oit

UMass Office of Information Technologies

Adobe Illustrator 9.0

Getting Started with Illustrator

1. Digital Paste-Up 2
2. What Illustrator does 3
3. A tour of Illustrator’s workspace 4
4. Importing bitmap images 6
5. Drawing boxes 8
6. Changing fill & stroke colors 9
7. Drawing straight lines 10
8. Working with text 11
9. Drawing more complex shapes 12
10. Applying effects 13
11. Organizing objects in groups and layers 14
12. Tips! 15

Academic Computing
Office of Information Technologies
Lederle Graduate Research Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Phone: (413) 577-0072
Fax: (413) 545-3203
http://www.umass.edu/acco/
 Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 2 of 14

Using Adobe
Digital Paste-Up Illustrator

Organize your Files Step-by-step

Keep files in one folder
If you will be placing scanned Step one:
images, make sure you keep Collect files of scans and put them in a project folder.
those images with your
Illustrator page. Step two:
Start a new Illustrator file: RGB color, 81/2” x 11.”
Save as an Illustrator (.ai) file, into the project folder.
Keep your sanity
Step three:
Learn one new tool at a
time Turn on grids and/or add layout guides.
Don’t try to learn everything
about Illustrator on your first Step four:
project! You shouldn’t need “Place” bitmap images (scans).
to learn more than three or
four new tricks per project. Step five:
Create text and/or drawings using Illustrator’s tools.
Save Often!
Every 5 minutes is not Step six:
too often.
Save and print.
Use Groups and Layers
Organize your Illustrator
objects into Groups and
Layers (handout - page 10).
Design tips
Fonts
Ergonomics matter! • Use a limited number of Font faces—two is usually adequate.
Take breaks • It’s OK to use display (decorative) faces for headlines,
Get out of your chair at least but not for large blocks of text.
once an hour.
Effects
Take a break from the screen
every twenty minutes or so. • Use special effects for a purpose, not for their own sake.
Effects used sparingly have more, well, effect!
Vary body position If everything is bold, nothing stands out.
If your back, neck or wrists
start to get tight, change the Alignment
height of your chair and/or • Large blocks of text are easier to read when LEFT ALIGNED.
move your mouse/keyboard
to different height. • Centering everything impairs visual flow and readability.

Proximity
• Clump associated content.
It’s a win-win tactic. Visual flow will be improved,
as well as comprehension and retention.

Art 397H
Academic Information
Computing Design of Massachusetts, Amherst
/ OIT University 020207_mt
Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 3 of 14

What Illustrator does

Vector versus bitmap graphics
Illustrator is an object-oriented drawing tool. Each element you place
on the page is a separate object that can be edited and manipulated
independently from other objects on the page. Because drawings made
in Illustrator are defined as a set of mathematical descriptions, or
vector graphics, they can be resized without losing image quality.
VECTOR RASTER
You can import raster images (images from bitmap programs like
Because object- In bitmap programs
oriented vector such as Photoshop Photoshop, or scans) onto an Illustrator page but Illustrator’s tools for
graphics are defined images are editing bitmap graphics are limited.
as a set of described in an
mathematical array of pixels, or The best use of Illustrator is for hard-edged graphics such as logos,
descriptions, images picture elements. charts, diagrams and maps. It is also good for creating graphics that
can be resized Resizing an image will be manipulated and changed frequently.
without losing degrades the
quality: quality:

Also a planning tool

Illustrator is an ideal program to use for planning and flow chart
diagrams because it allows you to rearrange and reuse elements
quickly and easily. Once you are comfortable using Illustrator, it can
be a useful tool for brainstorming and visual planning.

Single pages only

Illustrator creates single page documents. You can draw something in
Illustrator to include in a multiple page document: Save the image as
an EPS file, then place it in a layout program such as PageMaker,
Quark or Word.

Help!
Excellent on-screen help opens in a Web browser (no Internet
connection needed) when you choose Help > Illustrator Help.

