Adobe Web Project. Illustrator. Curriculum Guide

Transcription

1 Adobe Web Project Illustrator Curriculum Guide

2 ILLUSTRATOR OVERVIEW Contents Illustrator Lesson 1: Beginning Successfully Tools Palettes Artwork Windows Lesson 2: Working in Illustrator Artwork Drawing Lesson 3: Applying and Using Color Color Modes and Models Applying Color Modifying Color Lesson 4: Graphics for the Web Prepare Graphics Linking Objects Optimizing Saving Images from Export Lesson 5: Saving, Exporting, and Printing Artwork Saving Artwork in a Variety of Files Exporting Artwork Printing Artwork The Movie Project Begins Illustrator Overview 2

3 ILLUSTRATOR OVERVIEW Introduction Illustrator Welcome to Adobe Illustrator, the industry-standard illustration program for print, multimedia, and online graphics. Illustrator excels as an art production tool for designers or illustrators who produce artwork for print publishing, multimedia graphics, or for Web pages or online content. This introduction to Illustrator will afford your students an understanding of the precision and control over their artwork plus the flexibility to produce anything from small designs to large projects. Students will be introduced to tools, palettes, drawing, and working in Illustrator, colors, and Web publishing. The emphasis of this lesson is on preparing students to use the basic tools of Illustrator and to apply them in preparation of basic Web design. As an educator, you will appreciate that Illustrator also provides a consistent work environment with other Adobe applications including Adobe Photoshop with ImageReady, Adobe GoLive, and Adobe LiveMotion. Other learning resources Classroom in a Book The official training series for Adobe graphics and publishing software. This book is developed by experts at Adobe and published by Adobe Press. Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book includes lessons on using Illustrator software. Instructors can download individual chapters from the Adobe in Education web site ( for free to supplement their lessons. For information on purchasing Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book, visit contact your local Adobe Authorized Education Reseller at or contact your local book distributor. Official Adobe Print Publishing Guide Provides in-depth information on successful print production, including topics such as color management, commercial printing, constructing a publication, imaging and proofing, and project management guidelines. For information on purchasing the Official Adobe Print Publishing Guide, visit the Adobe Web site at Official Adobe Electronic Publishing Guide Tackles the fundamental issues essential to ensuring quality online publications in HTML and PDF. Using simple, expertly illustrated explanations, design and publishing professionals tell you how to design electronic publications for maximum speed, legibility, and effectiveness. For information on purchasing the Official Adobe Electronic Publishing Guide, visit the Adobe Web site at SAMS Teach Yourself Adobe Illustrator 9 in 24 Hours This is a great learning tool and resource of curriculum ideas for educators because it follows the structure of 24 one-hour lessons in order to make the content manageable. It's easy to learn Adobe Illustrator 9 with this book because each hour-long lesson is full of step-by-step instructions, screenshots, tips, and tricks. To order a copy, visit Other learning resources are available but are not included with your application. Illustrator Overview 3

4 ILLUSTRATOR OVERVIEW Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Illustrator Overview 4

5 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Beginning Successfully Level Advanced beginner. Students are assumed to have basic-level understanding of the use of computers and computer applications. Students are also assumed to have a familiarity with the Web and online resources. Summary and Overview The purpose of Adobe Illustrator / Lesson One is to introduce students to the Adobe interface (command menus, artwork window, toolbox, and floating palettes) through identification as well as hands-on use of the tools and palettes. 1. Students will be able to select, draw, paint, and edit their basic artwork within the Illustrator artwork window. 2. Students will also begin to design free-form paths in the artwork window using the pencil tool (round and sharp-cornered rectangles, ellipses, polygons, spirals), and start using preset shape tools and then be able to modify and combine the shapes. 3. Using the pen tool, students will be able to draw straight lines and flowing curves. The pen tool is less intuitive than the pencil tool however, with practice, students will be able to draw combinations of straight and curved segments to create flexible, smoothly shaped illustrations. 4. Students will also learn to access Help in the Illustrator program. Lesson One is designed to be taught in approximately one class hour. Depending on the teacher s pace of instruction and the prior knowledge of the students, Lesson One may take more than one class hour. What Students Will Learn: Assessable Outcomes from the Five Exercises In this lesson, your students will learn To use the Illustrator interface To select and display tools To display and hide the palettes To arrange the toolbox and the palettes To view, create, and edit artwork inside the Illustrator artwork window To draw basic paths and shapes with the pencil tool To draw basic paths and shapes with the pen tool To get more information about the Illustrator program and Help resources for Adobe Web Project Students will open a document, change the view of a document, identify and use the tools and palettes, and move the toolbar and palettes. Students will also be able to get more information about the Illustrator program. Beginning Successfully 1

