Adobe's vector-based graphic artwork software

1. Intro to the
Adobe Creative Cloud
M.Foster - 2013

2. Illustrator
Photoshop
InDesign
Dreamweaver
Flash
Acrobat
• Adobe Systems, Inc.
• Collection of Graphic Software
• Efficient and Robust Visualization
• Publishing and Presentation
• Graphic Design
• Web Design
• Photo Editing
• Video Editing
• Animations
• Web Publishing
• Etc. Etc. Etc.
M.Foster - 2013

3. Adobe Creative Cloud - Introduction
M.Foster - 2013
Illustrator Photoshop InDesign
 Vector-based Graphics
 Lines
 Points
 Polygons
 Point based
 Raster-based Images
 Grid
 Pixels
 Photos
 Pixel based
 Production and Layout
 Text
 Images
 Layouts
 Viewshed/Layout based

4. What is Creative Cloud?
M.Foster - 2013
 Formerly known as Creative Suite
 Subscription Based Service for Adobe Products
 On all CRON computers
 Student subscriptions available
http://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/buy/students.html

5. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Points, polygons, and lines
• Discrete features
M.Foster - 2013

6. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Great for creating illustrations, diagrams, and charts
M.Foster - 2013

7. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Easily enhance a drawing with different strokes and fills
M.Foster - 2013

8. Introduction to Illustrator
• Layer based
• Organize your graphic content by placing it on layers
M.Foster - 2013

9. Interface
• Massive Interface
• There are important, basic
elements that make it easy!
• Open it up!
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
Main Tools
Drawing Area
Basic Properties of Selected Objects
Artboard
Object Fill and Stroke Color
Menus for Object Properties

10. Object
Properties
• Color
• Layers
• Swatches
• Stroke
• Etc.
M.Foster, 2013
Menus for Object Properties

11. Useful Shortcuts
M.Foster, 2014

12. Selection Tool
Move entire objects. Task:
Release clipping mask, move a
building.
1. Use the Selection Tool
(V) to select objects in
the drawing area
2. In the Layers panel, find
the buildings layer and
delete the Clipping Mask
3. Right click on the
buildings in the drawing
area and Ungroup
M.Foster, 2014, S.Kennedy, 2012
Selection Tool

13. Direct
Selection Tool
Move Vertices. Task: Connect
these two buildings.
1. Use the Direct Selection
Tool (A) to select parts of
object (Anchors/Paths)
2. Click on the corner or side
of a building to adjust the
shape
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
Direct Selection Tool
2

14. Styling
Objects
Select all buildings, give stroke
to outline of building.
1. Click on a building. Select
> Same > Fill & Stroke to
select all the same type of
object.
2. In the Stroke Menu,
adjust the line Weight to
1 pt.
3. Align Stroke to Inside of
the objects.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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15. Drawing
Objects
Add a couple skylights to the
top of the building. Change
their color.
1. Using the Rectangle Tool,
draw a few shapes on top
of a building.
2. Double-click on the object
Fill to bring up the Color
Picker.
3. Select Color in the
gradient field to change
the object fill.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
Rectangle Tool
Color Panel
Change Fill/Stroke
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16. Drawing
Objects
Create new layer, draw trees.
1. In the Layers Menu,
Create New Layer.
2. Double-click on the layer
to bring up Layer Options.
Rename the layer to
“trees”.
3. Using the Ellipse Tool,
draw several circles by the
park. Set the color.
TIP – Hold Shift while drawing
to create objects with equal
aspect ratios.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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17. Using
Transparency
Make trees transparent.
1. Select all your trees by
clicking on the radio
button on that layer.
2. Using the Eyedropper Tool
(CNTL-i), click on the green
space to make your trees
the same color.
3. In the Transparency
Menu, change the object
transparency to Multiply.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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18. Copying and
Duplication
Copy/paste to add more trees,
and use the rotate tool.
1. Copy (CTRL+C) and Paste
(CTRL+V) to create more
trees, or by clicking and
dragging while holding Alt.
2. Scale the new trees down
by holding shift and
dragging in/out the corners
of the bounding box.
3. Using the Rotate Tool (R),
click and drag around the
axis point to rotate the new
trees.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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19. Drawing Lines
Create an Arrow
1. Create a Lines layer. Using
the Pen Tool, create a line:
click once to create the first
Anchor Point. Click again to
create a second Anchor
Point.
2. Remove Fill by clicking
None on the Tool Panel.
Change the Stroke color to
red.
3. In the Stroke Menu, add
Arrowheads and click the
Dashed Line box.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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20. Drawing Lines
Draw a curved line
1. Using the Pen Tool, create
another line. BUT, this
time, when you draw the
second Anchor point, click-
hold-drag to create a bezier
curve.
2. You can manipulate the
curve by playing with the
Handles of the Anchor
point.
3. Create more anchor points
on an existing line using
Add Anchor Point Tool.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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21. Using Guides
and Scissors
Add a guide, cut at that guide.
1. CTRL+R (Command+R on
Mac) adds the Rulers to
your window.
2. Click and drag down from
the top Ruler to the new
Anchor point on the line to
create a horizontal Guide
3. Using the Scissors Tool, cut
the first line where it
intersects with the Guide.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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22. Adding Text
Add Text!!
1. Add a Text layer. Lock all
other layers by click-dragging
down the Toggles Lock boxes
in the Layer Menu.
2. Use the Line Tool to create a
short line pointing up. Add
an Arrowhead.
3. Using the Text Tool, draw a
textbox. Inside, type “N” for
north.
4. Using the options on the
Properties bar, change text
Size and Font.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012
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23. Save Your File
Save as a PDF
1. File > Save As… > Format
2. Checking Preserve
Illustrator Capabilities will
allow you to reopen the
files in Illustrator.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012