Illustrator CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide

Illustrator CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide

by Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas
Released April 2009
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: None

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Book description

Adobe Illustrator is the indispensable vector drawing tool used by digital artists around the world. Illustrator CS4 provides those artists with powerful drawing tools, unparalleled typographic controls, and much more. With a slew of new features and tighter-than-ever integration with the rest of Adobe Creative Suite 4's design, graphics, and publishing tools, Illustrator CS4 promises to make designers' lives a whole lot easier, especially if they have this task-based guide!

Now revised and updated, and in 4 COLOR this book uses simple step-by-step instructions, loads of screen shots, and an array of time-saving tips and tricks, serving both as the quickest route to Illustrator CS4 mastery for new users, and a handy reference for more experienced designers. This edition of the Visual QuickStart Guide covers Illustrator CS4's newest features, including the much anticipated multi art board feature and much more.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Register this Book!
  4. 1. Create & Save Files
    1. Launching Illustrator
      1. To launch Illustrator in Macintosh
      2. To launch Illustrator in Windows
    2. Creating a new document
    3. Using templates
      1. The Anatomy of a Document
    4. Adding artboards to a document
    5. Modifying artboards
    6. Saving files
      1. To resave a file
    7. Ending a work session
  5. 2. Manage Color
    1. Introduction to color management
      1. Display types
      2. Calibrating your display
    2. Choosing color settings
    3. Synchronizing the color settings
    4. Changing the document profile
    5. Proofing a document onscreen
  6. 3. Workspaces
    1. Features of the Illustrator workspace
      1. To show or hide the Application frame in the Mac OS:
      2. To use the Application bar
    2. Using tabbed document windows
      1. To dock document windows as tabs
      2. To turn a tabbed document window into a floating one
    3. Arranging document windows
      1. To display multiple tabbed document windows
      2. To redisplay one tabbed document window
    4. Changing zoom levels
      1. To change the zoom level
    5. Switching among artboards
      1. To switch among multiple artboards:
    6. Moving an area of a document into view
      1. To move a different area of a document into view
    7. Changing the screen mode
      1. To change screen modes:
    8. Switching views
      1. To switch views
    9. Creating custom views
    10. Configuring the panels
    11. Choosing and saving workspaces
      1. To choose a predefined workspace:
  7. 4. Panels
    1. The Illustrator panel icons
      1. Identifying the panel icons
    2. The Tools panel
      1. Using the Tools panel
      2. The Tools panel illustrated
      3. The tearoff toolbars
    3. The Control panel
    4. The other panels illustrated
      1. Align panel Shift-F7
      2. Appearance panel Shift-F6
      3. Attributes panel Cmd-F11/Ctrl-F11
      4. Brushes panel F5
      5. Character panel Cmd-T/Ctrl-T
      6. Character Styles panel
      7. Color panel F6
      8. Color Guide panel Shift-F3
      9. Document Info panel
      10. Flattener Preview panel
      11. Glyphs panel
      12. Gradient panel Cmd-F9/Ctrl-F9
      13. Graphic Styles panel Shift-F5
      14. Info panel Cmd-F8/Ctrl-F8
      15. Layers panel F7
      16. Links panel
      17. Magic Wand panel
      18. Navigator panel
      19. OpenType panel Cmd-Option-Shift-T/Ctrl-Alt-Shift-T
      20. Paragraph panel Cmd-Option-T/Ctrl-Alt-T
      21. Paragraph Styles panel
      22. Pathfinder panel Cmd-Shift-F9/Ctrl-Shift-F9
      23. Separations Preview panel
      24. Stroke panel Cmd-F10/Ctrl-F10
      25. Swatches panel
      26. Symbols panel Cmd-Shift-F11/Ctrl-Shift-F11
      27. Tabs panel Cmd-Shift-T/Ctrl-Shift-T
      28. Transform panel Shift-F8
      29. Transparency panel Cmd-Shift-F10/Ctrl-Shift-F10
  8. 5. Bridge
    1. Opening files from Illustrator
      1. To open a file from the Macintosh Desktop or Windows Explorer
    2. Launching Bridge
      1. To launch Bridge
    3. Features of the Bridge window
    4. Choosing a workspace for Bridge
      1. To choose a workspace for Bridge:
      2. To change the order of workspaces on the switcher:
    5. Previewing graphics in Bridge
    6. Opening files from Bridge
