Illustrator® CS5 Bible

Chapter 5. Creating Objects, Graphs, and Symbols

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Creating rectangles, ellipses, polygons, and stars

• Using the Flare tool

• Understanding fills and strokes

• Designing graphs, charts, flowcharts, and diagrams

• Using the Symbol Sprayer tools

• Editing and altering symbols

In this chapter, you learn how to create objects, such as rectangles, ellipses, polygons, and stars. In addition, you find out how to create and enhance graphs, add touches of light with the Flare tool, and create really cool repeating effects with the Symbolism tools.

This is actually a very important chapter because it introduces the objects, graphs, and symbols that you will often use in later chapters. Be sure to take the time to understand the concepts that are presented in this chapter so that you have an easier time later.

Making Basic Shapes

Drawing the most basic shapes—rectangles, ellipses, polygons, and stars— is precisely what a computer is for. Try drawing a perfect ellipse by hand. Troublesome, isn't it? How about a square that doesn't have ink bubbles or splotches at the corners? A nine-pointed star? Drawing these objects and then coloring them in Illustrator is so easy and so basic that after a few weeks of using Illustrator, you never have to draw a shape by hand again without wincing—and maybe even shuddering.

Illustrator exemplifies the true power of object-oriented drawing programming. No matter what you draw, you can adjust and move each piece of the drawing independently until it's just right. ...