Intro to Adobe Illustrator CS4 (2010)

Adobe Illustrator CS4vector drawing essentials

your instructor: matteo wyllyamz

[email protected]

http://mouselink.info

Adobe Illustrator CS4 2

Getting started today

Quick introductionsQuick introductions

» customizing this coursecustomizing this course

AdministriviaAdministrivia

How to have a great classHow to have a great class

Menu of possible topicsMenu of possible topics


Quick introductions » customizing this course

Who are you and what do you do?Who are you and what do you do?

What is your experience with …What is your experience with …

» Computers & MS WindowsComputers & MS Windows

» Vector-based drawingVector-based drawing

» Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator

What is something interesting about What is something interesting about you?you?


» matteo wyllyamzSoftware instructor since 1993, with an emphasis on multimedia, graphic

design, and Internet development.

Have created courses for Jefferson County Adult Ed,Colorado Christian University, Productivity Point,Colorado Free University, and the Department of Defense.

Taught Apple Macintosh classes exclusively for five years,and have been active on the Internet since 1994.

Have been using vector-based digital illustrators since 1992.

Illustrated a 300+ page book with three illustrations/page with Macromedia Freehand in 1993.

Corporate graphic designer / webmaster for two years ('97-'99).

TODAY: Managing Partner of Mouselink Media Group, technical and creative instructor and consultant, designer, project manager, artist, amateur photographer, and author. BA in English writing, and have sold three books.

» http://mouselink.me


Administrivia

Workshop scheduleWorkshop schedule

» Six DaysSix Days

» 1pm – 4pm1pm – 4pm

» Two sessions per afternoon Two sessions per afternoon

» Short break (15 mins)Short break (15 mins)around 2:30pmaround 2:30pm

Facilities …Facilities …

» Bathrooms, vending, Bathrooms, vending, Starbucks …Starbucks …


Please set cell phones to silent or turn off.Please set cell phones to silent or turn off.

Understand Understand concentrated computer training:concentrated computer training:

» Please sit at the front of the classroom and don’t sit alone.

» Be careful with multitasking.

» Class is part discussion, part lecture, part hands-on.

» PARTICIPATE! Ask questions. Answer questions. Take notes.

» Watch the screen, then try it yourself.

» This is a cooperative learning environment:

We are here to learn from each other.

Keep in mind that this class was designed for aKeep in mind that this class was designed for aspecific level of student:specific level of student:

How to have a great class


Keep in mind that this course was designed for a Keep in mind that this course was designed for a specific level of student:specific level of student:

Created for

» A semi-experienced computer user with a comfortable working knowledge of the Windows environment.

» The beginning Adobe Illustrator user who has never or rarely used this specific software.

NOT created for

» The beginning computer user.

» The more intermediate or advanced Illustrator user.

most importantly …most importantly …



Make it fun! Make it fun!

most importantly …most importantly …



Menu of possible topics

Workshop objectives

What is Illustrator?

Specific features of CS4

Raster pixels vs. vector objects

Overview of the interface

Adobe Bridge preview

Viewing and navigation

Toolbox overview

Working with documents

Color modes or “spaces”

Common image formats

Paths, tangents, and the pen tool

Drawing basic lines and shapes

Snapping and Guides

Draw the Tonalpohualli

Layers and stacking order

Path manipulations

Working with colors

Fill and stroke essentials

Constraining and alignment

Grouping

Conclusions

… and a word about your materials


Moving on …

ILLUSTRATOR OVERVIEW DAY1

Adobe Illustrator CS4Workshop emphases & objectives

Learning jargonLearning jargon

Mastering core conceptsMastering core concepts

Becoming more comfortableBecoming more comfortable

Understanding more advanced techniquesUnderstanding more advanced techniques

Gaining confidence through immersionGaining confidence through immersion

Increasing speed & efficiencyIncreasing speed & efficiency


What is Illustrator? » For what can this software application be used?

Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard, market-leader, vector-based object drawing application.

Illustrator allows the user to draw through the creation and manipulation of lines and shapes called “paths.”

It functions by generating curved paths (Bezier curves) connected by modifiable anchor points.

These anchors, with their handles (tangents) are always editable, and never "leave" the structure of the file.

Vector-based drawing programs create the various elements of the image as individual vector objects which always retain their characteristics and do not automatically become part of a "bitmap.”


Specific features of Illustrator CS3* » Some product enhancements introduced in this version

A.K.A. Illustrator 13

Panel-based user interface,consistent within Creative Suite 3

New Document profiles

Enhanced color support

Advanced Symbols

Increased Adobe Flash integration

Improved Live Trace

* Adobe Creative Suite 3 was announcedon March 27, 2007.


Adobe Bridge comes standard with CS4

So why use it?

