Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator CS6

Objectives Define illustration software Start Adobe Illustrator CS6 and change preference settings View the workspace Create and save a document Change the artboard size and close a document 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 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 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

Defining Illustration Software FIGURE A-1: Vector graphic

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS6 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 CS6 In Mac: Open Finder, click hard drive icon, click Applications, navigate to Adobe Illustrator CS6

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS6 and Changing Preference Settings FIGURE A-2: Starting Illustrator CS6 (Windows)

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS6 and Changing Preference Settings FIGURE A-2: Starting Illustrator (Macintosh)

Starting Adobe Illustrator CS6 and Changing Preference Settings Setting preferences You can make changes to Illustrator based on your personal preferences For example, you can change the color of guides and Smart Guides, and specify whether documents are opened as tabbed or not To open the Preferences dialog box, click Edit (Win) or Illustrator (Mac) on the Menu bar, point to Preferences, then click a preference category

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

Viewing the Workspace New workspace Custom workspaces Click Workspace switcher in Menu bar Click Essentials Modify using Control panel Custom workspaces Used for specific types of projects Click Window on Menu 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 Save As command Save a document with a new name Save recent changes 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 an object Contains resize handles

Opening a Document and Changing Views Creating new views Artboard area can be defined and saved as 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

Getting Help Help feature Can be accessed while working in Illustrator Provides articles on specific Illustrator topics, videos, and tutorials Click Help on Menu bar Click Illustrator Help Illustrator Help page of Adobe.com website opens

Getting Help FIGURE A-10: Adobe Illustrator CS6 Help screen

Getting Help FIGURE A-11: Improved user interface page

Getting Help FIGURE A-12: Panels information

Working with 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 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

Summary Open a document and change views Get help Define illustration software Start Adobe Illustrator CS6 and change preference settings View the workspace Create and save a document Change the artboard size and close a document Open a document and change views Get help Work with ruler guides Work with Smart Guides and exit Illustrator