6 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Teacher Orientation for Lesson One Key Definitions for Lesson One Tool: used to draw and paint your artwork. Artboard: the Artboard displays the maximum printable area but does not define the size of the printed page. The printable area of the page is derived from the printer driver and ppd of the printing device. The page size settings can only be changed if the printer(s) will accept custom pages. Palette: floating boxes that contain the colors and textures that monitor, modify, and enhance the artwork. Work area: the work area occupies the entire space within the Illustrator window and includes more than just the printable page containing your artwork. The printable and nonprintable areas are represented by a series of solid and dotted lines between the outermost edge of the window and the printable area of the page. Tools and palettes can be hidden and re-arranged to organize the work area as needed. Beginning Successfully 2

7 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Exercise One: Tools Selecting and Displaying Tools: The first time your students start Illustrator, the toolbox appears on the left side of the screen. The tools in the toolbox let your students create, select, and manipulate objects in Illustrator. Want students to select a particular tool? Simply instruct them to CLICK! its icon in the toolbox. As an exercise that your students will enjoy, some of the tools have additional hidden tools. See if your students can find them. Hidden tools can be selected by holding down the mouse button, dragging the move over the new tool, and letting go. Moving the toolbox to optimize the work area: Moving a toolbox in Illustrator consists of SELECTING and DRAGGING the toolbox by the palette header bar to a new location. If students CLICK! on Venus, they will launch the Adobe Web site. Showing or hiding the toolbox: To show the toolbox, choose Window > Show Tools; to hide the toolbox, choose Window > Hide Tools. Closing a detached toolbar: CLICK! the close box. Changing the pointer to a precision pointer: Do one of the following: 1. While the tool is selected, press Caps Lock on the keyboard. 2. Choose Edit > Preferences > General, select Use Precise Cursors, and CLICK! OK. Adding and displaying hidden tools on-screen: 1. Press a tool in the toolbox that has hidden tools underneath it. (Tools that have hidden tools are identified by a triangle in the lower right corner.) 2. When the toolbar of hidden tools appears, hold down the mouse button and drag to the arrow at the end of the toolbar. The toolbar detaches from the toolbox. Beginning Successfully 3

8 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Exercise Two: Palettes Displaying and Hiding the Palettes: Adobe Illustrator includes a number of palettes to help students monitor and modify their work. By default, these palettes appear stacked together in several groups. Students can display and hide these palettes as they work. Students can also dock palettes so that students can move them together. Displaying (showing) or hiding a palette: Ask students to do one of the following: Choose Window > Show or Window > Hide. Show displays the selected palette at the front of its group; Hide conceals the entire group. Press Tab to hide or show all palettes and the toolbox. Press Shift+Tab to hide all palettes except for the toolbox. When Illustrator is first started, your students will see that the floating palettes appear stacked in default groups. The following techniques are used to show and hide palettes: To make a palette appear at the front of its group, CLICK! the palette s tab. To move an entire palette group, drag its title bar. To rearrange or separate a palette group, drag a palette's tab. Dragging a palette outside of an existing group creates a new palette window. To display a palette menu, position the pointer on the triangle ( ) in the upper right corner of the palette and hold down the mouse button. To change the size of a resizable palette, drag the lower right corner of the palette (Windows ) or drag the size box at the lower right corner of the palette (Mac OS). A few palettes, such as the Color palette, cannot be resized by dragging. Beginning Successfully 4