      1. To reopen a recently opened file
    7. Customizing the Bridge window
      1. To customize the Bridge panes and panels
    8. Saving custom workspaces
    9. Resetting the Bridge workspace
      1. To reset the Bridge workspace:
    10. Using thumbnail stacks
      1. To rearrange thumbnails manually
      2. To select thumbnails in a stack
      3. To rearrange thumbnails in a stack
      4. To add a thumbnail to a stack
    11. Searching for files
    12. Creating and using collections
      1. To display a collection:
    13. Labeling and rating thumbnails
      1. To redisplay all rejected thumbnails
    14. Choosing a sorting order
      1. To choose a sorting order
    15. Using the Filter panel
      1. To filter out which thumbnails display
    16. Assigning keywords to files
    17. Exporting the Bridge cache
      1. To purge the cache files
    18. Managing files using Bridge
  9. 6. Geometric Objects
    1. Selecting and deleting objects
    2. Creating rectangles and ellipses
    3. Creating polygons
    4. Creating stars
    5. Creating line segments
    6. Creating spirals
  10. 7. Freehand Drawing
    1. A quick color primer
      1. To choose a stroke width:
    2. Drawing with the Pencil tool
    3. Drawing with the Paintbrush tool
    4. Choosing options for the Pencil and Paintbrush tools
    5. Drawing with the Blob Brush tool
    6. Choosing options for the Blob Brush tool
  11. 8. Select
    1. The five selection tools
    2. Using the Selection tool
      1. To add objects to or subtract objects from a selection
    3. Using the Direct Selection tool
    4. Selecting objects by using a command
      1. To select objects by using a command
    5. Selecting objects via the Layers panel
    6. Working with groups
    7. Isolating nongrouped objects
    8. Using the Lasso tool
    9. Using the Magic Wand tool
    10. Saving selections
    11. Selecting and deselecting all objects
      1. To select all the objects in a document
      2. To deselect all objects on all layers
      3. To invert a selection
  12. 9. Move, Copy & Align
    1. Moving objects
    2. Aligning objects by using Smart Guides
    3. Duplicating objects
    4. Aligning and distributing objects
    5. Creating ruler guides
    6. Creating guide objects
    7. Locking and unlocking guides
      1. To lock or unlock all guides
    8. Clearing guides
      1. To clear all guides
    9. Using the grid
      1. To show or hide the grid
  13. 10. Fill & Stroke
    1. Color in Illustrator
    2. Colors for your output medium
      1. Colors for commercial printing
      2. Colors for the Web
    3. Using the basic color controls
      1. To view and choose solid-color variations
    4. Saving colors as swatches
    5. Applying colors from a library
    6. Changing the tint percentage
    7. Mixing colors numerically
    8. Changing stroke attributes
    9. Using the Eyedropper tool
    10. Using the Swatches panel
    11. Using the Color Guide panel
      1. To save the active color group
    12. Using the Kuler panel
    13. Replacing colors in your artwork
    14. Inverting colors
      1. To invert colors
    15. Colorizing grayscale images
    16. Blending fill colors
    17. Creating and editing fill patterns
  14. 11. Transform
    1. Transforming via the bounding box
    2. Using the Free Transform tool
    3. Using the Rotate, Reflect, Scale, and Shear tools
    4. Using the Transform and Control panels
    5. Using the Transform Each command
    6. Using the Transform effect
    7. Repeating a transformation
  15. 12. Reshape
    1. The building blocks of a path
    2. Moving points and segments
    3. Reshaping curves
    4. Converting points
    5. Adding points
    6. Deleting points
    7. Reshaping objects with the Pencil or Paintbrush tool
    8. Reshaping objects with the Blob Brush tool
    9. Exercise: Draw and reshape objects in a freehand style
    10. Using the Reshape tool
    11. Exercise: Draw a brush with the Reshape tool
    12. Erasing sections of objects
    13. Aligning points
    14. Joining endpoints
    15. Reshaping objects using commands
    16. Slicing and dicing
    17. Exercise: Draw a glass of beer (or cream soda!)
  16. 13. Layers
    1. Getting to know the Layers panel
    2. Creating layers
    3. Deleting layers and objects
    4. Selecting Layers panel listings
      1. To select a layer, sublayer, group, or object listing
    5. Selecting objects via the Layers panel
      1. To select all the objects in a layer
      2. To deselect all the objects in a layer
      3. To select multiple objects on different layers
    6. Restacking objects and layers
