Illustrator I I450 Technology Seminar

Bitmap vs. Vector Photoshop = Bitmap Illustrator = Vector Bitmap images are resolution dependent Vector images are resolution independent Terminology –Bitmap = Raster

Bitmap vs. Vector Bitmap Images –Bitmap images -- also known as raster images -- are made up of pixels in a grid. Pixels are picture elements; tiny dots of individual color that make up what you see on your screen. All these tiny dots of color come together to form the images you see. The typical computer monitor has 72 or 96 pixels per inch, depending on your monitor and screen settings.

Bitmap 32 pixels Most desktop icons are bitmap images, and are 32 pixels x 32 pixels. Notice the pixels in this image.

Resolution Bitmap images are displayed on a computer at 72 or 96 dpi (dots per inch) –dpi = ppi (pixels per inch) Bitmap images are printed at dpi A 300 dpi scanned image appears much larger on a 76 dpi computer screen

Bitmaps All scanned images All images from a digital camera Pixels in a grid Resolution dependent Resizing reduces quality Easily converted Restricted to rectangle Minimal support for transparency

Bitmap vs. Vector Vector Images –Vector images are made up of many individual, scalable objects. These objects are defined by matematical equations rather than pixels, so they always render at the highest quality. Objects consist of lines, curves, and shapes with editable attributes such as color, fill, and outline

Vector Scalable Resolution independent No background Cartoon-like Inappropriate for photo-realistic images Metafiles contain both raster and vector data

Vector Because they're scalable, vector-based images are resolution independent. You can increase and decrease the size of vector images to any degree and your lines will remain crisp and sharp, both on screen and in print. Fonts are a type of vector objectresolution

Vector images are not restricted to a rectangular shape like Bitmaps

Rasterizing Turning a vector image into a bitmap Lose all the vector qualities

Illustrator File -> New Set size –Pixels, inches –Letter, 800 x 600 Orientation RGB, CMYK

Layers and History Doesn’t use layers like Photoshop Objects in Illustrator are independent of each other No History Palette –Use Undo (Crtl + Z) to go back as far as the beginning of an image

Navigation Hand Tool Navigator Window –Move red box over desired spot on image

Zooming Can zoom up to 6400% Photoshop = 1600% Notice image renders perfectly at 6400% –No pixilation because the images are not made with pixels! Vector graphics scale perfectly, forever

Arrange Send to back Send to front Send backward Send forward

Shapes

Selection Tools Selection tool Direct selection tool Select entire objects Select endpoints of objects

Moving selections Once an image is selected use the arrow keys to move it in small increments –Hold down Shift to move it faster

Stroke Fill Color Stroke Color Stroke = Image Border Stroke Palette on the right Set weight, cap, etc. Cap = rounded corners, or straight Join = for boxes – round corners, or straight

Crtl & Alt Shortcuts Alt drag = copy, paste –Hold down Crtl D to keep pasting To scale an image perfectly, hold down Shift while scaling Hold down Alt and scale to scale from the middle

Pen tool Used to draw curves

Gradient Similar to Photoshop

Grouping Group objects: –selecting them –right click –Group Ungroup: –Right click –Ungroup Once objects are grouped you can move them together

Divide Tool Used to cutout the intersection of two objects Create two objects, place them so they are overlapping: –Transform -> Pathfinder -> Divide

Divide Shortcut Put one object on top of the other Select both objects Press Crtl + 7 –Get the intersection of the two

Create Outlines Type -> Create Outlines –Creates endpoints –Use direct selection tool to manipulate these endpoints

Rotate Tool Place an anchor point on the page Rotate images around this point

Styles, Swatches, Brushes, Symbols Styles with Shapes

References blfund_bitmap.htmhttp://graphicssoft.about.com/library/extra/ blfund_bitmap.htm