Let’s talk color today!
Edit colors: Recolor artwork
Favorite: https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/color-groups-harmonies.html
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Pen tool : from 101 to advanced
Get the Pen tool = P
Get the black arrow = V
Get the white arrow = A
Pen tool best practices:
- Work in one direction – don’t change directions mid-drawing.
- Keep the handles of your curves pointing in the direction you are drawing. If they point backwards, you will get nasty (or perhaps useful) bumps and squiggles.
- Always work with closed paths. No matter how skinny the line. * note that lines created with the line tool should also be converted to paths/outlines before artwork is handed off to anyone. This is because lines tend to scale (get thicker or thinner) when artwork is scaled. Check the scaling preferences in Edit > Preferences.
- A single click will make a corner point. This has no handles.
- A click’n’drag will make a curve point. This has handles.
- When tracing artwork, always put the artwork on a locked layer.
- It is usually best to use a semi-transparent colour to trace with, rather than a line. The thickness of the line can obscure the actual path.
- Aim to create as few points as necessary.
- Once you have made a path, you will probably want to go back and fix it in places.
- Use the black arrow to move whole paths (V)
- Use the white arrow (A) to move points.
- Hold Alt and click’n’drag on an existing point to give it new handles. Great if you want to add or adjust a curve.
- Hold Alt and single click on an existing point to remove handles. Good if you want to remove a curve.
- When you have the Pen tool (P) in use, you may want to quickly jump back to the black arrow to select a path, or deselect a path. Instead of using (V), while the pen tool is in use, just hold down Ctrl and click. Same as black arrow tool, quick and useful. J
- Sometimes it’s useful to adjust both handles of a point at once (i.e., adjust the curve on both sides of the point). Use the white arrow (A) to do this.
- Other times you only want to adjust the handle on one side of a point (i.e., adjust the curve on one side of a point). Use the chevron tool to do this. To access the chevron tool you need to have the pen tool in use (P). Hold down the Alt key and a little > shape will appear, tilted, next to your cursor. Use that to grab the handle you want to change. * Note: if the point you want to change is an extrema point, remember to also hold the Shift key to retain perfect 90° lines.
Pathfinder Tool
*Note: To cut a shape out of another shape, you need to be working only with closed paths. Open paths, text and lines will NOT work.
The bottom left icon (Divide) will cut or punch a shape out of another shape, much like a cookie cutter cuts out a shape from dough. The dough should preferably be at the bottom.
- Stack two closed-path-objects over top of each other. They can overlap completely, or partially.
- With both paths selected, click the Divide icon. Your shapes will now be cut, but they will be grouped.
- Ungroup the shapes. Ctrl + Shift + G to ungroup.
- Using the black arrow (V) select the piece you want to remove, and either move it or delete it. Voila, one hole. J
The top left icon (Unite) will join two closed paths together. Same step one as above, then click Unit icon. That’s it, you now have a single path from what used to be two or more separate paths.
Align Tool
You should be able to work out the basic “align-left” “align centre, and “align top” tools easily enough.
*Note: Before aligning or distributing anything, always check what you are aligning stuff to. See the icon in the bottom left. Usually you want to align to selection (things you have selected on the page), but sometimes you may want to align stuff to the page.
You have two choices with the Distribute tools, you can either distribute centres, or distribute spaces.
Distribute centres is great when all your objects are the same dimension (i.e. same width if you plan to distribute horizontally). It is a pain if you have objects of different dimensions though; then it just makes a mess.
That is where distribute spaces comes in handy. It makes the space between all the objects you have selected even. A good example is text (turned to outlines), which are often varied widths.
Illustrator tips and new tools
Some great tools:
Scaling and maintaining strokes
Family of Characters
Adobe Illustrator is for illustrators.. In this project, communicate your “illustrative style” by starting from a blank document and using the pen tool, in addition to others, building a cohesive character design. This character design should be seen as a creative illustration – one that could later be used in a children’s book, to print and frame as a gift, to later animate, the possibilities are endless!
Project Requirements: Sketch and develop character designs for 4-6 people in a setting of your choice. (Could include animals!)
Include details that make the character “human” – accessories, facial expressions, texture, color, etc.
Technical requirements: show skill with the pen tool, composition, color design
There is alot of creativity within the style of illustration – I am open and excited about your ideas!
Size: 8 1/2 x 11″
Monday, Aug. 27: Introductions
Hello and welcome to Illustrator 2!
Happy first day of the Fall 2018 semester… Today we will go over the syllabus, our proposed projects, options for online tutorials and basic Illustrator technical questions. Please be sure to look at our syllabus, which you can find here .
Please stay posted as I design our class blog. Follow along and log on from home to access assignments, due dates and links to inspiring designers.
This class will meet from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Mondays. It is very important that you keep up with your projects as well as participate in our Design Critiques – not only for the benefit of your grade, but for your greater benefit towards becoming professional graphic designers!
I’m looking forward to a great semester!
Best, Prof. Hopkins
Course Description: This advanced course will give essential skills in vector graphics through the Illustrator program, covering a range of projects and creative explorations. Emphasis will be placed on creative problem solving, the pen tool, shape building, pattern creation and typographic experimentation.
- Family of Characters – a warm up project to get re-acquainted with the Illustrator tools and toolbar. From Sketch to Vector + Character Design
- Package Design –
3D package design solution, advanced pen tools, pattern design
3. Putting Things in Perspective: Vector Landscapes
Perspective tool, advanced image tracing, advanced color + gradients
5. Politics/Issues: Maximal vs, Minimal
Homework for next week:
- Start sketching your family!
- Start thinking about projects!
P.S.: NO CLASS NEXT MONDAY: LABOR DAY – see you Sept. 10.
Brushes 101
How to make a symbol + spray paint tool
Images below taken from Behance
Adobe: How to create an art brush
HAIR:
Excellent vector hair tutorial
Final Portfolio Requirement
Hey there. It’s the end of the semester, we made it!
Requirements for Final Portfolio Day: Wednesday, April 25
BEGINNING OF CLASS CRITIQUE on your Music Illustration Poster AND hand in of your final portfolio files.
No exceptions. No time to save files. Walk in, on time… be ready or points will be deducted from your final portfolio grade for lack of professionalism. (10 points will be deducted for failure to meet this beginning of class deadline)
Final Portfolio Requirements: (This counts as your Final Exam)
Upload a folder of your project to the server (Labeled with your Name)
Design Projects :
Please label them as follows with your initials: i.e. “KMHAnimalTotem.pdf
- (Initials)AnimalTotem.pdf
- (Initials)Infographicpdf
- (Initials)PatternDesign.pdf
- (Initials)MusicIllustration.pdf
- (Initials)DesignerStatement.docx
Design Statement:
1-2 page designer statement answering the following questions in paragraph format:
What did you learn this semester? (Technical + conceptual)
How did you incorporate the Principles of Design in your project?
How is your view of Illustrator different after taking this class?
Which projects did you enjoy the most/the least?
Is there anything specific that you would have liked to have gone over?
How can you improve your design skills for the future?
How can I improve http://www.professorhopkins.com? Do you use it?
Anything else you would like to tell me?
Also – if you have edited your projects at all, please tell me what you did to fix/change your design in your designer statement.