      1. To restack a layer, group, or object by dragging
    7. Duplicating layers and objects
      1. To duplicate a layer, sublayer, group, or object
    8. Locking layers and objects
      1. To lock or unlock layers or objects
    9. Hiding layers and objects
      1. To hide or show layers or objects
    10. Collecting objects into a new layer
    11. Releasing objects to layers
    12. Merging layers and groups
    13. Flattening artwork
  17. 14. Appearances
    1. Applying appearance attributes
      1. To untarget an object, group, or layer
      2. To choose default appearance settings for new objects
      3. Deciphering the Appearance panel
    2. Editing appearance attributes
    3. Hiding and deleting appearance attributes
    4. Copying appearance attributes
      1. To copy appearance attributes from one object or layer to another
    5. Expanding appearance attributes
  18. 15. Effects
    1. Applying Illustrator effects
    2. Editing an applied effect
    3. Deleting an applied effect
    4. A few Illustrator effects up close
    5. Rasterizing objects
    6. Using the Effect Gallery
  19. 16. Graphic Styles
    1. Graphic styles basics
    2. Loading graphic styles from a library
    3. Applying graphic styles
    4. Creating graphic styles
    5. Editing graphic styles
    6. Deleting graphic styles from the panel
    7. Creating a custom graphic style library
    8. Breaking the link to a graphic style
  20. 17. Live Trace
    1. The tracing features in Illustrator
    2. Tracing a raster image
    3. Applying tracing options
    4. Managing tracing presets
    5. Releasing a tracing
    6. Converting a tracing to paths
  21. 18. Live Paint
    1. Creating Live Paint groups
    2. Using the Live Paint Bucket tool
    3. Using the Live Paint Selection tool
      1. Comparing the Pencil and Blob Brush Tools for Creating Live Paint Groups
    4. Reshaping Live Paint groups
    5. Adding new faces and edges to a Live Paint group
    6. Choosing gap options for a Live Paint group
    7. Expanding and releasing Live Paint groups
      1. Expanding a Live Paint Group: Former Pencil Paths Compared with Former Blob Brush Strokes
  22. 19. Create Type
    1. The type tools
    2. Creating point type
    3. Creating type in a rectangle
    4. Creating area type
    5. Creating path type
    6. Rotating type
      1. Transforming Type
    7. Importing text
    8. Threading type
      1. To reveal the text threads
    9. Copying and moving type
    10. Creating type outlines
    11. Exercise: Put type on a circle
      1. Create the type
      2. Refine the type
  23. 20. Style & Edit Type
    1. Selecting type
    2. The Character, Paragraph, and Control panels
    3. Changing the font
    4. Changing the font size
    5. Changing the leading
    6. Applying kerning and tracking
    7. Using smart punctuation
    8. Inserting alternate glyphs
    9. Applying hyphenation
    10. Changing paragraph alignment
    11. Changing paragraph indentation
    12. Changing inter-paragraph spacing
    13. Using paragraph and character styles
    14. Changing the offset values
    15. Changing the baseline shift value
    16. Hanging punctuation
    17. Setting tabs
    18. Creating special effects with type
    19. Exercise: Create a shadow for point type
      1. Slant the shadow
      2. Reflect the shadow
    20. Applying appearance attributes to type
    21. Exercise: Add multiple strokes to a character
    22. Exercise: Use the Free Distort effect on type
  24. 21. Pen Tools
    1. Drawing with the Pen tool
      1. You’re a Genius
    2. Converting anchor points on paths
    3. Exercise: Draw a knife with the Pen tool
      1. Draw the knife blade
      2. Draw the knife handle
      3. Create a shadow for both parts of the knife
  25. 22. Acquire Images
    1. How images are acquired
    2. Using the Open command
    3. Using the Place command
      1. Choosing Photoshop import options
        1. Importing a single-layer image
        2. Importing a multilayer image
        3. Importing layer comps
        4. Importing Photoshop layers
      2. Other Photoshop issues
    4. Managing linked images
      1. To go to a linked or embedded image
      2. To locate or replace images upon opening a file
      3. To change a file’s status from linked to embedded
    5. Dragging and dropping images into Illustrator
  26. 23. Brushes
    1. Applying brushes to existing paths
    2. Using the Brushes panel
      1. To choose display options for the Brushes panel
    3. Removing brush strokes
    4. Expanding brush strokes
    5. Creating and editing Scatter brushes
    6. Creating and editing Calligraphic brushes
