CSC/FAR 020, Computer Graphics, November 14, 2012 Dr. Dale E. Parson Outline week 11 through end of semester Illustrator Type, Pathfinder, Trace

Type Tools Horizontal and Vertical Type are similar to Photoshop. Point Type is stand-alone text. Paragraph Type comes with paragraph formatting. You can convert Photoshop Type to Shapes and import to Illustrator Area Type fills a closed polygon. Path Type follows a Path.

Area Type Area Type Tool, select a convex polygon. Enter the text inside the polygon. Center paragraph format within the shape. Draw a curvy line with the Pencil Tool. Use Path Type Tool to select that path. Add text. Scale the shape later then adjust font size to fit. Select / vertical bars to reposition. Use Type -> Type on a Path.

Type Options Try Type menu Options, Glyphs samples. Window -> Type Character, Paragraph show options. Character rotation. Direct Selection selects a shape without type. Import Type from a word processing document using File -> Place. Type -> Create Outlines converts each letter to a Shape. This is no longer editable Type.

Appearance, Pathfinder Panel Appearance Panel fx can warp type (or shapes) similar to PhotoShop. FX can be applied to any Shape, Group or Layer. Illustrator FX and PhotoShop FX are available. Learn a few at a time as you go along. Pathfinder Panel merges, manages paths.

Merging and Splitting -- Pen Create an open or closed shape with the pen tool. Hold Shift key for 45 degree angles. Single clicks create corner vertices. Dragging creates rounded vertices. Use Pen+ tool to add vertices to a segment. Use Pen- tool to weld over vertices on a segment. This works with any shape. Control panel has icons for corner / curved vertices. Cut actually removes vertices or segments.

Merging, Shaping, Splitting - Pencil Draw two segments with a hard bend using the Pencil Tool. Direct Select corner vertex. Convert between Corner and Smooth vertex using Control Panel. Select entire Shape, use Smooth Tool (pencil) to smooth its kinks. Try altering direction. Path Eraser removes portions of a path.

Merging and Splitting -- Brush Draw two Brush Strokes with neighboring but unconnected endpoints. Direct Select the neighboring endpoints. Control Panel Connect Selected Endpoints. Direct Select some vertices. Control Panel Cut Path (scissors). Note two-level pull-down-menus to load graphics libraries for stroke and fill.

Pathfinder Window -> PathFinder. Create some overlapping filled rectangles. Select them all & try Pathfinder Shape Modes. Stay in Select mode, use Undo, another Shape Mode. Pathfinders actions. Use two overlapping rectangles with fat stroke and fill. Pay attention to which one is in front. Use Object -> Arrange if necessary. Some actions convert an object to a clipping mask.

Symbols Window -> Symbol. Use pull-down to display Symbol Libraries. Sprayer sprays symbols into a Symbol Set on the Layer. Other symbol transforms manipulate symbols, double click icon to modify parameters. Alt / Option reverses effect. Alt / Option on sprayer deletes symbol of the type selected from the symbol library.

Converting a Tracing to Paths Place DaleParsonDual/DSC_0012.jpg into a blank Illustrator page. Scale to fit. Duplicate twice to get 3 identical layers, make only the top one visible and editable. Live Trace -> Photo Low Fidelity on top layer. Preview with Tracing Options to lower Max Colors, etc. It is still a single Object. Expand to turn it into a Group of Paths. Object -> Ungroup to separate Paths. Delete this Layer when done.

Manual Trace Add a new transparent layer. Make raster image visible, lock layer. Select top layer for adding manual Paths. Selection and other layers can be Locked via the Object menu. Make and select a few Objects on this Layer. Group them, Isolate Selected Object from Control Panel. Release in gray upper bar, delete Shape layer.

Live Paint Create a closed area (“face”) with multiple Pencil strokes. Use a fairly fat stroke. Select all Paths enclosing the area. Use Live Paint Bucket in conjunction with Color and Color Guide panels to fill the area. Double click Paint Bucket to set options. Color selects color for Color Guide choices. Both Fill and Stroke colors can be applied. Option key allows sampling while painting.

Multiple Face Fill Double clicking a face in Live Paint Bucket fills across non-stroked edges. Triple clicking a face in Live Paint Bucket re-fills that color across the Live Paint Group. Merge Live Paint on Control Panel to unify multiple paint groups. Live Paint Selection tools selects faces or edges, Shift-click to add to / subtract from.

Live Paint Group Manipulation Observe Layer Panel. Select, Double Click paint group to isolate it. Click gray area above window to de-isolate. Expand forms two Path Groups, the previously paint- filled faces and the previously stroke-color edges. Object -> Live Paint -> Release unfills and creates thin-stroked paths. To manually trace a raster layer, turn on its eyeball, lower its opacity and lock it.

Tracing to Live Paint Group Select a raster image layer. Trace as before, e.g., low fidelity photo. Click Live Paint button on Control Panel. Entire Traced Image becomes a (possibly overly-complicated) Paint Group. Object -> Live Paint -> Release and adjust Stroke size to get a line drawing of the trace.

Line Extraction Place a copy of BlackVultures….psd in an empty Illustrator page. Check “Flatten Layers to Single Image.” Live Trace to Grayscale. Convert Trace to Live Paint. Optional edit using Live Paint tools. Object -> Live Paint -> Release. Set Stroke for line drawing. You can then re-convert to a paint group, re-edit.

Live Color Color Panel sets basic hue. Color Guide has visual menu of color combination schemes. Color Guide Panel menu has Tints / Shades, Warm / Cool and Vivid / Muted schemes. Color Guide Options gives resolution. Color menu also has Invert / Complement options.

Swatches Window -> Swatches Pull down menu to open swatch libraries. Most are solid colors. Patterns give pattern-stamp-like fill. Gradients give graded color schemes.

Project Grading Fall 2012 Hurricane Sandy set us back from 8 assignments to 7. The average of your top 3 grades will supply the grade for project 8. You can do an extra project 8 if you prefer. See me. Nov. 19 and Dec. 5 will be working sessions. December 3 will be “Musical Chairs.” We will do that musical chairs without photographs. You must attend on December 3. The Final Exam time slot on 12/12 will be available for your work with me present if you notify me in advance.