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A tour of Illustrator’s workspace

Open Illustrator
1. From main menu choose File > New.
2. In the New Document dialog box, select RGB and click OK.
(The default page size if 8 1/2” x 11”).

The Art Board

The Artboard & the Scratch Area
Only objects and The rectangle in the middle of the screen is the page.
text within the
dashed margins will The dotted lines are the margins of the printable area.
be printed. Margins
change depending
on the printer Anything outside the dotted lines will not print.
definition currently in
use.

The Scratch Area

You can draw anywhere within the illustrator
window, even outside of the page. Use the
scratch area for doodling, and for storing
objects not currently in use.

The Tool Bar

The Tool Bar contains the tools you can use to
create and manipulate objects on the page. In this
introduction , the first tools you will use are the
Selection tool, the Direct Select tool, the Pen
tool, the Text tool, the Ellipse tool and the
Rectangle tool.

Selection tool (V) (A) Direct Select

Keyboard shortcuts for these tools (in parenthesis

next to the name) are not required, but if you learn
Pen (P) (T) Text them Illustrator will be much easier to use.
Ellipse (L) (M) Rectangle

Menus
The main application menu
The main menu includes controls for your page and provides
commands you can apply to selected objects.
Palette Menus
Each palette has a pop-out menu of special options. Click on the
black triangle at the top-right corner off each palette to open its
menu.

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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 5 of 14

Palettes
The palettes contain additional controls for manipulating objects and
tools. To arrange a comfortable work space drag the palettes around
the screen by their top bars. Controls are grouped together in sets of
two or three on each palette. Click on the name tabs to bring a palette
to the front of its group.

Locate the following palettes:

Character
If you do not see the Character palette go to the main menu and
choose Type > Character from the main menu.

Color & Stroke

Stroke is a subset of the Color palette. If you do not see the color
Palette go to the main menu and choose Window > Show Color.
At the bottom of the Color palette, click on the Stroke tab if it is
not already in front.

Layers and Links

The Layer and Link palettes are in the same group. These palettes
will help you manage the different “objects” in a file.

Appearance
The Appearance palette also helps you to manage your artwork. It
keeps track of every effect you apply to an object..

Change view using the Zoom and Hand tools

Zoom
The Zoom tool (Z) “zooms in” on the page with each click.
Hold down the ALT key (Option-Mac) and click to “zoom out.”
Drag out a box with the Zoom tool to enlarge a selected area.

Hand
The Hand tool (H) moves the page inside the window when you
Hand tool (H) Zoom tool (Z) drag the mouse.

There are also controls for changing your view in the main menu
(View > Zoom in, View > Zoom out, View > Fit in window, View
> Actual Size), and on the Navigator palette.

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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 6 of 14

Importing bitmap images

If you have a scan, or other artwork created in a raster program such as
Photoshop, there several ways to get the image into an Illustrator file.

Bitmap images appear as separate objects, and remain a bitmaps. You

will be able to use only a limited number of tools on a bitmap image in
Illustrator.

How to get a bitmap image into Illustrator

Open
1. Choose File > Open and select the bitmap you want to use.
Illustrator opens all common image file types.
The image will appear in the Layers palette as an <image>
object in Layer 1.
Place
1. Open the Layers palette, and select the layer you want the
image to be on (you can create a new layer using the pop-out
menu at the top-right of the palette).
2. Choose File > Place.
Paste from clipboard (or drag & drop)
1. Open the image in a bitmap application such as Photoshop.
2. Choose Edit > Copy.
3. Move to Illustrator.
4. In the Layers palette click on the name for the layer that will
hold the image object.
5. Choose Edit > Paste.

Link or embed?
The advantage of using linked artwork is that an image file can be
modified outside of illustrator, then updated, whereas you can only
change an embedded image inside Illustrator.

How to tell if an image is linked or embedded

Embedded 1. Open the Links palette.
• If an item has an icon like this , it is embedded.
Linked • If it has a file name, and no icon, it is linked.
To embed when you Place
1. Choose File > Place.
2. Uncheck the “Link” box.
• Placed images are linked, by default.

