Every vector (non-bitmapped) object in Illustrator has a path with some kind of "stroke" and "fill" (even if it's "no stroke" and "no fill")
An open path is any path with with a beginning and ending set of anchors that aren't connected to each other.
A closed path is any path in which all the anchors are connected to other anchors on both sides.
You can create Lines/Paths with lots of different tools
Selection
Creation
Transformation
More Transformation
Useless Gadgets
Document Tools
Stroke/Fill Colors
Fill Types
Draw Modes
Screen Modes
Once you've created a path/line/shape you can apply and modify it with the Stroke panel Menu>Window>Stroke
The stroke window gives control over the general aspects of a stroke, such as:
What will sit at the Starting and Ending Anchors of an open path
No Cap
Round Cap
Square Cap
Think of Round and Square Caps as circles and squares whose center is the end point of an open path.
How a Corner anchor will appear when it is more than a given angle
Miter Join (default)
Round Join
Bevel Join
Corner miters control the appearance of to path segments coming together at a corner. The limit value ranges from 0 to 500, with 0 giving a chopped-off appearance to the miter (technically know as a chamfered edge), and a high value giving a pointed connection, much like the miter made by a carpenter on a wooden frame.
1 will make any angle corner a Bevel or Round Join
2 will turn 90° into a Miter Join
3 will turn 45° into a Miter Join
Greater than 3 will set more acute angles to Miter Joins
Very acute angles may need numbers over 10
It goes up to 500, which is an outrageously high number, mostly you're less then 10. Sometimes you need a big number for curves coming together into a point:
189 limit for this example (note the blue anchor handles set to a very acute angle), but it makes a really really long point
Centered (default)
Inside
Outside
Used extensively in maps/cartography
And for cut-out coupons
I used them to get a tile effect on this mosaic medallion I saw in Istanbul
chora_medallion_e-tiled.ai
12pt dash (default). No value for the gap matches the dash size.
You can make up to 3 dash and gap sizes that repeat
Labeled Preserves exact dash and gap lengths
can lead to misaligned corners and sides. Useful mostly for open objects
Labeled Aligns dashes to corners and path ends, adjusting lengths to fit
keeps corners and side looking neat.
This used to be really hard to do by hand. Added in CS 4 or 5
You can even do dotted lines with circles, just set the dash size to very small (.1 pts)
Handy for charts, graphics and technical illustrations. Tons of pre-built arrowheads, options to change directions, size, where the arrow starts (behind the anchor or in front of it).
A quick way to apply a variable stroke width...
...but it's more powerful to use the Width Tool in the toolbar instead
The Width tool in the Toolbar lets you modify the width of a stroke at any point on a path.
You can change the width of a stroke at any point along the stroke with the Width Tool
And you can put gradients on paths
Use the gradient panel to control the way the stroke works on the path:
Linear gradient aligned within the stroke
Linear gradient aligned within stroke and rotated
Radial gradient aligned within the stroke
Linear Gradient along stroke
Linear Gradient across stroke
Fun with path gradients:
Demo... example file
NOTE: There is a bug in Illustrator CC that will sometimes cause this to fail. I'm still working on figuring out how to reproduce this bug reliably, and in the meantime if you run into it, convert your text to outlines instead of using this technique.
After youv'e created the text object, select it with the Selection tool.
Open the Appearance Panel (Menu > Window > Appearance). Note that the layer 'Characters' is highlightd in the panel.
Click on the Add Fill button at the bottom of the panel (not the Stroke button - doesn't work in current version of Illustrator)
This will add a stroke (and an empty fill) above the Characters layer.
From the Stroke layer, pick a color...
Then set the stroke to twice as wide as you want it to be.
Click on the Stroke layer and drag it down to below the Characters layer.
Release and the stroke is now behind the text. And, the text is still editable!
Here's some variations on what you can do with adding strokes to text through the appearance panel...(strokes02.ai)
A Fill is any defined area inside a path. It can be Solid, a Gradient, or a Pattern
WARNING: Avoid using a fill on an open path
This looks fine...
Until you continue the path and if fills unexpectedly
Just make sure to set the Fill box to none (the box with the red bar across it)
There are solid colors, but also pre-set gradients and patterns. You can also:
This is a big subject area we will cover more when we talk about color in Illustrator. On rare occasions you may see a Swatches panel with only black and white available. Choose Default > Art & Illustration from the popup menu in the lower left if that happens
A Gradient is a special type of fill and/or stroke
Linear
Radial
Linear Gradient Angle
Radial Gradient Angle and Aspect Ratio
Double-click on a tab to edit a color
Click below gradient band to add a new tab, click on an existing tab and drag it off the panel to delete it.
You can adjust the position of the tabs
Adjust the center point of the point-to-point spread of the gradient
Adjust the Opacity of a color tab
And Strokes can have gradients too!