Folders tab Thumbnails

Thumbnail slider Workspace buttons

Metadata


Overview of the Illustrator interface

Welcome Screen

Title bars

Status area

MenusPrimary, contextual,

and shortcut

Keyboard shortcuts

Toolbars & Panelsand Docks

Changing viewsand hiding tools

Customizationand Workspaces

Status bar PanelsZoom box

Control panel Tools panel Artboard Scratch area


Viewing and navigation controls

Changing magnification» View menu

» Keyboard

» Magnify tool

» Navigator

» Shortcuts

Scrolling vs. Panning» Tools vs. Shortcuts

Changing the Screen Modeand hiding panels

Rulers and Guides

Switching between documents


Raster or pixel-based graphics vs.Vector or object-oriented graphics


Toolbox overview

Tool sets

Hover or mouse-over

Nested tools (or “fly-out” menus

Keyboard shortcuts

Tool options bar


Understanding paths and tangents (control handles)

Paths in themselves do nothing.

It is their *formatting* (stroke and fill) which gives your illustration its visual appearance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangent


HOMEWORK DUE

Axzo workbook Unit 1: “Getting Started”

Time: 50 minutes.

Moving on …

CREATING BASIC SHAPES DAY2

Adobe Illustrator CS4 21The keys to working in Illustrator …

Everything you’ve already learned still applies!

Always pay close attention to …

The tool you have selected. The layer you are in.

Learn your modifiers and keyboard shortcuts!

Constrain Shift

Draw from center Alt

Zoom Ctrl + (or) –

Center artboard Ctrl 0Magnifier(Keep your magnification appropriate!)

Ctrl spacebar (or)

Ctrl Alt spacebar

Outlines Ctrl Y

Layer outlines Ctrl click

Layer visibility Alt click

Undo Ctrl ZSelection tool V(A drawing tool is not a selection tool!)

Direct Selection tool A

Last selection tool (temp)Hold Ctrl

Deselect Ctrl Shift A

Hide selection Ctrl H

Hand tool spacebar

Hide toolbars Tab

Change view mode F


How curved paths align to tangents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangent


Understanding the infamous Pen Tool

Pen clicks & drags plot the anchor points of a path.

Clicking vs. clicking-and-dragging (and combinations)

Watch carefully for visual clues!

Anchor Points

» The difference between Corner Points, Smooth Points, and Cusp Points

Manipulating anchor points

» Moving, adding, deleting, converting

» Adjusting control handles

Viewing a more precise pen tool (Caps Lock)

Pen tool keyboard shortcut P


Pencil and Paintbrush

More intuitive, but not as precise?

The opposite of the pen tool

Important preferences

Applying brushes to strokes

The Eyedropper


Snapping and Guides

Rulers (Ctrl R)

Turning on and off

Specifying ruler units

Guides (Ctrl ;)

Creating, repositioning, locking, deleting, showing, hiding, and layering

Grids (Ctrl ”)

Smart Guides (Ctrl U)

Snapping …

… to a guide, the grid, or a point


HOMEWORK DUE

Axzo workbook Unit 2: “Creating a simple illustration”

Topic A: Create a New DocumentTopic B: Basic Shapes

Time: 30 minutes.

Moving on …

PRECISION DRAWING DAY3


Basic drawing

What are “paths” and “anchor points” exactly?

Drawing shapes

Drawing line segments

Constraining and manipulating shapes and lineswith keyboard strokes: (2-12)

Control, Alt, Shift, spacebar, (F)lip, arrow keys …

Specifying precision measurements

The Selection Tool (V) and Direct Selection Tool (A)

Basic Stroke and Fill

http://www.logodesignworks.com/blog/what-are-paths-anchor-points-in-adobe-illustrator


Layers and stacking order » What’s the difference?

Stacking adjustments

Send Backward, Send to Back

Bring Forward, Bring to Front

Or use the Layers palette …

How do layers work?

Always pay attention to the active layer(s)

Add, delete, lock, show, hide, move …

Working with outlines or “wire frames”

Naming and organizing

Opacity adjustments

Shift-click to make selections across multiple layers


HOMEWORK DUE

Axzo workbook Unit 2: “Creating a simple illustration”

Topic C: Manipulate ShapesTopic D: Export an Illustration

Time: 30 minutes.

Moving on …

LAYERS & STACKING ORDER DAY4

Draw the Tonalpohuallihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonalpohualli

Create a Tracing Layer

Set Rulers and Guides

Draw primary circles

Draw primary stars

Clone secondary stars

Begin coloring

Clone secondary circles

Draw four major outer squares

Rotate/clone four more major outer squares

Draw and clone-rotate “eggs”

Draw and reflect inner rectangles at a 30° angle

Draw and clone-rotate “obscured” minor squares

Draw and clone-rotate minor outer squares with ovals*

Draw the face

Beaded necklace

Nose

Mouth and tongue

Hair and antennae

Add all shadows and pattern fill* first minor square from center clockwise is at -15°


Path manipulationsAlways select by the path

Basic transformationsUsing the bounding box …

Tools: move, scale, rotate, reflect …

Duplication and Cloning

Making multiple selectionsShift key, marquee, or lasso

Alignment and Distribution

Group and Ungroup

Shape Mode commands

Compound shapes

Changing the Reference Point


Understanding color modes or “spaces”

Additive Subtractive


RGB light: The more, the brighter (additive).» For on-screen output

CMYK ink: The more, the darker (subtractive).» For four-color printing

HSB approach

HTML hexidecimals

Grayscale

Black & White “bitmap”

Bit depth: number of bits per pixel» 8 bit = 256 values of color

» 16 bit = 65,536 “high colors”

» 32 bit = 4,294,967,296 “true colors”

Understanding color modes or “spaces”


HOMEWORK DUE

Axzo workbook Unit 3: “Applying Basic Color”

Time: 50 minutes.