9 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Activities: 1. Have students move the mouse to the palette s tab and CLICK! to bring the palette to the front of its group. 2. Students will need to show or hide a palette as work proceeds. Choose the appropriate window and use the mouse to select show or hide. Show displays the selected palette at the front of its group; hide conceals the entire group. 3. If students want to cycle through the minimized, compact, or expanded views of the palette, they should move the mouse to the small triangle pair that appears in the palette tab and CLICK!. 4. Do students need to hide or display all open pallettes and the toolbox? CLICK! Tab. Pressing Shift+Tab will hide or display the palettes only. Your students will have different work preferences and encounter such problems as limited screen area. Therefore, palettes may be repositioned and regrouped for efficiency. How? Students can take the mouse and change the palette s location by dragging a palette s Tab. Students can also drag a palette to another group or to its own separate group. Beginning Successfully 5

10 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Exercise Three: Work Area Setting Up the Work Area: Once students have created a document and understand basic tool and palette use, they can then set up their work area to organize their work and streamline the workflow. For example, students can change the size of the artboard, tile their workspace, or move their page boundaries. Opening a new file: 1. Choose File > New, and then enter a name in the Name text box. 2. Select the CMYK or RGB color mode. (See Color modes and models in Lesson Three.) 3. If necessary, enter a height and width for the artboard. Opening an existing file: 1. Choose File > Open. 2. Select the name of the file you want to open, and CLICK! Open. Closing a file and quitting Illustrator: 1. Choose File > Exit (Windows) or File > Quit (Mac OS). 2. If the file has not yet been saved or named, the Save dialog box appears. To save the file, enter a name in the Name text box (if necessary) and then CLICK! OK. Showing or hiding the artboard: To show the artboard, choose View > Show Artboard; to hide the artboard, choose View > Hide Artboard. Beginning Successfully 6

11 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Adobe Illustrator gives your class great flexibility in viewing their artwork. Your students can view different areas of the artwork at different magnifications, use simplified views for tasks such as editing paths, and preview how the artwork will appear in a Web browser or in print. Your students can open additional windows to display several views at once, so that they can quickly switch among view modes or magnifications. For example, students can set one view highly magnified for doing close-up work on some objects and create another view less magnified for laying out those objects on the page. Changing the screen mode for illustration windows: CLICK! a screen mode button in the toolbox: The left button ( ) displays artwork in a standard window, with a menu bar at the top and scroll bars on the sides. The center button ( ) displays artwork in a full-screen window with a menu bar but with no title bar or scroll bars. The right button ( ) displays artwork in a full-screen window, but with no title bar, menu bar or scroll bars. Opening a new window: Choose Window > New Window. A new window of the same size appears on top of the previously active window. The two windows are identical except for their window numbers. The new window is now the active window. Closing windows: Do one of the following: Choose File > Close to close the active window. Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and choose File > Close to close all document windows. Arranging multiple windows (Windows only): Do one of the following: Choose Window > Cascade to display windows stacked and cascading from the top left to the bottom right of the screen. Choose Window > Tile to display windows edge to edge. Choose Window > Arrange Icons to arrange minimized windows within the program window. When working in Illustrator, students can open additional windows to display several views at once, so that they can quickly switch between view modes or magnifications. For example, your students can set one view highly magnified for doing close-up work on some objects and create another view less magnified for laying out those objects on the page. Beginning Successfully 7

12 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Creating a view: 1. Set up the view that is wanted. 2. Choose View > New View. 3. Enter a name for the new view, and CLICK! OK. The view names, along with keyboard shortcuts for choosing them, appear at the bottom of the View menu. To retrieve a view, select the name of the view you want to use. It is possible to create and store up to 25 views for each document. Renaming or deleting a view: 1. Choose View > Edit Views. 2. Select the view you want to edit, and rename it or CLICK! Delete. Scrolling the view with the hand tool: 1. Select the hand tool ( ). 2. Move the pointer onto the artwork, and drag in the direction in which you want the artwork to move. To switch to the hand tool when using another tool, hold down the spacebar. Beginning Successfully 8

