panel
CREATING SCATTER BRUSHES Scatter brushes are similar to art brushes in that they are based on selected artwork Instead of stretching that artwork to fit a path, they scatter the artwork along the path to which they are applied To create or edit a Scatter brush: Select the artwork on which you are basing the brush, and choose New Brush from the Brushes panel menu In the New Brush dialog box, select Scatter Brush, and click OK In the Scatter Brush Options dialog box, enter a name, then define brush options, and click OK Use the scatter brush to populate a scene with multiple images across a path
BRISTLE BRUSHES Bristle brushes act like traditional art brushes, bristles included There are ten presets in the Bristle Brushes library
PATTERN BRUSHES Pattern brushes are useful for drawing borders and can include up to five tiles: Side Outer Corner Inner Corner Start End Pattern Brushes are complex to create Easy method: Drag one of the preset pattern brushes into the Brushes panel, and then doubleclick it to edit it You can replace any of the preset tiles with objects in your document s Swatches panel
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW Define endings for strokes Define how angled strokes join Apply stroke effects like dots and dashes Create arrowheads Paint with brushes Choose brushes from libraries Create custom brushes
REVIEW: KEY POINTS Strokes can be finely tuned Change alignment Change endings Change how angles display Strokes can have: Arrowheads at either end or at both ends Dash and/or dot patterns Brushes simulate paintbrushes Can be used to paint freehand Can be applied to existing paths