• Opened images are embedded on the

bottom layer.

• Cut & paste/ drag & drop embeds images To embed a linked file already on the page
1. Open the Links palette.
IMPORTANT! When working with linked 2. Click on the icon for the linked image.
images keep the bitmap in the same folder
as the Illustrator document! 3. Use the pop-out menu at the top right of the palette to choose
> Embed Image.

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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 7 of 14

Selecting an object
Before you can alter an object, you need to select it. There are two
ways to do that:

Use the Select tool

• Click on an object with the Select tool to select it.
Select objects using the Layers palette
1. Open the Layers palette.
2. Locate the image object.
3. Click on the circle after the object name.
The object will be selected.
This method is indispensable in a file with several objects!

What you can do to a bitmap in Illustrator

Once you import a bitmap into Illustrator it remains a bitmap you’ll
only be able to use a limited set of tools on the image object.

Filters are for bitmap images, Effects are for vector objects
Explore the Filter menu. You’ll find rudimentary tools for adjusting
color, and most of the common Photoshop filters for adding textures.

1. Select the object.

2. Choose a filter from the menu.
Some filters offer a preview of the filter’s effect. For others
you must apply the filter, then if you don’t like the results,
choose Edit > Undo from the main menu.
Transforms
• Chose commands from the Object > Transform menu.
You can flip, distort , scale, or perform other spatial
transforms on an image object.
• Select an image using the selection tool,
then scale, by dragging the corner handles..
• Use the transform tools from the tool bar
to rotate, scale, flip, etc.

Masking
1. In the layers palette, click on the icon for the object you want
to mask: this way the masking shape will appear above the
A note about pasting “cut outs” image in the Layers palette.
from Photoshop...
• If you cut and paste a selection or a 2. Start drawing the shape of the mask using illustrators drawing
transparent layer from Photoshop, it will tools.
not appear “cut out” in Illustrator. A 3. Select both the drawing for the mask and the image.
rectangular area of background color will
SHIFT + CLICK to select multiple objects.
show around the selection.
4. Choose Object > Clipping mask > Make.
• Transparent GIFs or PNG files will Place
Everything under the “mask” will be visible, everything
with transparency, producing a “cut out”
effect. outside it will be masked.

•See the Illustrator Help pages for

information about using Clipping paths
from Photoshop to Illustrator.

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Drawing boxes
How to draw a box
1. Get the Rectangle tool from the Tool bar (or press M).
2. Position the cursor where you want the upper right corner of the
box to be.
3. Hold down the mouse button and drag to where you want the
lower left corner of the box to be.
To make a perfect square press the SHIFT key while you drag.
4. Draw several boxes.
1 2 How to change a box
First, select the box:

1. In the tool bar, get the Selection tool (V).

2. Position the black arrow over a box and click: the box becomes
outlined in color.
3. To deselect a box click on an empty part of the page, or choose
Edit > Deselect All (CTRL + SHIFT + A) .

Once a box is selected you can do any of the following:

Delete a box
Move with Selection tool Select the box then press the Backspace or Delete key.
Move a box
Still using the Select tool, position the arrow over the box and drag.
The cursor should look like this:
Resize a box
Still using the Selection tool, position the cursor over one of the
Resize with Selection tool
anchors at a corner or side of the box and drag. The box will resize
from the top left corner.
The cursor should look like this:
Constrain proportions
Hold down the SHIFT key to constrain proportions.
Scale with Scale tool
Scale a box
The Scale tool works something like resizing with the select tool, but
the Scale tool works symmetrically, and, by default, from the center
point rather than “handles.”
1. First, use the Select tool to select the box you want to scale.
Scale, pressing SHIFT

2. In the tool bar, click on the Scale tool (S).

3. Drag the cursor to resize: the shape will scale from the center.

• Hold the Shift key to constrain proportions.

Drag to move center point
• To move the center point drag the crosshairs at the center to a
new position. For instance, you can scale the box from the
corner rather than the center.

