- A few months ago we undertook an Adobe Illustrator induction, alongisde one of our 'Alphabet Soup' briefs.
- As part of the Alphabet Soup briefs, we have a brief to create a typeface in Illustrator, so before beginning the brief, we have been given 2 introductory workshops into how to use Illustrator.
- The first thing we looked at was how to use the pen tool. We first learnt how to use it and then used 'the pen tool exercise' to get to know the tool.
- I have previously used Adobe Illustrator pen tool and so was quite confident with the part of the induction however I still found it useful to recap as Simon taught the pen tool differently to how I had previously been taught and so I found it interesting to get different techniques and perspectives.
- We then looked at creating an actual image through the pen tool. We used the Shell logo, and placed it into a new Illustrator image.
- After being placed into Illustrator, I used the pen tool to trace the outline of half of the image as it is symmetrical so one side can simply be copied onto the other.
- Once I had traced over half of it, I selected the two paths, and while holding down alt + shift, dragged the paths over to copy them and keep them exactly lined up with the original, then reflect them vertically.
- We then joined the paths together and removed the original from behind, giving a copy of the original logo.
- We were next introduced to the pathfinder tool.
- We tried different things with these tools to merge shapes together in different ways to create different patterns.
- The next part of the workshop was to look at how to repeat shapes and create reoccurring patterns and designs.
- To look at the ways this technique can be used I started by drawing the centre of a flower.
- We then drew a petal shape, selected it and the circle, used the rotate tool and clicked copy before clicking OK.
- We then held down cmd + d on the keyboard and the petals copied all the way round the circle.
- There are interesting effects that can be created with this technique, such as the spyrograph kind of effect.
- Repetition of shapes in this way can also be done to create animal patterns, fish scales or buildings.
- We then looked at the variable width tool to change widths and shapes of lines drawn with the pen tool.
- This tool can be used to add shape and definition to lines in different ways than just changing the line shape.
- We also looked at using the blend tool to create coloured shapes which merge into others.
- We were taught to draw out a shape in one colour, then another shape in another colour and select the outside edges with the blend tool after changing the options so it blends how we want it to blend.
- The shapes can then be dragged and moved around, changing the shape of the blends by using the Direct Selection Tool.
- After learning the basic drawing and manipulating lines and shapes tools, we looked at a few more complicated things.
- Firstly we were given this exercise with 3 drawn out camper vans to learn how to fill colours into images that aren't just made of shapes, yet which are built up of lines so it isn't possible to simply put a fill colour on the images.
- We were told to open this Illustrator file up and copying the top outline of the camper van, create our own fill colours on it using the Live Paint tool.
- After Live Painting the image, it is possible to add gradients and "lights/shadows" onto the image. The top image is the original outline, followed by a copy of it which has been filled in using the Live Paint tool.
- It is important to keep a copy of every step that is created in Illustrator to make it easier to undo mistakes or if you change your mind about something.
- Also, it is necessary to add swatch squares into the Illustrator file of every colour used in the image as this is needed when working professionally and with printers.
Below is an example of how Live paint works;
- As well as being introduced to the way an Illustrator file has to be set up for when working with printers, we were also shown how it should be done when working with clients by using swatches.
- This was an example given to us to show how to create swatches for colours and patterns.
- The image and colours used are selected and dragged into the swatches panel to create a new swatch, then they are saved in the swatch library and when creating work for a client, the swatch file has to be provided with the work file.
- Finally we looked at different ways of manipulating text, and changing letterforms.
- Using different type tools to create different effects.
- Typing along a path drawn with the Pen tool, writing text into shapes and in different directions:
- Manipulating single letterforms; Using the type tool to write out a letter, selecting a font and changing the scale of it, then going into the Type menu in the top tool bar and selecting "Create Outlines" allows you to change an existing letterform into other shapes.
- Using the Direct Selection tool to change different aspects of letterforms by moving, scaling and resizing individual lines/paths from each letter shape.
