Real World Adobe

Real World Adobe

Released December 2008
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: None

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Book description

Real World Adobe Illustrator CS4 is the definitive reference to Adobe's industry-standard vector graphics software and is now in 4-color. With an easy, engaging style, author and past Illustrator product manager Mordy Golding takes readers through all of the features of the program, explaining not only how to use the multitude of features but also why and when to use them. This edition has been thoroughly updated for Illustrator CS4 and includes techniques on using the new multiple artboards for quicker Illustrator work across a variety of designs, demonstrations of the new Blob Brush tool and transparency in gradients, overviews of the new cross-product feature support with InDesign, Flash, and Flex (opening up new opportunities for collaborations between developers and designers), and coverage on a whirlwind of other new useful features.

Along with tips, sidebars, and expert commentary, there are also numerous 4-color illustrations and screen shots from contributing artists included to offer readers the most complete coverage on this extraordinary application. Designers from all fields--illustrators, animators, package designers, graphic designers, web designers, and more--will find Real World Adobe Illustrator CS4 their one-stop guide to creating powerful designs in Illustrator.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Introduction
    1. The Many Uses of Illustrator
      1. Creative Genius: The World of Graphic Design
      2. Telling a Story: Illustration and Animation
      3. Interactive Experience: Interface and Web Design
      4. Tomorrow’s Trends: Fashion and Apparel Design
      5. Thinking Outside the Box: Package Design
      6. The Science of Design: Art and Print Production
      7. Frame by Frame: Motion Graphics
      8. The Melting Pot of Design: Creativity for Everyone
    2. When Should You Use Illustrator?
    3. What’s New in Adobe Illustrator CS4?
    4. How This Book Is Organized
      1. See the Pretty Art!
    5. Additional Resources
  4. One. Creating and Managing Documents
    1. Exploring the Welcome Screen
    2. Creating New Documents
      1. Creating Your Own New Document Profiles
      2. Setting Up Your Document
    3. Using Multiple Artboards
      1. Navigating Within a Document
      2. Modifying Artboards
      3. Handling Artboards and Legacy Workflows
      4. Using Multiple Artboard Strategies
    4. Viewing Documents
      1. Using Overprint Preview
      2. Using Pixel Preview
      3. Using Rulers and Guides
      4. Using Smart Guides
      5. Defining Custom Views
    5. Working with Templates
    6. Creating Meaningful Metadata
  5. Two. Selecting and Editing Artwork
    1. Selecting Objects
      1. Making Selections
      2. Setting Your Selection and Anchor Display Preferences
      3. Using the Direct Selection Tool
      4. Using the Group Selection Tool
      5. Using Alternative Selection Techniques
        1. Using the Lasso and Magic Wand Tools
        2. Selecting Similar Objects
        3. Saving Selections
    2. Making Transformations
      1. Using the Bounding Box
      2. Living by the Numbers with the Transform Panel
      3. Working with the Transformation Tools
      4. Transforming Multiple Objects at Once
      5. Exploring the Power of the Transform Again Feature
    3. Exploring the Pathfinder Panel
      1. Combining Shapes with Shape Modes
      2. Changing Paths with Pathfinders
    4. Aligning Objects
    5. Distributing Objects
      1. Distribute Objects
      2. Distribute Spacing
    6. Working with Tools of Mass Distortion
      1. Painting with Distortion: The Liquify Tools
      2. Getting Into Shape: Envelope Distortion
        1. Using Method 1: Make with Top Object
        2. Using Method 2: Make with Mesh
        3. Using Method 3: Make with Warp
        4. Adjusting Envelope Distortion Settings
        5. Editing Envelopes and Their Contents
        6. Releasing and Expanding Envelopes
    7. Creating Transitions with Blends
      1. Creating a Blend
        1. Using Method 1: Using the Blend Menu
        2. Using Method 2: Using the Blend Tool
      2. Editing a Blend
        1. Replacing the Spine of a Blend
        2. Reversing Blends
      3. Releasing and Expanding Blends
  6. Three. Technical Drawing
    1. Drawing Primitive Vector Shapes
      1. Using Closed-Path Shape Tools
      2. Using Open-Path Shape Tools
      3. Drawing by Numbers
    2. Drawing and Editing Free-Form Vectors
      1. Mastering the Pen Tool
        1. Drawing Objects with Straight Paths
        2. Ending a Path
        3. Drawing a Closed Path
