Illustrator Cs6: Visual Quickstart Guide (Visual Quickstart Guides)

Annotation Adobe Illustrator bestseller is comprehensively updated for CS6. Clear, concise, step-by-step instructions cover all the essential Illustrator skills. Elegant layout and design; new Illustrator CS6 features are marked with bright red stars for easy identification. Hundreds of full-color Illustrator graphics and screen captures of program features throughout, with key illustrations available for download. For almost two decades, the best-selling Visual QuickStart Guides by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas have been the textbooks of choice in classrooms and the go-to tutorial and reference for art and design professionals. This edition includes their trademark features: clear, concise, step-by-step instructions; hundreds of full-color illustrations; screen captures of program features; and supplemental tips and sidebars in every chapter. This fully updated edition for Illustrator CS6 covers the new enhancements and features, including significant upgrades to the interface (including to the Control panel), gradients in strokes, Image Trace, and pattern creation and editing. The new and updated Illustrator CS6 features are clearly marked with bright red stars in both the table of contents and main text. Readers can follow the steps in a tutorial fashion, or use the book as a reference guide to individual program features. Many of the key illustrations used in the book are available via Web download for practice by readers Contents......Page 7 Launching Illustrator......Page 12 Creating a new document......Page 13 Using templates......Page 15 Adding artboards to a document......Page 18 Deleting artboards......Page 20 Modifying artboards......Page 21 Aligning and rearranging artboards......Page 22 Choosing artboard options......Page 23 Saving a document in the Adobe Illustrator (.ai) format......Page 24 Ending a work session......Page 25 Introduction to color management......Page 26 Choosing color settings for Illustrator......Page 28 Synchronizing the color settings......Page 31 Changing the document profile......Page 32 Proofing a document onscreen......Page 33 Features of the Illustrator workspace......Page 34 Using tabbed document windows......Page 36 Arranging document windows......Page 37 Changing the zoom level......Page 38 Fitting an artboard in the document window......Page 39 Changing the screen mode......Page 40 Switching document views......Page 41 Creating custom views......Page 42 Configuring the panel groups and docks......Page 43 Choosing, saving, and resetting workspaces......Page 45 The Illustrator panels that are used in this book......Page 48 Opening files from Illustrator......Page 66 Features of the Bridge window......Page 67 Choosing a workspace for Bridge......Page 69 Previewing graphics in Bridge......Page 71 Opening files from Bridge......Page 73 Customizing the Bridge window......Page 75 Resetting the Bridge workspace......Page 77 Using thumbnail stacks......Page 78 Searching for files......Page 79 Creating and using collections......Page 80 Rating and labeling thumbnails......Page 82 Choose a sorting order for thumbnails......Page 83 Assigning keywords to files......Page 84 Managing files via Bridge......Page 85 Selecting and deleting objects......Page 86 Creating rectangles and ellipses......Page 87 Creating polygons......Page 89 Creating stars......Page 90 Creating line segments......Page 92 Creating pixel-perfect artwork for the Web......Page 93 A quick color primer......Page 94 Drawing with the Pencil tool......Page 95 Drawing with the Paintbrush tool......Page 96 Choosing options for the Pencil and Paintbrush tools......Page 97 Using the Blob Brush tool......Page 98 The five selection tools......Page 100 Using the Selection tool......Page 102 Selecting objects via a command......Page 103 Selecting objects via the Layers panel......Page 104 Working with groups......Page 105 Using the Lasso tool......Page 107 Using the Magic Wand tool......Page 108 Selecting and deselecting all objects......Page 109 Moving objects......Page 110 Aligning objects with the help of Smart Guides......Page 111 Copying objects......Page 113 Aligning and distributing objects via buttons......Page 116 Creating ruler guides......Page 118 Creating guides from objects......Page 119 Clearing guides......Page 120 Using the grid......Page 121 Using color in Illustrator......Page 122 Colors for your output medium......Page 123 Using the basic color controls......Page 125 Saving colors as swatches......Page 127 Choosing colors via the Color panel......Page 128 Applying colors from a library......Page 129 Changing the tint percentage......Page 130 Changing the stroke weight, alignment, caps, and joins......Page 131 Creating arrows......Page 132 Creating a dashed stroke......Page 133 Using the Eyedropper tool......Page 134 Using the Swatches panel......Page 135 Using the Color Guide panel......Page 139 Using the Kuler panel......Page 142 Replacing colors in your artwork......Page 143 Colorizing grayscale images......Page 144 Blending fill colors......Page 145 Creating a pattern......Page 146 Editing a pattern......Page 151 Transforming an object via its bounding box......Page 154 Using the Free Transform tool......Page 155 Using the Scale, Rotate, Shear, and Reflect tools......Page 156 Using the Transform and Control panels......Page 159 Using the Transform Each command......Page 161 Using the Transform effect......Page 162 Repeating a transformation......Page 163 The building blocks of a path......Page 164 Reshaping curves......Page 165 Converting points......Page 166 Adding points......Page 168 Deleting points......Page 171 Reshaping objects with the Pencil or Paintbrush tool......Page 172 Applying a variable width profile preset to an Object's Stroke......Page 173 Changing an object's stroke width using the Width tool......Page 174 Reshaping objects with the Blob Brush tool......Page 177 Exercise: Draw and reshape objects in a freehand style......Page 178 Exercise: Create a brush with the Reshape tool......Page 179 Erasing sections of objects......Page 180 Aligning points......Page 181 Joining endpoints......Page 182 Reshaping objects using commands......Page 183 Slicing and dicing......Page 185 Exercise: Draw a glass of beer (or cream soda!)