The gradient tool doesn't work with gradients in strokes, but you can use the Angle to set the stroke, or use Menu > Object > Expand with only strokes, then select the fill in the appearance panel
It's easy to mess up transparency in a gradient by making the transparent color different than the solid color. They should be the same.
The right way: black to black to black gradient, with the center black at 0% opacity
The wrong way: black to white to black gradient
Sample File
This type of gradient was really hard to do before!
Added in Illustrator CC 2019, Freeform Gradients use points and/or lines to allow customization of a gradient within a shape.
To apply a freeform gradient to a shape:
The Gradient tool will be selected and points will appear on the shape icon for Freeform Gradient Color Steps (the number of default points varies by shape). Each point represents a color stop in the gradient. The colors will automatically blend from point to point, point to line, and or line to line within the shape.
Freeform gradients can also be set using lines.
The points in a line can be moved, added, deleted, and have their color and opacity set using the same steps as above.
Freeform gradients can be made using a combination of points and lines. Just click POINT or LINE in the gradient panel to switch between them. When finished, switch to another tool to set the gradient. To edit the gradient later, select the shape then either switch to the Gradient tool or click EDIT GRADIENT in the Gradient panel.
Why its better to stroke a shape than scale it (sometimes)
Demo... example file
Based on Satori Graphics YouTube Video
A big subject, perhaps another day...
Makes editable paths similar to the Pen tool (demo)
vs.
The Brushes Panel
Same path, different brush
Load brushes from the popup menu in the lower left of the brushes panel
Click on the above to see at full size. NOTE: Even though they're listed here, you're not allowed to use them in this class! However, you're welcome to build your own.
Illustrator has five categories of brushes, which you'll see when you choose Create New Brush
from the brush panel.
Each brush category has its own dialog to control its behavior.
Calligraphic brushes are based on elliptical shapes of various sizes. You can use a graphics tablet to vary the Angle, Roundness, and/or Size of the brush based on the pressure applied to the stylus (but don't forget to set the variability or it won't work).
Art brushes are made from existing vector graphics. Setup is fairly complicated, we'll look at some examples later in the semester.
In fact, brush design is hard. We'll cover more on custom brushes later...
With the Width
tool
Since the Paint Brush tool makes only strokes/paths without fills, it's often useful to turn it into an object whose outer visual boundary is a stroke and interior is a fill.
Use Menu>Object>Expand Appearance
Hand-drawn thing from paintbrush tool
Thing expanded into filled objects with no stroke
Thing filled with Live Paint after being converted to Live Paint object with Menu > Object > Live Paint > Make
For interesting effects!
13point star, radius 1 .8 in, radius 2 .25 in. 2pt stroke. Rotate each about 18.85 degrees (13/360/2) and scale down
First, create an object, or group of objects (without gradients, brushes or other fancy stuff)
Choose New Brush from the bottom of the Brush Panel
Set some settings, we can tweak latter...
The Scatter Star brush applied to a star
Scatter Star applied to a paintbrush path with pressure controlling size
Illustrator is a terrible painting tool. Sure it has a paint brush, but that doesn't mean you should use it. This is a tedious way to paint and can make for buggy files that crash and take forever to save. And, if you don't use a graphics tablet, really hard to get the results you'd get with real paint on real paper.
Here's a sample case: RomeroA_assignment2-jk3.ai
From the world of Bézier math, invented in 1962 by Pierre Bézier to design automobile bodies for Renault. Based, in part, on an old technique of drawing curves mechanically with long flexible rulers and anchors to hold the rulers at specific points to the drafting table.
Turn on the Grid and Snap to Grid
Menu >
View >
Show Grid, Menu >
View >
Snap to Grid
Choose the Path tool from the Tools Panel
Tool Panel >
Click/Release Path Tool
Click (but don't drag) a point.
Click/Release
Move the cursor over 1" and up 1" on the grid and click again (but don't drag)
Move >
Click/Release
Repeat to make a zigzag line
Move >
Click/Release >
Move >
Click/Release
Oops! It's a filled object.
Set the fill to none in the Control Panel
Switch to Selection Tool >
Click/Release path >
Click/Release Fill tab >
Click/Release No Fill Swatch
Start again and make a zig zag line
Click/Release >
Move >
Click/Release >
Move >
Click/Release
This time, let's click with the Pen Tool and drag
Shift-drag straight up 1 inch...
Click/Hold >
Drag
Then click 1 inch to the left and shift-drag 1 inch down...
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag
Repeat, alternating up and down directions
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag >
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag, etc.
Now a set with shorter direction handles
Shift-drag up 1/2 inch...
Click/Hold >
Drag
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag >
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag, etc
Now a set with diagonal direction handles
Shift drag from the starting anchor point up and right 1 inch
Click/Hold >
Drag
A very different curve!
Click/Hold >
Drag >
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag >
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag, etc.