Moving on …

CLONE, REFLECT, ROTATE DAY5


Working with documents

New document settings

Deciding on output

Paying attention to raster effects

Changing the document setup

All about Saving and Exporting

Save for Web

Creating multiple back-ups

ARTICLE: Pasting Illustrator documents into InDesign


Common image file formats

BMP and PCT: simple files, not recommended for use in production

AI, PSD, INDD: Adobe proprietary formats

TIF and EPS: best formats to place images intoprint documents

JPG: most common file type for photography, including use on the web

GIF: transparencies and animation for web

PDF: perhaps the most universally exchanged format today

PNG: smaller files, better quality, less support

RAW or DNG: up-and-coming, unprocessed camera data

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_file_format http://www.fileformat.info/format/cloud.htm

Adobe Illustrator CS4 37Review from previous weeks

Average time to complete: 60 minutes.

Utilizes essential skills sets: Basic drawing and cloning, layers and stacking order, working with stroke and fill colors, grouping and reflecting.

Instructions:1) As your Tonalpohualli illustration currently stands, there are still some missing concentric

circles. Compare to the tracing image layer to determine how many.

2) Draw or clone these additional circles using the methods you have learned in the last couple classes. Use the Outlines view as you trace. Take special care to make sure you draw them within the existing layers in the correct stacking order.

3) Fill in all your shapes with complimentary colors.

4) Stroke the line weight of all shape paths in the illustration according to the tracing image. (Some lines are thicker than others, and a couple don’t have strokes at all!)

5) Create a new layer on the top of the Circles layer and call it “Outer Squares.”

6) In this layer, draw the top and bottom outermost squares, stacking accordingly. Pay attention to the varying stroke weights.

7) Also, draw the two left and right outermost squares. Make sure the all the paths are precisely aligned so there are no odd variations in line weight or alignment.

Hints: Each of these squares is composed of three squares, all stacked one upon another. Once you draw one complete set of squares, GROUP and REFECT that set across the vertical axis, using the Reflect Tool.

When you have finished, please see if you can help other students who are still working.


HOMEWORK DUE

Axzo workbook Unit 5: “Working with Text” Time: 50 minutes.

Moving on …

MORE COMPLEX SHAPES DAY6

Adobe Illustrator CS4 39The keys to working in Illustrator …

Everything you’ve already learned still applies!

Always pay close attention to …

The tool you have selected. The layer you are in.

Learn your modifiers and keyboard shortcuts!

Constrain Shift

Draw from center Alt

Zoom Ctrl + (or) –

Center artboard Ctrl 0Magnifier(Keep your magnification appropriate!)

Ctrl spacebar (or)

Ctrl Alt spacebar

Outlines Ctrl Y

Layer outlines Ctrl click

Layer visibility Alt click

Undo Ctrl ZSelection tool V(A drawing tool is not a selection tool!)

Direct Selection tool A

Last selection tool (temp)Hold Ctrl

Deselect Ctrl Shift A

Hide selection Ctrl H

Hand tool spacebar

Hide toolbars Tab

Change view mode F


Conclusions …Sincere thanks!

You cannot learn the violin in a day or two.

Digital illustration is a skill – like any other – that requires gradual & continual practice & improvement.

Approach everything on a need-to-know basis, and don't worry about that which you do not yet understand.

Stay upbeat!… but if you get frustrated, remember:

You can always turn off the machine and walk away. :)

Good luck. Best wishes.And get in touch if you need more help!


Review from last week» Resizing, resampling, and saving images

A

B

C

Average time to complete: 20 minutes.

Utilizes essential skills sets: Manipulating image size & resolution, resampling, and saving multiple versions of the same image.

Instructions:

1) Use Adobe Bridge to open the file:C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS2\Samples Sunflower.psd

2) Use the Image Size command and resample down 50%. What is the resulting file size and pixel dimensions of the image?

3) Use the Save for Web command. Create a JPEG set to High-60 quality, and save the image to your desktop.

4) Use the command File: Revert to restore the .psd file to its original size.

5) Use Image Size again. Resize (not resample) the image so that it may be printed at 300dpi. How large will the image appear on a printed page?

6) Use Save As to create a TIFF image and save it to your desktop.

7) Extra credit: Crop the image tightly to show only the sunflower’s petals.Save another version of the image: Sunflower cropped.psd


Most popular online resources

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Summary of common keyboard shortcuts(Q-1)

Intro to Adobe Illustrator CS4 (2010)

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