......Page 187 Getting to know the Layers panel......Page 188 Creating layers......Page 190 Deleting layers and objects......Page 192 Selecting listings on the Layers panel......Page 193 Selecting objects via the Layers panel......Page 195 Restacking layers and objects......Page 198 Duplicating layers and objects......Page 199 Locking layers and objects......Page 200 Hiding layers and objects......Page 201 Collecting objects into a new layer......Page 202 Releasing objects to layers......Page 203 Merging layers and groups......Page 204 Flattening layers......Page 205 14 Appearances......Page 206 Applying appearance attributes......Page 207 Editing appearance attributes......Page 211 Hiding and deleting appearance attributes......Page 212 Expanding appearance attributes......Page 213 Applying Illustrator effects......Page 214 Editing, duplicating, and deleting effects......Page 217 A few Illustrator effects up close......Page 218 Rasterizing objects......Page 223 Applying Photoshop effects via the Effect Gallery......Page 224 Graphic styles basics......Page 226 Loading graphic styles from a library......Page 228 Applying graphic styles......Page 229 Removing a graphic style from an object......Page 230 Applying multiple graphic styles to an object......Page 231 Creating graphic styles......Page 232 Redefining graphic styles......Page 233 Deleting graphic styles from the panel......Page 234 Breaking the link to a graphic style......Page 235 Tracing a raster image using a preset......Page 236 Applying custom tracing settings......Page 239 Expanding a tracing into paths......Page 244 18 Live Paint......Page 246 Creating a Live Paint group......Page 247 Using the Live Paint Bucket tool......Page 248 Using the Live Paint Selection tool......Page 251 Reshaping a Live Paint group......Page 253 Adding new faces and edges to a Live Paint group......Page 254 Choosing gap options for a Live Paint group......Page 255 Expanding and releasing Live Paint groups......Page 256 The type tools......Page 258 Creating point type......Page 259 Creating type in a rectangle......Page 260 Creating area type......Page 261 Creating path type......Page 263 Copying or moving type characters......Page 265 Importing text into Illustrator......Page 266 Threading type objects......Page 267 Rotating type......Page 269 Exercise: Putting type on a circle......Page 270 Selecting type......Page 272 Changing the font family and style......Page 274 Changing the font size......Page 275 Changing the leading value......Page 276 Applying kerning and tracking......Page 277 Using smart punctuation......Page 279 Inserting alternate glyphs......Page 280 Applying hyphenation......Page 282 Changing paragraph alignment......Page 283 Changing inter-paragraph spacing......Page 284 Using paragraph and character styles......Page 285 Setting tabs......Page 289 Changing the baseline shift value......Page 291 Creating type outlines......Page 292 Creating special effects with type......Page 293 Exercise: Create a shadow for point type......Page 294 Applying appearance attributes to type......Page 295 Exercise: Add multiple strokes to a character......Page 296 Exercise: Use the Free Distort effect on type......Page 297 Drawing with the Pen tool......Page 298 Converting anchor points on paths......Page 302 Exercise: Draw a knife with the Pen tool......Page 304 How images are acquired in Illustrator......Page 306 Using the Open command......Page 307 Using the Place command......Page 308 Importing Photoshop images into Illustrator......Page 309 Managing linked images......Page 311 Dragging and dropping images into Illustrator......Page 315 23 Brushes......Page 316 Applying brushes to existing paths......Page 317 Using the Brushes panel......Page 318 Removing brush strokes from objects......Page 319 Expanding brush strokes......Page 320 Creating and editing Calligraphic brushes......Page 321 Creating and editing Scatter brushes......Page 323 Creating and editing Art brushes......Page 325 Creating and editing Bristle brushes......Page 328 Painting brush strokes inside objects......Page 331 Duplicating brushes......Page 332 Editing a brush manually......Page 333 Editing brush strokes on objects......Page 334 Creating a custom brush library......Page 335 Applying a gradient to an object's fill or stroke......Page 336 Creating a two-color gradient......Page 341 Editing gradient colors via on-object controls......Page 342 Saving a gradient as a swatch......Page 343 Changing the position, length, or angle of a gradient in an object......Page 344 Spreading a single gradient across multiple objects......Page 346 Expanding a gradient into paths......Page 347 Using the Shape Builder tool......Page 348 Applying the Shape Mode commands......Page 352 Applying the Pathfinder commands......Page 355 Using the Compound Path command......Page 358 Working with compound paths......Page 359 Applying Pathfinder effects......Page 361 Creating a clipping set......Page 362 Selecting objects in a clipping set......Page 366 Adding objects to, and deleting them from, a clipping set......Page 368 Releasing a clipping set......Page 369 Changing an object's opacity or blending mode......Page 370 Controlling which objects the transparency settings affect......Page 373 Creating an opacity mask......Page 375 Editing masked artwork or the masking object in an opacity mask......Page 376 28 Symbols......Page 378 Accessing the symbol libraries......Page 379 Creating individual symbol instances......Page 380 Creating symbol sets with the Symbol Sprayer tool......Page 381 Replacing symbols in a document......Page 382 Deleting symbols from the panel......Page 383 Editing symbols......Page 384 Choosing options for the symbolism tools......Page 385 Using the Symbol Shifter, Scruncher, Sizer, Spinner, Stainer, Screener, and Styler tools......Page 386 Unlinking symbol instances......Page 390 Expanding symbol instances......Page 391 Creating color groups via the Recolor Artwork dialog......Page 392 Using the color wheel in the Recolor Artwork dialog......Page 394 Assigning colors to artwork via the Recolor Artwork dialog......Page 396 Reducing colors via the Recolor Artwork dialog......Page 398 Opening the Preferences dialog......Page 400 General Preferences......Page 401 Selection & Anchor Display Preferences......Page 403 Type Preferences......Page 404 Units Preferences......Page 405 Guides & Grid Preferences......Page 406 Smart Guides Preferences......Page 407 Slices Preferences......Page 408 Dictionary & Hyphenation Preferences......Page 409 Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Preferences......Page 410 User Interface Preferences......Page 411 File Handling & Clipboard Preferences......Page 412 Appearance of Black Preferences......Page 413 31 Print & Export......Page 414 Print dialog: General options......Page 415 Marks and Bleed options......Page 417 Output options......Page 419 Graphics options......Page 421 Color Management options......Page 423 Summary options......Page 424 Using the Separations Preview panel......Page 425 Printing and exporting semitransparent objects......Page 427 Creating and editing presets......Page 430 Producing crop and trim marks......Page 431 Choosing a resolution for effects......Page 432 Saving files in the Adobe PDF format......Page 433 Using the Export command......Page 437 Optimizing files for the Web......Page 439 Using the Document Info panel......Page 443 A......Page 444 B......Page 445 C......Page 446 D......Page 448 E......Page 449 F......Page 450 G......Page 451 I......Page 452 L......Page 453 O......Page 454 P......Page 455 S......Page 458 T......Page 461 Z......Page 464 For almost two decades, the best-selling Visual QuickStart Guides by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas have been the textbooks of choice in classrooms and the go-to tutorial and reference for art and design professionals. This edition includes their trademark features: clear, concise, step-by-step instructions; hundreds of full-color illustrations; screen captures of program features; and supplemental tips and sidebars in every chapter.

