Adobe Illustrator CS5 - Illustrated Unit A:Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator CS5

Objectives Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:  Define illustration software  Start Adobe Illustrator CS5 and change preference settings  View the workspace  Create and save a document  Change the artboard size and close a document

Objectives  Open a document and change views  Get help  Work with ruler guides  Work with Smart Guides and exit Illustrator

Defining Illustration Software Vector graphics  Graphics created in Adobe Illustrator Created with lines and curves Defined by mathematical objects (i.e., vectors)  Consist of anchor points and line segments Together referred to as paths  Render bold graphics with crisp lines Can be scaled to various sizes

Defining Illustration Software FIGURE A-1: Vector graphic

Defining Illustration Software With Illustrator, you can:  Create simple or complex illustrations Variety of simple shape and drawing tools  Apply process and spot colors Many swatch libraries  Create type Large blocks of text, large bold headlines, type on a path, or type that fills an object  Create gradient fills Multicolor blend that fills objects or outlines

Defining Illustration Software  Transform and distort objects Scale, Rotate, Reflect, Shear, and Free Transform  Export documents Flash movies (*.swf), Photoshop documents (*.psd), and JPEGs (*.jpg)  Work with Multiple Artboards Work on front and back of a design in one document Design differently-sized components of a project

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Changing Preference Settings Illustrator can be started by:  Selecting the program application icon or by double-clicking it Depends on operating system  In Windows: Click the Start button and navigate to Adobe Illustrator CS5  In Mac: Open Finder, click hard drive icon, click Applications, navigate to Adobe Design Premium CS5 then Adobe Illustrator CS5

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Changing Preference Settings Welcome Screen  Appears when starting Illustrator for the first time  Allows you to open existing documents or create a new document  Click Don't show again check box if you don't want the Welcome Screen to appear

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Changing Preference Settings FIGURE A-2: Starting Illustrator (Windows)

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Changing Preference Settings FIGURE A-2: Starting Illustrator (Macintosh)

Viewing the Workspace Workspace includes:  Tools panel  Status bar  Application bar  Control panel  Additional panels Essentials  Default workspace  Includes basic tools and panels

Viewing the Workspace New workspace  Click Workspace switcher in Application bar  Click Essentials  Modify using Control panel Custom workspaces  Used for specific types of projects Click Window on Application bar Point to Workspace Click one of the nine workspace names

Viewing the Workspace FIGURE A-3: The Illustrator workspace

Creating and Saving a Document Creating a new document  Start by making choices in New Document dialog box Artboard name, size, and number Saving  Save As = a document with a new name  Save = saves with same name New Document Profile menu  Specifies type of document needed

Creating and Saving a Document FIGURE A-4: New Document dialog box

Creating and Saving a Document FIGURE A-5: Save As dialog box

Changing the Artboard Size and Closing a Document Changing artboard size  Click Artboard tool on Tools panel  Dotted lines appear around selected artboard  Drag an edge or change width and height values on Control panel Exit artboard mode  Click any tool on Tools panel

Changing the Artboard Size and Closing a Document FIGURE A-6: Manually resizing the artboard

Changing the Artboard Size and Closing a Document FIGURE A-7: Left artboard is resized

Changing the Artboard Size and Closing a Document Close a document  Click Close button on document title or document tab Working in artboard mode  Many ways to work with multiple artboards  Click Artboard tool on Tools panel to enter artboard mode

Opening a Document and Changing Views Opening Illustrator documents  Preview mode Shows fill and stroke colors Shows how each object is layered  Outline mode Shows only the vector outline Bounding box  Selection box that appears when object is selected  Contains resize handles

Opening a Document and Changing Views Creating new views  Artboard area can be defined and saved as a named view Can be selected from View menu  New View feature Allows creation of window views of specific sections of the artboard

Opening a Document and Changing Views FIGURE A-8: Open dialog box

Opening a Document and Changing Views FIGURE A-9: Outline mode

Getting Help Help feature  Can be accessed while working in Illustrator  Provides articles on specific Illustrator topics, videos, and tutorials Click Help on Application bar Click Illustrator Help Adobe Community Help web site opens

Getting Help FIGURE A-10: Adobe Illustrator CS5 Help screen

Getting Help FIGURE A-11: Help topic about using multiple artboards

Getting Help FIGURE A-12: Using the Navigator panel

Working with Ruler Guides Ruler guides  Vertical and horizontal lines useful for aligning objects on the artboard  Created using the horizontal and vertical rulers in the workspace  Can be locked or unlocked  Can be moved, deleted, and hidden

Working with Ruler Guides FIGURE A-13: Viewing the rulers in Illustrator

Working with Ruler Guides FIGURE A-14: Viewing the horizontal guide

Working with Ruler Guides FIGURE A-15: Viewing the vertical guide

Working with Smart Guides and Exiting Illustrator Smart Guides  Visual aids that work alongside ruler guides  Useful when you need to be precise about alignment of objects and for moving objects  Appear as you drag the mouse pointer over the artboard

Working with Smart Guides and Exiting Illustrator FIGURE A-16: Viewing Smart Guides

Working with Smart Guides and Exiting Illustrator FIGURE A-17: Aligning the center of the two objects

Working with Smart Guides and Exiting Illustrator FIGURE A-18: Result of moving the diamond

Working with Smart Guides and Exiting Illustrator Exiting Illustrator  Save your work  Click File on Application bar  Click Close Setting preferences  Changes can be made based on personal preferences