Now that you are familiar with the basic drawing tools in Illustrator, it’s time to discuss some of the tools Illustrator has for layout and arranging the objects you produce, as well as for adding raster images from other sources to your layouts in Illustrator.
Layers in Illustrator
Layers in Illustrator function much like layers in Photoshop. You can create a new layer using the icon shaped like a page of paper at the bottom of the Layers menu. Each layer has a color swatch beside it: objects on that layer are outlined in that color when they are selected. Unlike Photoshop, you can edit objects in all layers at once in Illustrator. This can become confusing: in Illustrator it is generally more important to lock layers you’re not using to make layout simpler. This can be done by clicking in the empty box next to the Eye icon in the layer menu. If a padlock icon shows up in this space, that layer is locked. Click it again to unlock and edit that layer. I generally advise having at least three layers in Illustrator: a background layer with a base image, a layer for your Illustrator graphics, and a top layer for text if you’re using text.
The Arrange Tool
It is easy to move objects from layer to layer in Illustrator. To do so, simply select the object you’d like to move, then select the layer you’d like to move it to in the Layers menu. Then go to Object: Arrange: Send to Current Layer. This moves your object to the active layer. You can also use the Move Forward or Move Backward commands: these move your object forward or backward within the current layer.
The Align Menu
Illustrator can also precisely align objects for you. Go to Window: Align to get the Align palette. This palette shows you a series of rectangles, indicating how you can align objects. Try selecting two or more objects, then clicking on these options. Illustrator will then automatically align the tops, sides, bottoms, middles, centers, etc. of your objects.
Grouping Objects
Another useful tool we touched on last class is the Group function. Grouping objects locks them together, so you can move multiple graphics or text blocks at once. To group objects, simply select the objects you’d like to group (by dragging a marquee over all of them, or clicking on them and holding down Shift) then go to Object: Group. Once objects are grouped, they will all automatically be selected when you click one of them. To ungroup objects, simply go to Object: Ungroup.
Placing Raster Images
You can also easily add bitmap images to layouts in Illustrator. Make sure you do not copy and paste them from another program, however: this gives poor results. To place an image in Illustrator, go to File: Place. This will bring up a menu which allows you to select an image from your computer to place in Illustrator. Illustrator then lets you scale and transform the image in your layout. Bear in mind that an image must be at 300dpi resolution at the size you’ll print it to look good: the same resolution rules apply for raster images in Illustrator as in Photoshop. So, this function would allow you to use a photograph as a background image with your letters or graphics over it.
The Live Trace Tool
Once you’ve placed a raster image in Illustrator, you can also easily convert it to a vector image. Converting full-color photographs in Illustrator can be done, but I generally advise using the Live Trace tool with more graphic, monochrome images: it produces more consistent, editable results. The Live Trace tool has many settings: generally, it is necessary to play with the settings and preview their results before producing a final vector graphic. It may also be necessary to edit your image in Photoshop before converting it for better results. In particular, increasing the contrast in an image can help before converting it. To use the Live Trace tool:
1. Place a raster image for conversion in your working Illustrator file, using File: Place
2. Go to Object: Live Trace: Tracing Options. This will bring up a dialogue that allows you to adjust settings for tracing.
3. Adjust settings. Select the Preview box, as this will allow you to see what your final traced image will look like. There are numerous preset tracing options in the drop-down menu, which allow you to select for color and some basic settings. Move through them to see which might work best for you. Once you’re close, you can adjust the settings manually.
4. Adjust the Threshold number. Higher numbers capture more information and produce denser vector images.
5. Select whether you’d like to create Fills, Strokes or both- this will determine whether you’re creating shapes as well as outlines (remember paths and fills from last week?) These settings change the look of your image dramatically.
6. Adjust Path Fitting and Minimum Area: these settings control how accurately your tracing follows the pixels of your raster image.
Generally, you want adjust your settings until you have a vector graphic that looks good to you. Converted vector graphics are generally messy in terms of the paths they create, and become very big very fast. Once an image is converted, you can go to Object: Expand, and then select portions of it to edit individually. Still, this editing is tedious and complex: feel free to try it, but generally I would advise getting as close as you can with Live Trace and minimizing editing. Once you see what your image looks like traced, you can also go back in Photoshop and alter the original to produce better tracing results.
Editing and Joining Paths
Going back to our discussion of paths, you can also ‘build’ paths from multiple shapes. For example, you can join segments of a circle and a square to produce a complex shape. To do this, draw out a circle and a square as paths, with ‘no fill’ selected. (do this from the shape tool). Then, select the Scissors Tool (under the Eraser Tool). The Scissors Tool allows you to ‘cut’ a path in sections. Click on a section of your circle to cut it- click again on another point to cut it into two sections. You can then take the Move Tool, and select part of your object- move it away or delete it of you don’t need it. Do the same cutting process with your square. Move your circle next to your square. Then, take the Direct Selection tool, and click on one of the end points of your circle, hold down Shift, and then click on an end point of your square. Go to Object: Path: Join. This should join the two paths into one long path. You can use this process to produce complex and precise paths.
The Pathfinder Menu
Go to Window: Pathfinder to activate the Pathfinder palette. The Pathfinder is another method for creating single paths around complex objects. By experimenting with the different settings, you can trace the outline of shapes you have drawn, add shapes to a path, or subtract them from a path. Experiment with layering objects and selecting the various results. The Pathfinder comes in particularly handy when designing paths for output to machines other than regular inkjet printers.
Gradients
Finally, you can also create gradients to as fills for your objects. To do this, click on the Gradient box beneath the Stroke/Fill menu. You can then select the two endpoints and select colors to fill them. This creates a gradient between the two colors.
For Next Week:
Make a final Illustrator line drawing for your box. Plan graphics for your box, and locate any images you will be using for your layout.
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