This fully updated edition for Illustrator CS6 covers the new enhancements and features, including significant upgrades to the interface (including to the Control panel), gradients in strokes, Image Trace, and pattern creation and editing.

The new and updated Illustrator CS6 features are clearly marked with bright red stars in both the table of contents and main text.

Readers can follow the steps in a tutorial fashion, or use the book as a reference guide to individual program features. Many of the key illustrations used in the book are available via Web download for practice by readers.

Includes eBook and Video Access

In addition to concise, step-by-step explanations of core tools and tasks, with plenty of helpful screen shots to keep you on track as you work, Illustrator CS6: Visual QuickStart Guide includes an hour-long HD video and eBook. In addition to reading about how to use the tool, you can watch it in action. You can also download digital versions of this book to load on the mobile device of your choice so that you can continue learning whenever and wherever you are. We provide you with both the ePub and PDF to ensure that you get the experience that best suits your viewing needs.

For almost two decades, the best-selling Visual QuickStart Guides by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas have been the textbooks of choice in classrooms and the go-to tutorial and reference for art and design professionals. This edition includes their trademark clear, concise, step-by-step instructions; hundreds of full-color illustrations; screen captures of program features; and supplemental tips and sidebars in every chapter. This fully updated edition for Illustrator CS6 covers the new enhancements and features, including significant upgrades to the interface (including to the Control panel), gradients in strokes, Image Trace, and pattern creation and editing. The new and updated Illustrator CS6 features are clearly marked with bright red stars in both the table of contents and main text. Readers can follow the steps in a tutorial fashion, or use the book as a reference guide to individual program features. Many of the key illustrations used in the book are available via Web download for practice by readers. Includes eBook and Video Access In addition to concise, step-by-step explanations of core tools and tasks, with plenty of helpful screen shots to keep you on track as you work, Illustrator Visual QuickStart Guide includes an hour-long HD video and eBook. In addition to reading about how to use the tool, you can watch it in action. You can also download digital versions of this book to load on the mobile device of your choice so that you can continue learning whenever and wherever you are. We provide you with both the ePub and PDF to ensure that you get the experience that best suits your viewing needs.