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Changing fill and stroke colors

Towards the bottom of the Tool bar, the Fill and Stoke icons indicate the
The Toolbar Color Picker current fill and the stroke colors.

Fill color Swap fill and

stoke colors Fill (color filling an object)
Revert to Stroke (outline)
Stroke color
white fill
& black
stroke
• Set the colors before you draw, or,
• Select an object with the pointer tool, then change the colors.
Solid color No color
Gradient color To change the fill color
1. Click on the Fill color icon.
2. Do any of the following:
• Create a new color using the Color palette
• Choose a new color from the Swatches palette
• Choose no color
(red slash icon under Color picker or on Color palette)
• Choose to use solid color or gradient color

To create gradient fills

To control gradients click on the Gradient Tab under the color Palette:

• Choose Linear or Radial

(Radial gives a sunburst effect)
• Slide the midpoint marker to shift the gradient
• Click on the endpoints then select new colors from
the color palette

To Change the stroke color

1. Click on the Stroke icon.
It will pop on top of the fill icon.
2. Choose colors using the same methods as for fill colors.

The fill & stroke icons on the color

palette work exactly the same as
on the toolbar.
Example:
Gradient fill, no stroke

To change the thickness of the stroke

1. On the Color palette, under the color selectors are three tabs,
click on the Stroke tab.
2. Choose a stroke weight, measured in points (72 points = 1 inch).
1 point: 4 points:
3. To expand the Stroke palette to show more options:
Click, on the small black triangle at the top-right corner of the
palette then choose > Show Options.
Expanded stroke palette Options include dashed lines and rounded corners.
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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 10 of 14

Drawing straight lines

To add a simple straight line
2
1. Position the Pen tool where you want the line to begin.
1 2. Click once. A handle will appear.
3. Position the pen where you want the line to end and click.
The line will appear.
Tip for Starting a new line:
CNTRL + CLICK 4. To finish, select another tool from the tool bar, such as the
select tool.
Hold down the Cntrl key (Apple key on NOTE: If you keep clicking with the Pen tool more
Macs) — the cursor temporarily changes to
the Selection tool. Click, then release the
segments will be added to the line.
Cntrl key to return to the Pen tool. Now you 5. Draw several single-segment lines.
can start a new line.
To edit a line
While it is possible to select the line with the select tool (black arrow),
then grab the handles of the bounding box and drag, this does not
Line selected with always give the best results. For more careful control do the
Selection tool following:

1. Get the Direct Select Tool (A) (the white arrow)

from the tool bar.
2. If the line already has handles, click on the empty page, or
Line selected with choose Edit > Deselect All (CONTROL + SHIFT + A).
Direct Select tool 3. Click on one end of the line. The handle at the end of the line
where you clicked should be solid, the other handle should be
an empty outline.
4. Drag the solid handle with the Direct Select tool.
The line will change length and direction.
If you drag the line segment, the entire line will move.

To change line color:

1. Select the line.
2. In the Tool bar, or on the Color palette, click on the Stroke
icon.
3. Use the Color palette or Swatches palette to choose a
new color.

To change line thickness:

1. Select the line.
2. Click on the Stroke tab (under the Color palette), then choose
a new stroke weight.

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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 11 of 14

Working with Text

To add a line of text
This method creates one single line of text that does not wrap. You
must use the return key to break the line. Use this method for short
lines of text.

1. Select the Text tool (T).

2. Position the cursor where you want the text to begin and click.
(Unlike a word processor, in Illustrator text can start anywhere
Shortcut for Starting new text:
on the page.)
CNTRL + CLICK
3. Type.
Hold down the Cntrl key (Apple key on
Macs) — the cursor temporarily changes to 4. Switch to the Selection tool and click on the page.
the Selection tool. Click, then release the 5. Return to the Text tool and start a new line of text somewhere
Cntrl key to return to the Text tool. Now you
else on the page.
can start a new text entry.
6. Add several separate lines of text to the page.
7. Select the line of text with the Selection tool (black arrow),
then drag it to a new position on the page.