        4. Drawing Objects with Curved Paths
        5. Drawing Objects with Both Straight and Curved Paths
        6. Changing Direction on a Path
        7. Creating a Combination Point
        8. Creating a Combination Point as You Draw
        9. Converting Type to Outlines
      2. Adding and Deleting Anchor Points
      3. Using the Reshape Tool
      4. Cutting Paths with the Scissors and Knife Tools
    3. Creating Compound Paths
    4. Performing Advanced Path Editing
      1. Working with the Join and Average Commands
      2. Using the Outline Stroke Command
      3. Exploring the Offset Path Function
      4. Simplifying Vector Paths
      5. Using the Split Into Grid Feature
      6. Removing Unnecessary Elements with the Clean Up Feature
  7. Four. Creative Drawing
    1. Drawing with Live Paint
      1. Using Live Paint to Color Paths
        1. Understanding Live Paint groups
        2. Dealing with Gaps in Your Artwork
      2. Releasing and Expanding Live Paint Groups
      3. Merging Live Paint Groups
      4. Using Live Paint to Edit Paths
    2. Drawing with the Pencil Tool
    3. Unleashing the Power of Brushes
      1. Exploring the Illustrator Brush Quartet
      2. Applying Brush Strokes
      3. Defining a Calligraphic Brush
      4. Defining a Scatter Brush
      5. Defining an Art Brush
      6. Defining a Pattern Brush
      7. Modifying Brush Strokes
      8. Expanding Brush Art
    4. Drawing and Erasing with Ease
      1. Using the Blob Brush Tool
      2. Using the Eraser Tool
    5. Using Gradient Mesh
    6. Adding Pizzazz with the Flare Tool
      1. Drawing a Vector Lens Flare
      2. Editing a Vector Lens Flare
  8. Five. Organizing Your Drawing
    1. Understanding Appearances
      1. Understanding Attributes and Stacking Order
      2. Targeting Attributes
      3. Applying Multiple Attributes
      4. Expanding Appearances
    2. Enhancing Appearances with Live Effects
      1. Applying a Live Effect
      2. Editing a Live Effect
    3. Working with Groups
      1. Adding a Soft Drop Shadow to a Group
      2. Adding a Stroke to a Group
    4. Using Isolation Mode
    5. Working with Layers
      1. Using the Layers Panel
      2. Understanding Object Hierarchy
      3. Using Layers and Appearances
    6. Putting It All Together
  9. Six. Coloring Artwork
    1. Creating and Using Color in Illustrator
      1. Using the Color Panel
      2. Using the Swatches Panel
        1. Hitting the Color Swatch Trifecta
        2. Working with Groups of Color
      3. Working with Libraries
    2. Adding Color with Fills and Strokes
      1. Applying Fills
        1. Gradient Fills
        2. Pattern Fills
      2. Applying Strokes
        1. Aligning Strokes
        2. Using Dashed Strokes
    3. Getting Inspired with Color
      1. Using the Color Guide Panel
      2. Limiting the Color Guide Panel
      3. Tapping In to a Community Around Color with Kuler
        1. Using the Kuler Website
        2. Using the Kuler Panel in Illustrator
    4. Modifying Color
      1. Recoloring Artwork
        1. Using the Edit Tab
        2. Using the Assign Tab
      2. Converting Art to Grayscale
      3. Performing One-Click Color Fixes
    5. Viewing Color on the Screen
      1. Controlling Color Management Settings
      2. Proofing Colors
      3. Previewing Contrast for Color Blindness
      4. Understanding Book Color
  10. Seven. Working with Live Effects
    1. Combining Features and Effects
    2. Deconstructing the Effect Menu
      1. Is It Vector, or Is It Raster?
      2. Massaging Pixels in Illustrator
    3. Convert to Shape: Changing for the Better
      1. Applying the Convert to Shape Effect
      2. What If...You Apply the Convert to Shape Effect to Text?
    4. Crop Marks: Cut Here, Please
    5. Distort & Transform: Transforming Your Design
      1. Distortion Effects
      2. Transform Effect
    6. Paths: Drawing Outside the Lines
    7. Pathfinder: Creating Complex Shapes
      1. What If...You Combine Offset Path and Pathfinder Effects on a Group?
    8. Rasterize: Creating Vectors That Act Like Pixels
      1. What If...You Apply the Rasterize Effect to a Raster Image?
    9. Stylize: Now You’re Stylin’!
      1. The Add Arrowheads Effect
      2. The Feather Effect
      3. The Inner Glow and Outer Glow Effects
      4. The Round Corners Effect
      5. The Scribble Effect
      6. What If...You Apply the Scribble Effect to Multiple Fills?
    10. SVG Filters: Applying Technical Effects
    11. Warp: Choosing Your Distortion
    12. Applying Photoshop Effects
      1. A Gallery of Effects
  11. Eight. Working with Typography
    1. Working with Text Objects
      1. Working with Point Type
      2. Working with Area Type
      3. Converting Text to Editable Vectors