13 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Exercise Four: Working the Artboard Changing the size of the artboard: 1. Choose File > Document Setup. Then choose Artboard from the pop-up menu at the top left of the Document Setup dialog box. 2. Students can do one of the following: Choose a preset size from the Size pop-up menu. Choose Custom from the Size pop-up menu, and enter the dimensions you want in the text boxes, up to 227 inches by 227 inches. Students can change the units of measure for the current document in Preferences. Changing this will not change the size of the artboard. Students can set specific units by typing the new size in pixels or in inches in the height and width dialog. Select Use Print Setup (Windows) or Use Page Setup (Mac OS) to set the size of the artboard to match the page size set in the Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup (Mac OS) dialog box. The size of the artboard then changes whenever students choose a new page size in the Print/Page Setup dialog box. 3. CLICK! OK. Beginning Successfully 9

14 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Exercise Five: Additional Skill-Building Activities for Students This is an optional activity for your class depending on the skill level of your students and the time you have available. However, it may be useful as a brief review of Online Help for all skill levels. Online Help Online Help has complete information about using palettes and tools. Also included are keyboard shortcuts and additional information, including full-color galleries of examples not included in the printed lesson plans. All of the illustrations in Online Help are in color. Online Help is easy to use, because you and your students can look for topics in these ways: Scan a table of contents Search for keywords or phrases Use an index Jump from topic to topic using related topic links Displaying the Online Help contents To properly view Online Help topics, you and your students need Netscape Communicator 4.0 (or later) or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or later) and an Internet connection. JavaScript must be active. 4. Locate the Toolbox Overview (1 of 5) topic, and CLICK! to display it. An illustration of the selection tools and shortcut information appears. First your students will look for a topic using the Contents screen: 1. To display the Help Contents menu, choose Help > Illustrator Help, or press F1 (Windows). 2. Drag the scroll bar or CLICK! the arrows to navigate through the contents. The contents are organized in a hierarchy of topics, much like the chapters of a book. 3. For example, position the pointer on the Looking at the Work Area chapter, and CLICK! it to display its contents. The Online Help system is interactive and therefore very useful for advanced beginners and intermediate users. You and your students can CLICK! any blue text, called a link, to jump to another topic. The pointer icon indicates links and appears when the mouse pointer is moved over a link. Beginning Successfully 10

15 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 1 Lesson One: Check for Understanding Review questions 1. Describe two ways to change the view of a document. 2. How do you select tools in Illustrator? 3. Describe three ways to change the palette display. 4. On a handout provided by the teacher, students are to write the name and the use of each tool. 5. Describe how Illustrator Help is used to find and retrieve information. Review answers 1. Commands can be selected from the View menu to zoom in or out of a document, or fit it to the screen; students can also use the zoom tools in the toolbox, and CLICK! or drag over a document to enlarge or reduce the view. In addition, keyboard shortcuts can be used to magnify or reduce the display of artwork. The Navigator palette can be used to scroll artwork or change its magnification without using the document window. 2. To select a tool, either CLICK! the tool in the toolbox or press the tool s keyboard shortcut. For example, press V to select the selection tool from the keyboard. Selected tools remain active until students CLICK! a different tool. 3. You can CLICK! a palette s tab or choose Window > Show Palette Name to make the palette appear. A palette s tab can be dragged to separate the palette from its group and create a new group, or drag the palette into another group. Students can drag a palette group s title bar to move the entire group. Double- CLICK! a palette s tab to cycle through a palette s various sizes. Also, students can press Shift+Tab to hide or display all palettes. Additional Adobe Resources on the Web Visit the Adobe in Education Web site at for additional resources: Instructional resources online tutorials, books, tech guides, and more: Complete product information: Training opportunities: Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Beginning Successfully 11

