Adobe Illustrator CS

Having text follow along a path is nothing new to Adobe Illustrator CS users. However, if you’ve used Illustrator before, you’ll find that since Illustrator CS, type on a path is implemented quite differently than in previous versions— to the point where it might even seem like a new feature.

To make it easier to learn how to use this feature in Illustrator CS2, you will start by creating type on an open path. After you’ve done this, you will understand how to perform the same function on a closed path.

Note: Everything you’re learning about type on a path here can be applied to Adobe InDesign® as well, because the functionality is identical to Illustrator.

1. Using your tool of choice, create an open path, or you can select an open path that already exists on your artboard.
2. Choose the Type tool and move your cursor so that it touches the path and changes to the Type On A Path tool icon, with a line through the icon.
3. Click the path to create a Path Type object.

   This action removes any Stroke attributes from the path, but you can apply them to the path again later if you wish. At this point, you’ll see the blinking text insertion icon and you can enter or copy text onto the path.

4. Now switch to the Selection tool and select the path with the text on it (you can click either on the path, or on the text itself). As you look at the selection, you’ll notice a vertical line with a small white box on the left, a line at the center, and a small white box and a line on the far right.

   The small boxes should look familiar to you—they are in and out ports. The ports are there because Illustrator treats type on a path like area type. The two vertical lines that appear on either end define the boundary, or the start and end points, of the text. The line in the center determines the center point between the start and end points and allows you to specify which side of the path the text sits on.

   You can use the in and out ports to thread text across multiple Path Type objects, and you can even create a thread of text that includes both Path Type and Area Type objects. By dragging the start and end points, you can define the area of the path that can contain text. For example, you can have a long path, but have text appear on just a small portion of that path. If you think about it, adjusting the start and end points on a Path Type object is akin to adjusting the width of an Area Type object. You can also drag the middle line to either side of the path to flip the text.

   Note: Prior to Illustrator CS, Type on a Path objects behaved similarly to Point Type objects.

Creating a swoosh by using the Trim in Adobe Illustrator.

Okay for alot of people familiar with Adobe Illustrator this is may seem like a very simple tutorial, but for alot of beginners the pathfinder palette can be quite unknown and is a such an important tool in creating shapes in Illustrator, so if you are an intermediate to advanced user of this application, you will problably want to just pass this one over. If you are beginner and you are already asking the question what is the pathfinder palette, or what the hell does it do, then this is the tutorial for you.

Step 1 Create an new document

With Adobe Illustrator open go to File –> New

You can set the size to whatever ever you like but for simplicity’s sake I will use the default 8.5×11 inch.

TIP: You can undo a mistake at any time for many steps by hitting ctrl+z or ctrl + shift +z if you go back to far.

Step 2 Select the Elipse Tool

In the tools palette select the Elipse Tool (L). If you dont see the little circle in the palette it may be one of the other shapes (most likely the square) – click on the tiny little arrow in the bottom right corner for a flyout of all the shapes. Failing that just type “L” on the key board.

Step 3 Set your fill color

Make sure your Fill color is the color you want.

Step 4- Make the circle

Then take your elipse tool to the empty page and holding the ’shift’ key click and drag to make your circle. Holding the ’shift’ key constrains the circle so it stays a perfect circle. (more…)

Illustrator CS’s new type tool is probably the best new type engine on the block -  type guru’s are going to love it. Adobe Illustrator CS does not package a lot of new vector drawing tools but Adobe has greatly reworking  the program’s text tools. Illustrator CS now uses InDesigns stylish text engine, giving graphics designers much improved text rendering in their professional illustrations. With a small improvement of new illustration tools plus an improved printing interface, this is a valued upgrade. This application is one of Photoflashgraphics favorite illustration tools.

1. Type – Tools

Generally, Adobe Illustrator CS’s interface remains the same as Illustrator CS  v10. The new Font menu is the most obvious difference from the previous version – displaying the fonts names and actual typeface additionally  providing a PostScript, TrueType, or OpenType icon next to each font. Differences between the font formats becomes apparent as you work with  Adobe Illustrator CS new and improved typography controls.

OpenType allows for as many (up to 65,000) distinct characters in a font, including, most importantly, character variants.

Included with Illustrator CS a great variety of 100 OpenType fonts.

Two other Adobe Illustrator CS features provide further old-style typographical improvements. By selecting the new Optical Kerning option under the Characters palette will automatically correct the inter-character spacing of the currently selected words,  producing more-attractive visual text.

2. Typing – Styles

Adobe Illustrator CS includes both Character and Paragraph styles.