    2. Getting Global Text Support with Unicode
    3. Understanding the Way of the Font
      1. Introducing OpenType
        1. OpenType + Illustrator = Intelligent Fonts
        2. Using the OpenType Panel
      2. Finding Glyphs and Fonts
      3. Using the Find Font Dialog Box
    4. Specifying Character and Paragraph Options
      1. Using the Character Panel
      2. Using the Paragraph Panel
      3. Setting Tabs
    5. Defining Text Styles
    6. Working with Area Type
      1. Creating and Editing Text Threads
      2. Setting Area Type Options
      3. Achieving Perfect Alignment
    7. Putting Type on a Path
      1. Working with Path Type with Closed Paths
      2. Setting Path Text Options
    8. Wrapping Text Around Objects
    9. Editing Text
      1. Using Find and Replace
      2. Displaying Invisible Characters
      3. Checking Spelling
    10. Working with Legacy Text and Backward Compatibility
      1. Opening Legacy Illustrator Files in Illustrator CS4
      2. Updating Legacy Text in an Open Document
      3. Saving Illustrator CS4 Files to Illustrator Legacy Versions
  12. Nine. Drawing with Efficiency
    1. Saving Space and Time with Symbols
      1. Working with Symbols and Instances
        1. Replacing Symbols
        2. Modifying Symbols and Instances
        3. Using Symbols in Different Ways
      2. Having Fun with the Symbolism Tools
        1. Creating a Symbol Set
        2. Using the Specialized Symbolism Tools
        3. Expanding a Symbol Set
    2. Looking Behind the Mask
      1. Creating Clipping Masks
      2. Organizing Masking with Layer Clipping Masks
      3. Seeing Through Objects with Opacity Masks
        1. Creating an Opacity Mask
        2. Editing an Opacity Mask
        3. Taking Opacity Masks to the Next Level
    3. Using Graphic Styles
      1. Defining a Graphic Style
      2. Editing a Graphic Style
      3. Adding a Graphic Style to an Object
    4. Using Automation with Illustrator
      1. Recording and Playing Actions
      2. Scripting in Illustrator
    5. Using Automation When Releasing Final Files
      1. Cleaning Up Messy Files
      2. Generating a List of Used Items
      3. Collecting Necessary Support Files
  13. Ten. Drawing with Data
    1. Exploring the Anatomy of a Graph
    2. Creating a Graph in Illustrator
      1. Choosing a Graph Type
      2. Specifying Graph Data
      3. Formatting Data in the Graph Data Window
    3. Customizing Graphs
      1. Using Graph Designs
        1. Creating a graph design
        2. Applying a graph design
      2. Instantly Colorizing a Graph
      3. Ungrouping a Graph
    4. Raising the Bar with Graphs
    5. Combining Multiple Graph Types
  14. Eleven. Exploring the World of 3D
    1. 3D in Illustrator: What It Is and What It Isn’t
    2. Looking Inside the 3D Effect
      1. Using Fills and Strokes and the 3D Effect
      2. Editing a 3D Effect
      3. Applying the 3D Extrude & Bevel Effect
        1. Specifying the Position settings
        2. Specifying the Extrude & Bevel settings
        3. Specifying the Surface settings
        4. Using Spot Colors in 3D Objects
        5. Creating 3D Geometry—Draw Visible Faces
        6. Creating 3D Geometry—Draw Hidden Faces
        7. Creating a Photorealistic Button
      4. Applying the 3D Revolve Effect
        1. Specifying the Revolve Settings
        2. Drawing a sphere
        3. Drawing an Exercise Barbell
      5. Applying the 3D Rotate Effect
      6. Mapping Artwork to 3D Surfaces
      7. Specifying Mapped Artwork
      8. What If...You Add Transparency to 3D?
        1. Applying Transparency
        2. Drawing Hidden Sides
      9. What If...You Blend 3D Objects?
      10. What If...You Apply a 3D Effect to a Graph?
  15. Twelve. Working with Images
    1. Placing Raster-Based Files
      1. Placing an Image
        1. Method One: Placing a File
        2. Method Two: Opening a File
        3. Method Three: Dragging a File
      2. Placing Native Photoshop Files (PSD)
      3. Working with Placed Images
      4. Using Template Layers to Manually Trace
    2. Managing Placed Images
      1. Additional Links Panel Functionality
      2. Getting Faster Access to Image Settings with the Control Panel
    3. Converting Rasters to Vectors Using Live Trace
      1. Tracing an Image
      2. Exploring the Live Trace Preview Options
        1. Previewing the Original Raster Image
        2. Previewing the Traced Vector Result
      3. Tweaking to Get the Perfect Trace
        1. Modifying the Raster Adjustments
        2. Adjusting the Vector Trace Settings
      4. Editing Live Trace Paths
        1. Expanding a Live Trace Object
        2. Converting Traced Images to Live Paint Groups
    4. Exploring an Alternative to Trace: Object Mosaic