To add a block of text

Use Text boxes when you plan to have several lines text. Text boxes
can have special attributions such as margins, indents, tabs, and
paragraph spacing that a single line can’t have.

1. Select the Text tool (T).

2. Position the cursor as if you were drawing a box and drag.
3. Start to type. The text will be constrained to the confines of
the box.
4. Just as with a box drawn by the rectangle tool, you can adjust
the width and height of a text box if you switch to the
Selection tool and then resize using the handles.
The text will re-flow to fit the new dimensions.
If you don’t see the Character palette
go to the main menu and choose
Type > Character.
To edit text
1. Using the Text tool, click in the line of text you want to edit.
2. A blinking cursor will appear just as in any word processor.
Drag to highlight sections, use copy & paste, etc.

To change the appearance of text

First, select the text you want to change:
• Drag with the Text tool to select part of a text entry, or
• Click with the Select tool to select an entire text entry.
Once the text is selected:
The Character palette controls fonts and sizes, as well as
leading (space between lines), kerning (space between
characters) and many other attributes.
The Paragraph palette controls alignment (left, right,
justified), indents and the space above and below new
paragraphs.

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A path is a string of line Drawing more complex shapes

segments and anchors.
In subsequent tutorials we will go into more detail about how to use
segment
Illustrator’s drawing tools. The Pen tool is especially difficult to
master (but useful!). We will give you a lesson in using the pen tool
next week.
anchor
For the time being, if you’re new to Illustrator, you can start out by
using Illustrator’s more intuitive tools, shown below.
Adjusting tools
The Pencil
The pencil tool works just like a pencil—simply draw on the page.
When you release the mouse a path is formed with anchor points at
every change in the line’s direction. Between the anchors are the line
segments.

1. Set the fill color to “none.”

Adjust the sensitivity of any of the pencil
tools (and most other tools) by double- Set the stroke color to the color of your choice.
clicking the icon in the tool bar. A Set the stroke width to 5 pts.
preferences window opens where you can Choose the Pencil tool:
set tool tolerances.

2. Draw a looping line with the Pencil.

3. Click on the line with the Selection tool.

You should see the anchors between the segments, and the
entire object outlined in a bounding box.
To draw a closed path
1. Using the pencil, start drawing your path.
Note: you’ll see a
circle next to the 2. When you are ready to close the shape, hold down the ALT -
pencil cursor when key (option-Mac)—when you release the mouse a closed path
you press the ALT key is created.

To adjust the shape

1. Use the Direct Selection Tool to click on the path
2. Drag an anchor point or one of the 'direction line' handles to
alter the shape.
Direction line handle
The Eraser
The eraser is part of the Pencil tool set. Click on the black triangle in
the corner of the eraser tool to pop-out the tool set. The eraser is on the
far right.

1. To remove segments of a path, “rub” with the erase tool.

Note: Once segments are removed, the remaining sections become

separate objects.

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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator page 13 of 14

Text with a stoke Applying Effects

Stroke & fill
Color text just as you would color drawn shapes, using the Color palette
Texture effects or Swatches palette to choose fill and stroke colors.
Effect > Pixillate > Color Halftone
How to add an effect
1. Use the Select tool (black arrow) to select an object or text
block.
2. In the main menu, go to Effects, then choose an effect from one
of the submenus.
Effect > Texture > Texturizer > Sandstone
• Not all effects work on text - experiment to test results
• Some effects add texture to a fill (Artistic, Pixillate, Texture)
• Others alter an object’s shape, or the texture of it’s outline
(Distort & Transform, Brushstrokes)
• Look for glow and shadow effects in the Stylize Menu
Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur

How to remove an effect

1. Open the Appearance palette.
2. In the palette, click on the name
of the Effect .
3. Click on the garbage can icon at
the bottom of the Appearance
Outline effects
palette to remove the effect.
Effect > Brushstroke > Spatter

To return tools to “normal” after applying an effect:

Illustrator “remembers” the settings for colors and effects. Each time you
change color or apply an effect, the settings stick, regardless of which
Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen drawing tool you are using.

