Tag: Illustrator

Chapter 59. Using Join And Average On Open Paths 5:57

  • Simple shapes can be made into complex objects
  • Andy started with AI in ’87
    • Was already in natural media industry all his life
    • Wanted to get into new computer media
    • First attempts were frustrating but learned that
      • Practice makes perfect
      • You don’t have to draw the Mona Lisa
        • Instead draw simple shapes that can be made into the Mona Lisa
  • Double-Clicking the hand tool, not the zoom tool, returns the zoom to 100%
  • You can weld two Anchor points
    • Only two
    • This is Marqueeing that area
    • Use the Direct Selection Tool A
    • Be sure you only got two
  • Sometimes you want to consider the curvature of the two lines
    • This is the Average operation
    • Both is cool
    • Join helps, too
  • Easily make complex shapes out of simple objects

Chapter 57. Controlling Paths With Anchors 6:25

  • Anchors are connected by Paths which hold Strokes
  • Anchors control the path
  • When the Pen tool has an asterisk next to it, it is telling that you are creating a new shape. You are not connecting it to anything. It is bran new.
  • When you hover an Pen that is creating Anchors over another Anchor and an open circle appears it means that you are going to “close the object”
  • How to create an open shape: A straight line for example
    • Couple ways
    • Go pick up another tool and switch back, never do this
    • Click to drop first Anchor, then second Anchor, then hit enter
  • If you Click-And-Drag to drop an Anchor, you can make non-straight lines
  • If you select the Direct Selection Tool and hover over an Anchor, it makes the anchor really big
    • Drag the Anchors around to reshape the object
    • Select as many anchors that you want
    • Bendy lines get reshaped too

Chapter 31. Working In Isolation Mode 4:32

  • Way to get to individual pieces in groups
  • Find a group, Double click on it
    • Top area shows that you are in that group
    • Rest of screen greys out
  • The greyed out areas are isolated from everything that you are doing
  • Double click again on an object and everything else greys out
  • Top area left arrow or escape-key lets you get out
  • Selection Tool → Option-Double-Click progressively selects
    • By double clicking on object in a group progressively selects all objects in inclosing groups

Chapter 33. Object Rotation And Smart Guides 5:16

  • Smart Guides shows useful information about context on artboard
  • Rotation tool
    • Set anchor
    • Drag to rotate
    • Alt-Drag to put a copy at the new location
  • Operate upon multiple objects
    • Select all objects
    • Click Rotate tool
    • Object → Transform → Transform Reach
    • Enable Preview
    • Remember that X, Y, and W are the transform panel
      • You can do the same thing there
  • Is it safe to align everything to pixel grid at the very end?