    5. Turning Vectors into Rasters
    6. Working with Adobe Photoshop
      1. Going from Illustrator to Photoshop
      2. Going from Photoshop to Illustrator
  16. Thirteen. Web and Mobile Design
    1. Two Approaches to Web Design
    2. Maximizing Image Quality on the Web
      1. Dithering
      2. Antialiasing
      3. Compression
    3. Creating Perfect Web Graphics
      1. Antialiasing and the Pixel Grid
        1. Exploring an Example: Fat Gray Lines
        2. Taking Charge of Antialiasing—and Your Art
    4. Slicing Up the Web
      1. Any Way You Slice It...
      2. Editing Slice Attributes
    5. Exporting Pixel-Based Images with Save for Web & Devices
      1. Choosing the Right Image File Type
        1. Choosing the GIF File Format
        2. Choosing the JPEG File Format
        3. Choosing the PNG File Format
        4. Choosing the WBMP File Format
      2. Specifying Additional Image Settings
        1. Color Table
        2. Image Size
        3. Layers
    6. Adding Interactivity and Creating Animations
      1. Creating Image Maps
      2. Animation: Making It Move
    7. Designing Specifically for Flash
      1. Working with Symbols
      2. Working with Text
      3. Bringing Your Artwork into Flash
    8. Exporting Vector-Based Images with Save for Web & Devices
      1. Choosing the SWF File Format
      2. Choosing the SVG File Format
    9. Using Adobe Device Central
    10. Future Web Workflows
  17. Fourteen. Saving and Exporting Files
    1. Saving Files from Illustrator
      1. The Native Illustrator (.ai) Format
        1. Legacy Illustrator Formats
        2. Native Illustrator File Format Settings
      2. The Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) Format
        1. Legacy EPS Formats
        2. EPS File Format Settings
      3. The Portable Document Format (.pdf)
        1. Different Uses of PDF Files
        2. Acrobat Version Compatibility
        3. The PDF/X Standard
        4. General PDF Settings
        5. PDF Compression Settings
        6. PDF Marks and Bleeds Settings
        7. PDF Output Settings
        8. PDF Advanced Settings
        9. PDF Security Settings
      4. The Flex Exchange Graphic (.fxg) Format
      5. The Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg, .svgz) Format
    2. Exporting Files from Illustrator
      1. The Bitmap (.bmp) Format
      2. The Targa (.tga) Format
      3. The Portable Network Graphic (.png) Format
      4. The AutoCAD Drawing (.dwg) and AutoCAD Interchange File (.dxf) Formats
      5. The Windows Metafile (.wmf) and Enhanced Metafile (.emf) Formats
      6. The Flash (.swf) Format
        1. Basic Options
        2. Advanced Options
      7. The Joint Photographic Experts Group (.jpg) Format
      8. The Macintosh PICT (.pct) Format
      9. The Adobe Photoshop (.psd) Format
      10. The Tagged Image File Format (.tif)
      11. The Text Format (.txt)
    3. Choosing File Formats Based on Workflow
      1. Print Workflows
      2. Web Workflows
      3. Other Workflows
  18. Fifteen. Prepress and Printing
    1. Printing from Adobe Illustrator CS4
      1. Exploring the General Print Panel
        1. Setting Basic Print Options
        2. Using Page Tiling
      2. Exploring the Marks and Bleed Print Panel
      3. Exploring the Output Print Panel
      4. Specifying Color Separations
      5. Exploring the Graphics Print Panel
      6. Exploring the Color Management Print Panel
      7. Exploring the Advanced Print Panel
      8. Defining Print Presets
    2. Learning the Truth About Transparency
      1. Understanding Transparency Flattening
        1. Flattening Artwork
        2. Flattening with Rasterization
        3. Using the Two Levels of Rasterization
        4. Understanding the Transparency Flattener Settings
        5. Understanding Object Stacking Order and Transparency Flattening
      2. Does My File Contain Transparency?
      3. Printing with Confidence
    3. Understanding Overprints
      1. Why Overprint?
      2. Handling the Limitations of Overprints
      3. Previewing Overprints
      4. Handling Transparency Effects That Disappear or Print as White Boxes
  19. Application Preferences
    1. The General Panel
    2. The Selection & Anchor Display Panel
    3. The Type Panel
    4. The Units & Display Performance Panel
    5. The Guides & Grid Panel
    6. The Smart Guides Panel
    7. The Slices Panel
    8. The Hyphenation Panel
    9. The Plug-ins & Scratch Disks Panel
    10. The User Interface Panel
    11. The File Handling & Clipboard Panel
    12. The Appearance of Black Panel

Product information

  • Title: Real World Adobe
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2008
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: None