Say you draw a simple box, and apply a blur effect to it. Then you go to
the toolbar and switch to the oval tool. When you draw with the oval
tool, it will use the same color as you made the box, and will have the
blur effect applied.
Glow & shadow effects
Effect > Stylize > Inner glow To prevent “inheriting” the last effect settings used:

1. Choose Edit > Deselect All.

2. Select the tool you want to use.
3. Before you draw, open the Appearance palette.
4. Click on the name of the effect you do not want to use.
5. Click on the garbage can icon on the Appearance palette.
Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow
6. Change the stroke and fill colors as needed.
7.= Draw.

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Organizing objects
in groups and layers
You can end up with a huge number of separate objects on your page.
Using groups and layers will help you to keep objects organized.

Note: Layers and objects stack one above each other in the picture
space. Items at the top of the list will “cover” items at the bottom.

How to group and ungroup objects

Each shape you draw is shown as a separate object in the Layers
palette. Objects are listed below the name of the layer they are in.

Grouping a collection of related objects makes them easier to manage.

For instance, in the example to the left it would be useful to group the
separate objects that make up the hair. Once grouped they will behave
as one object. Clicking on any one of the objects will select them all.
Then you could change fills, stroke, or apply effects with one click.

To create a group
1. SHIFT-CLICK to select the objects you want to group.
This is easiest to do in the Layers palette (click on the select
button for each object).
2. Chose Object > Group. (Or press CONTROL + g)
Note how the objects now appear in a submenu of the Layer
called <group>.
To ungroup objects
You can still edit the individual objects of a group by using the select
buttons on the object palette to select them, but sometimes you may
find that you want to ungroup the objects:

1. Select the group.

2. Choose Object > Ungroup (CONTROL + SHIFT + g).
To name a group, layer or object
SHOW / HIDE
1. Open the Layers palette.
Click to hide & show an
object, group or layer 2. Double-click on the name of the item (<path>, <image>, etc.)
3. An options window will open: type a new name for the object.

How to use layers and sublayers

Create a new layer before you draw or place objects
1. Click on the layer name for the layer above which you want
the new layer to appear. Click on the black triangle at the top-
LOCK
Click to lock object, group, or layer right of the Layers palette.
2. Choose > New Layer.
Create a sublayer
Hide objects that you want to “store” or
that are in the way when you want to 1. Click on the layer name for the layer inside which you want to
work on an underlying layer. create a sublayer.
Lock objects to protect them from 2. Choose > New Sublayer.
changing accidentally while you work on Move an object to a different layer
nearby objects. 1. Drag the object name in the Layers palette into another layer.

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Tips!
Tip #1: Duplicate objects to reuse them
1. Select an object or group.
2. Hold down the ALT key (Option Mac) and drag.
3. Let up on the mouse, then the key: A copy will appear.
(If the original disappears, try again.)
When you want several box combos in
the same size & style, clone the first
one, then edit the text.
Tip #2: Use the Align palette to organize elements
1. Select several objects on the page (SHIFT-CLICK).
2. Use the Align palette to align their edges, center them on an
axis, or distribute them evenly across the page.

3. Choose > Show Options from the palette menu to distribute

spacing

Tip # 3: Use the Grid to organize your layout

1. From the main menu choose View > Show Grid.
This adds a non-printing background (like graph paper) that
you can use to help position elements on the page.

Tip # 4: Use Guides to align objects

1. Turn on the rulers: View > Rulers (CONTROL + R).
2. Place the cursor inside the top ruler and drag out a horizontal
guide onto the page
3. Place the cursor inside the side ruler and drag out a vertical
guide.
4. Guides lock once positioned. To adjust guide positions, go to
the main menu and choose Guides > then uncheck Lock
guides.

Tip #5 Hide and Show Selection Outlines

Sometimes selection outlines make it difficult to see the results of
changes.

To hide/show selection outlines

1. Choose View > Hide Edges/Show Edges.
To hide/show bounding box
1. Choose View > Hide Bounding Box/ Show Bounding Box.

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