    7. Creating and editing Art brushes
    8. Duplicating brushes
    9. Editing brushes manually
    10. Editing brush strokes on objects
    11. Deleting brushes
    12. Creating brush libraries
  27. 24. Gradients
    1. Applying a gradient
      1. To fill an object with a gradient
    2. Creating a two-color gradient
    3. Editing gradient colors via on-object controls
    4. Saving a gradient as a swatch
    5. Changing the position, length, or angle of a gradient in an object
    6. Spreading a single gradient across multiple objects
    7. Expanding a gradient into paths
  28. 25. Combine Paths
    1. Applying the Shape Mode commands
    2. Applying the Pathfinder commands
    3. Using the Compound Path command
    4. Working with compound paths
    5. Applying the Pathfinder effects
  29. 26. Clippning Masks
    1. Creating a clipping set
    2. Selecting objects in a clipping set
      1. To select a whole clipping set:
    3. Adding to and deleting from a clipping set
    4. Releasing a clipping set
  30. 27. Transparency
    1. Changing an object’s opacity or blending mode
    2. Controlling which objects the transparency settings affect
    3. Using the transparency grid
      1. To show or hide the transparency grid
  31. 28. Symbols
    1. Creating individual symbol instances
    2. Accessing the symbol libraries
    3. Replacing symbols
    4. Creating symbols
    5. Saving symbol libraries
    6. Deleting symbols from the panel
    7. Creating symbol sets with the Symbol Sprayer tool
    8. Choosing options for the symbolism tools
    9. Editing symbols
    10. Using the Symbol Shifter, Scruncher, Sizer, Spinner, Stainer, Screener, and Styler tools
      1. The Symbol Shifter tool
      2. The Symbol Scruncher tool
      3. The Symbol Sizer tool
      4. The Symbol Spinner tool
      5. The Symbol Stainer tool
      6. The Symbol Screener tool
      7. The Symbol Styler tool
    11. Expanding symbol instances
  32. 29. Live Color
    1. Creating color groups via the Recolor Artwork dialog
    2. Using the color wheel in the Recolor Artwork dialog
    3. Assigning colors to artwork via the Recolor Artwork dialog
    4. Reducing colors via the Recolor Artwork dialog
  33. 30. Preferences
    1. General Preferences
    2. Selection & Anchor Display Preferences
      1. Selection
      2. Anchor Point and Handle Display
    3. Type Preferences
    4. Units & Display Performance Preferences
      1. Units
      2. Display Performance
        1. To change the measurement unit for the current document
    5. Guides & Grid Preferences
      1. Guides
      2. Grid
    6. Smart Guides Preferences
      1. Display Options
    7. Slices Preferences
    8. Hyphenation Preferences
      1. Default Language
      2. Exceptions
    9. Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Preferences
      1. Additional Plug-ins Folder
      2. Scratch Disks
    10. User Interface Preferences
    11. File Handling & Clipboard Preferences
      1. Files
      2. Clipboard on Quit
    12. Appearance of Black Preferences
      1. Options for Black on RGB and Grayscale Devices
      2. Description
  34. 31. Print
    1. Print dialog: General options
    2. Printing multiple artboards
    3. Marks and Bleed options
    4. Output options
    5. Graphics options
    6. Color Management options
    7. Advanced options
    8. Summary options
    9. Using the Separations Preview panel
    10. Printing and exporting semitransparent objects
    11. Creating and editing presets
    12. Producing crop marks
    13. Choosing a resolution for effects
    14. Using the Document Info panel
  35. 32. Export
    1. Saving files in the EPS format
    2. Saving files in the Adobe PDF format
    3. Using the Export command
      1. A few file formats, in brief
        1. Rasterize
        2. BMP (bmp)
        3. TIFF (tif)
        4. Enhanced metafile (emf) and Windows metafile (wmf)
        5. Microsoft Office
    4. Optimizing files for the Web
      1. Image size
      2. File format
        1. Choose GIF settings
        2. Choose JPEG settings
    5. Exporting files to Adobe Photoshop
  36. A. Artwork by Illustrator pros
  37. B. Credits
    1. Artists
      1. Michael Bartalos
      2. Koichi Fujii
      3. J.D. King
      4. Chris Lyons
      5. Daniel Pelavin
      6. Nancy Stahl
    2. Vector art and photography
      1. Shutterstock.com

Product information

  • Title: Illustrator CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide
  • Author(s): Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas
  • Release date: April 2009
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: None