16 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Working in Illustrator Level Advanced beginner. Students are assumed to have mastered tools, palettes, and the concept of artwork windows. Students are assumed to have a familiarity with the Web and online resources. Summary and Overview The purpose of Adobe Illustrator /Lesson Two is to introduce students to three fundamental components of using a successful Adobe project in designing basic Web sites: 1. Setting up artwork Illustrator allows you to create artwork or import artwork from other applications. To create effective artwork, students must understand some basic concepts about graphics and bitmap images, resolution, and color. 2. Drawing Drawing and modifying paths can be accomplished with Illustrator using tools found also in Adobe Photoshop and in LiveMotion. Paths can be freely pasted between programs. 3. Working with objects Editing in Illustrator allows you and your students to select, move, and arrange objects precisely. Tools are available that let you measure and align objects, group objects, and selectively lock and hide objects. A note about graphics and images: Computer graphics fall into two main categories vector graphics and bitmap images (more on this topic in a future lesson). Understanding the difference between the two helps as you instruct your class to create, edit, and import artwork. In Illustrator, the type of graphic image can have important effects on your students workflow. For example, some file formats only support bitmap images and others only vector graphics. Graphic image types are particularly important when importing or exporting graphic images to and from Illustrator. Linked bitmap images cannot be edited in Illustrator. Graphic formats also affect how commands and filters can be applied to images; some filters in Illustrator will only work with bitmap images. Lesson Two is designed to be taught in approximately one class hour. Depending on the teacher s pace of instruction and the prior knowledge of the students, Lesson Two may take more than one class hour. What Students Will Learn: Assessable Outcomes from the Exercises In this lesson, your students will learn To set up the work area To design paths To change a tool pointer To draw more sophisticated paths and shapes with the pen tool To draw and edit free-form paths To draw and edit brushed paths Working in Illustrator 1

17 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Teacher Orientation for Lesson Two Key Definitions for Lesson Two Brushed Paths: adds art (calligraphic, scatter, art, pattern) to paths CMYK: cyan, magenta, yellow, black HSB: hue, saturation, brightness Path: string or curved segments that begin and end in anchor points Pen tool: more precise tool for drawing than the pencil tool RGB: red, green, blue Working in Illustrator 2

18 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Exercise One: Setting Up the Work Area in an Open Document Review from Lesson One, Exercise Three: Once your students have created a document, they can then set up a work area to organize their work and streamline their workflow. For example, students can change the size of the artboard, tile their workspace, or move their page boundaries. Opening a new file: 1. Choose File > New, and then enter a name in the Name text box. 2. Select the CMYK or RGB color mode. 3. If necessary, enter a height and width for the artboard. To create a new document without opening the New Document dialog box, press Ctrl+Alt+N (Windows) or Command+Option+N (Mac OS). The new, untitled document has the settings last used. Opening an existing file: 1. Choose File > Open. 2. Select the name of the file you want to open, and CLICK! Open. Closing a file and quitting Illustrator: 1. Choose File > Exit 2. If the file has not yet been saved or named, the Save dialog box appears. To save the file, enter a name in the Name text box (if necessary) and then CLICK! OK. Showing or hiding the artboard: To show the artboard, choose View > Show Artboard; to hide the artboard, choose View > Hide Artboard. Working in Illustrator 3

19 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Changing the size of the artboard: 1. Choose File > Document Setup. Then choose Artboard from the pop-up menu at the top left of the Document Setup dialog box. 2. Students should do one of the following: Choose a preset size from the Size pop-up menu. Suggest to students that they use a common size. OR Choose Custom from the Size pop-up menu, and enter the dimensions you want in the text boxes, up to 227 inches by 227 inches. Students can change the units of measure for the current document in Preferences. Changing this will not change the size of the artboard. Students can set specific units by typing the new size in pixels or in inches in the height and width dialog. Select Use Print Setup (Windows) or Use Page Setup (Mac OS) to set the size of the artboard to match the page size set in the Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup (Mac OS) dialog box. The size of the artboard then changes whenever students choose a new page size in the Print/Page Setup dialog box. 3. CLICK! OK. The artboard displays the maximum printable area but does not define the size of the printed page. Page size settings can be changed if the printer will accept custom page sizes. Working in Illustrator 4

