1. CSC/FAR 020, Computer Graphics, November 11, 2009
Dr. Dale E. Parson
Outline for week 11
Introduction to Illustrator

2. Illustrator – Vector Graphics
Capabilities related to Paths in PhotoShop.
Tool works with vectors, not image pixels.
Tools Palette is similar to PhotoShop.
Click and hold to see sets of related tools.
Arrow in lower right shows presence of tool groups.
Slide into right margin to tear off a tool group.
Control panel is similar to PhotoShop Options palette.

3. Other palettes and panels
Layers are similar to PhotoShop.
Layering commands are in a pull-down menu accessed from the Layers Panel.
Align Panel supports object alignment.
Appearance tweaks object/layer appearance.
File -> New supports various document types.
Use RGB Color for now. CMYK is the alternative.
Optional templates supply format and building blocks.

4. Color Settings
In the Bridge, Edit -> Creative Suite Color Settings.
File -> Document Color Mode -> RGB (or CMYK).
Edit -> Color Settings (general defaults for now).
Edit -> Assign Profile sets color output device profile.
sRBG for default.
View -> Proof Setup simulates output device.
Uncheck View -> Proof Colors when not proofing.
Customize uses specific color profiles.
Perceptual is based on human vision, Saturation is vivid but non-continuous, Absolute stays with device gamut, Relative makes reasonable gamut / color compromises. Do not check “Preserve RGP/CMYK Numbers” for on-screen simulation.

5. Geometric Objects Create a new, blank 8.5 x 11 inch print doc.
Tear off Rectangle, etc. tool menu.
Add rectangles, squares (hold shift key while sweeping), rounded rectangles, ellipses, circles (shift).
Set stroke color and enable / disable fill color at bottom of Tools Palette.

6. Record a new “Cleanup” Action
Windows -> Actions.
Place some shapes on the page.
Create New Action named Cleanup.
Record “Select All” then “Edit Cut”.
Stop the recording on the Actions panel.
Now you can replay “Cleanup” as you experiment with geometric shape tools.

7. Polygons
Point click without drawing to set number of sides and default radius.
Sweep polygon out from center, rotate.
Vary the parameters in the Control Panel.
Stars are similar to polygons with two radii.
Selection Tool (arrow) supports selection and basic geometric transforms.
Flare Tools has rings, rays, etc.

8. Line Segment and Related Tools
Close Rectangle, etc., tear off Line Segment.
Control-click for Transform and other actions.
Single click for line dialog box.
Shift-draw to snap line to 45⁰ alignment.
~-draw to fan out a series of line segments.
Shift-~-draw to keep them at 45⁰ alignment.
Alt-option draws out from original click.
Fill sets color for later use in closed figures.

9. Arcs Arcs have several keyboard shortcuts.
“C” toggles between closed and open arcs.
“F” flips an arc.
Up and Down arrows change curvature.
Alt-option draws out from original click.
Shift, ~ and Shift-~ draw are similar to line.
Single click to enter parameters.

10. Damage some Lines and Arcs
Draw and select one line segment per effect.
Double-click any of these tools to set parameters.
Warp warps line and arc segments.
Twirl forms a spiral.
Pucker is an attractor for edges.
Bloat makes edges bloated.
Scallop scallops line / arc segments.
Crystallize stands line hairs on their ends.
Wrinkle generates random waves.

11. Spirals Single click to see parameters. Many segments pack tightly.
High decay expands spiral (> 110% is too big).
You may wind up hanging Illustrator with this one.
Control-click force quit AI in Mac Dock if you do.
Sweep to scale, Cmd-sweep for tightness.
Up / down arrow to add / delete segments.
Rotate, shift for 45⁰, space bar to move.

12. Grids
Rectangular grids have dividers, skew, number of dividers in Cartesian space.
Rectangular grids have dividers, skew, number of dividers in Polar space.
Options for fill.
Framing makes outer rectangle a path.
Compound ellipses treated as one object in some contexts, e.g., Direct Select.

13. Selection Select Tool selects an entire path.
Direct Select is similar to Photoshop.
Shift-select adds or subtracts selections.
Select-menu or control-click selections.
Select all-on-layer on the right side of a layer.
Object -> Group creates a composite object, Ungroup releases it.
Magic Wand selects on basis of color.

14. Miscellaneous Tools Object -> Transform has geometric transforms.
Object -> Arrange raises or lowers objects.
Rotate and Reflect Tools on Tools Panel.
Scale and Shear Tools on Tools Panel.
Reshape tool modifies predefined shapes, e.g., Reshape a spiral.
It is possible to Copy & Paste Paths between PhotoShop and Illustrator.
We will examine file-based data exchange later.