Now a set of shorter diagonal direction handles
Only 1/2 inch up and right this time
Click/Hold >
Drag
Move >
Click/Hold >
Drag
The example file has a few more variations – try them out!
It's an interesting exercise to make an ellipse with the path tool. It may help in getting a "feel" for how anchor points and direction handles work.
Start fresh
Make a new artboard or a new file, make sure Grid is on
Menu >
New >
New Document Dialog >
Size:Letter >
Click:OK
Menu >
View >
Show Grid
Draw a 2 inch circle with the ellipse tool, then another ellipse that 2 inches tall and 3 inches wide
Tool Panel >
Click/Hold Rectangle Toll until popup menu >
Drag to Ellipse Tool>
Release
Shift/Hold >
Click/Drag 2in left + 2in down >
Release
Shift/Hold >
Click/Drag 3in left + 2in down >
Release
Select both ellipses
Tool Panel >
Click/Release Selection Tool >
Shift/Hold >
Click/Release first circle/ Release Shift
Add some guides:
Menu >
View >
Guides >
Make Guides
Select them both and use Menu >
View >
Guides >
Make Guides to turn the ellipses into guides
Use the Path Tool to re-create the four anchor points and distance handles of Illustrator's Ellipse Basic Shape Tool
Start on the left side, drag up about 1/2 inch
Click on the top side, drag right about the same
Zoom in. Turn Snap to Grid off. Use the Direct Selection tool to tweak the handles until the curve matches the circle as closely as possible.
Choose Menu >
View >
Show Rulers.
Click on the top ruler and drag the cursor down. A horizontal line appears with the cursor. Drag down until you intersect the line with the end of the left-side anchor point's handle's top. Release.
Re-select the path so the handles show. Do the same from the left ruler and drag the cursor to the right. A vertical line appears, etc.
Use these new horizontal and vertical guides (and two additional guides) to align the other handles as you complete the circle.
NOTE: To continue a path, choose the path tool and bring the cursor to the end-anchor of the path you want to continue. You'll see this icon:
Use the same techniques to create the 2x3 ellipse
The "distance handle" controls the shape of the curve along with the anchor point. Let's examine how the length and angle of the handles affect the curve, and how the number of anchor points also affects it.
A basic rule of thumb:
The fewer anchor points, the smoother the curve
Make a new document or add a new artboard to the current doc
With Snap to Grid on, create a simple curve with 45º handles, 6 inches wide
Select it, then use Menu >
Object >
Transform >
Move...
And use the dialog to make a copy of it 1 inch down
The result
Repeat the move with Transform Again, or better yet, Control/Command-D, 3 times
Now select the 4 lower curves and convert them to Guides with
Menu >
View >
Guides >
Make Guides
Zoom into the top guide. Let's define a curve with three anchor points that fits the guide
Compare the original curve's two anchor points and handles to the new three anchor pointed curve's. Note that the two point curve has longer handles
Try with the next two curves with handles that are too long and too short
Try the last curve with a bunch of anchor points. Notice how much tweaking is required to make the curve look smooth.
End Anchor |
Every line has at least two anchors |
 |
Corner Anchor Point |
Has no handles Created with click-release |
 |
Smooth Anchor Point |
Has two handles, equidistant from the anchor, in alignment with each other Created with click-drag-release |
 |
Combination Smooth Anchor Point |
Smooth on both sides, with two handles, but handles are not aligned Created with click-drag-option/alt-drag-release |
 |
Combination Anchor Point |
Curved on one side, smooth on the other, with one handle for the smooth side Created by click-drag-release then click again on anchor |
 |
| Gesture | Result | |
| Click-release | Corner point |  |
| Click-drag-release | Smooth point |  |
| Click-spacebar or click-drag-spacebar followed by release | Moves point while spacebar is down, then fixes point on release |  |
| Click-drag then hold Alt/Option | De-couple handle from other handle |  |
| Click-drag-release then click-release on anchor point | Change leading handle to straight-line corner anchor |  |
| Click-drag-release then click-drag-release on anchor point | Change leading handle to straight-line corner anchor |  |
Truth is, I almost never can remember all of these. Instead, I just rough out the curves I want and go back in and edit them until I get the effect I want.
The source paths-tracing.ai example file, and the source acanthusleaf.jpg file
Make a new doc
Choose Menu >
File >
Place
Place the acanthusleaf.jpg file in the middle of the artboard
Use the opacity slider in the Control Panel to set the opacity to 50%
Use the Layers Panel to lock the acanthus leaf image
Start tracing the leaf with as few anchor points as possible. Just rough it out, we'll refine it later. The key is to look for the outer edges of curves and drag out a handle that's tangent to the curve
Remember tangents from Geometry? Here's a refresher:
A tangent line is a line which sits perpendicular (at a right angle) to the point on a curve
And so on... the only way to really demo this is to show it live. Here's the resulting file.