Illustrator CS type-on-a-path tool is greatly improved with this latest release. The new Path Text Options dialog boxes allows  control your path’s text alignment, as well as the direction of individual characters as they cross the path.

Adobe has installed the same text-block management controls found in InDesign a great improvement. All text blocks now have an In port and an Out port.  The designer can link text from one block to another by dragging lines between the relevant ports just like the InDesigns feature. All text blocks can be linked text one path to other text on a path, or even to the standard rectangular text block – very nice.

Adobe Illustrator CS is very well rounded in the way of type control and is greatly improved from Illustrator CS v10.

3. 3-D Enhancement

Illustrator CS changes are primarily text related, but also includes a few new drawing updates including Illustrator CS new 3-D effects. These new effects provide extrusion – revolve commands allowing the designer to create simple 3-D shapes.

The Illustrator CS must first draw a shape using Illustrator CS standard drawing tools – then select Extrude or Revolve from the Effects Menu to interrupt the shape into a 3-D object.

Changes made remain live – the Illustrator CS can go back at any time and adjust the characteristics. the Illustrator CS can rotate objects, add bevels, lighting effects, or changes in  perspective.

The Illustrator CS can also map any symbol created onto a 3-D object thus creating a textured surface – very nice.

For simple 3-D elements or for creating interface essentials – Adobe Illustrator CS 3-D features are well designed, functional and a good enhancement to CS overall.

Adobe Illustrator CS – these tool tips are somewhat hidden features in illustrator but they can enhance your performance with illustrator and expand your skill set whether your skills with illustrator are at the newbie, intermediate or professional level.

1. Adobe Illustrator CS – Selection skills with the Lasso

The Lasso tool is a quick way to select an object (s) from the artboard its advantage compared to the Direct Selection tool is because the selection area is drawn (as opposed to selecting all the points with the Direct Selection tool. In other words the Lasso tool can be utilized to select unusual shaped objects and exclude other.

2. Adobe Illustrator CS – Warping Experiments

The Effects>Warp is great for distorting type unfortunately most designers use only the default settings. Try some experimenting by playing around with the values in bend and distortion settings.  Try experimenting on other objects. Get creative with these Warp effects.

3. Illustrator CS – Dividing Objects

Using the Knife tool cuts an object into pieces. This cut is slightly random and can’t be predicted; however, the designer by holding down the Alt key in Windows (Option key on a Mac) can be sure that it cuts in a straight line.

4. Illustrator CS – Simplifying Objects (files)

The designer/artist should always try to keep illustrator files as small a possible.  One way to help accomplish this is to reduce the number of points in complex artwork. Using the simplify command (Object>Path>Simplify) can help for example if your have used Streamline scans. Simplifying objects can be used to create shapes of a “cartoon nature” – a distorted mirror of the original shape.

5. Illustrator CS – Path Features  (attributes)

If you have created a stroked path and want to stroke the edges or create an object out of the it all you have to do is create an outline of the path. By expanding the path in illustrator (Object>Expand) you will LOSE some of the path attributes for example if you have used Round Caps the will be gone BUT by creating an outline of the path (Object>Path>Outline) will maintain the path’s attributes.

6. Illustrator CS - Glyphs Insertion

OpenType fonts offer great flexibility and choice with the inclusion of a large character sets Illustrator has a very useful Glyphs palette (Type>Glyphs). There are man substitute characters and dingbats.  Note that by double clicking on the Type to0l the glyph will be inserted into the text  displayed.

7. Illustrator CS - Scribbling Effects

With the Scribble Effect the impression of a quickly hand coloring with a pen is feasible. From the menu choose Effect>Stylize>Scribble. The Scribble options dialog may seem confusing (play around with setting – experiment) so you may want to use some of  presets in the dropdown menu.

8.Illustrator CS – Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand tool behaves differently than its counterpart found in Photoshop. It allows the designer to select or deselect objects based on the same or similar Fill color, Stroke Color or by Stoke weight.  By double click the tools you can adjust is options.

9. Illustrator CS - Spraying Symbols

The Symbolism tool is one of Illustrator’s very powerful effects. Select a symbol for the Palette and utilizing the Symbolism tool spray instances of the object selected. The designer/artist can adjust with the a variety of tools found by holding down the Symbolism icon found on the tool palette.

10. Adobe Illustrator CS – Converting Paths or Objects to Guides

Utilizing the ability to drag rulers onto a document is very handy, however the designer also can convert virtually any path or object into a guide. Select the path (object) you want to make a guide and choose View>Guides>Make Guides from illustrator’s menu. You should also note that this is reversible by selecting the path (object) and from the menu View>Guides>Release Guides.