20 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Exercise Two: About Paths Introduce the exercise by explaining that a path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The beginning and end of each segment is marked by anchor points, which work like pins holding wire in place. Note that your students change the shape of a path by editing its anchor points. Your students can also control curves by dragging the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at anchor points. Explain that a path is either open, like an arc, or closed, like a circle. For an open path, the starting and ending anchor points for the path are called endpoints. Reproduce on the whiteboard or on paper these diagrams in order to clarify the various ideas of paths for your students. Students should be given an opportunity to create paths and manipulate them in ways similar to the diagrams below: Diagram A A. Selected (solid) endpoint B. Selected anchor point C. Curved path segment D. Direction line E. Direction point Paths can have two kinds of anchor points corner points and smooth points. At a corner point, a path abruptly changes direction. At a smooth point, path segments are connected as a continuous curve. Students can draw a path using any combination of corner and smooth points. And, if students draw the wrong kind of point, the point can always be changed! Working in Illustrator 5

21 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Diagram B A. Four corner points B. Same point positions using smooth points C. Same point positions combining corner and smooth points Do not let students confuse corner and smooth points with straight and curved segments. A corner point can connect any two straight or curved segments, while a smooth point always connects two curved segments: Diagram C A corner point can connect both straight segments and curved segments. Working in Illustrator 6

22 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Exercise Three: Changing a Tool Pointer, Drawing with a Pen Tool, and Drawing and Editing Free-Form Paths Students can change the appearance of the pointer from the tool pointer to a cross hair for more precise control. Why? When the pointer is a cross hair, more artwork is visible. This is convenient when students are doing detailed drawing and editing. Making a drawing tool pointer appear as a cross hair: Do one of the following: Choose Edit > Preferences > General. Select Use Precise Cursors, and CLICK! OK. Press Caps Lock before beginning to draw with the tool. Drawing with the pen tool: Students should use the pen tool to draw a path that cannot be drawn using the simpler drawing tools. The pen tool lets your students create straight lines and smooth, flowing curves with great precision. Drawing and editing free-form paths: Tell your students that if they want to draw and edit free-form paths, they should use the pencil tool. They can also smooth out and erase segments of a free-form path with the smooth tool and erase tool. Anchor points are set down as they are drawn with the pencil tool; students do not need to determine where they are positioned. However, points can be adjusted once the path is complete. The number of anchor points set down is determined by the length and complexity of the path and by the tolerance values set in the Pencil Tool Preferences or Smooth Tool Preferences dialog box for either tool. Students can draw and edit brushed paths with the paintbrush tool by using the same methods as for paths drawn with the pencil tool. Working in Illustrator 7

23 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Drawing a free-form path with the pencil tool: 1. Ask students to select the pencil tool ( ). 2. Tell them to position the pointer where they want the path to begin, and drag to draw a path. The pencil tool displays a small x to indicate drawing a free-form path. As students drag the pointer, a dotted line follows the pointer. Anchor points appear at both ends of the path and at various points along it. The path takes on the current paint attributes, and the path remains selected by default. 3. To continue the existing free-form path, tell students to select the path, and then position the pencil tip on an end-point of the path and drag. Drawing a closed path with the pencil tool: 1. Instruct students to select the pencil tool. 2. Students should position the pointer where they want the path to begin, and start dragging to draw a path. 3. As students drag, instruct them to hold down Alt (Windows ) or Option (Mac OS). The pencil tool displays a small loop, and its eraser will be solid indicating a closed path is being drawn. 4. Let students know that when the path is the size and shape they want, they should release the mouse button (but not the Alt or Option key). After the path closes, release the Alt or Option key. Changing a path with the pencil tool: 1. Tell students that if there is a path they want to change, that they should select it with the selection tool ( ). Or Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the path to select it. 2. Students should position the pencil tool on or near the path to redraw, and drag the tool until the path is the desired shape. Use the following example: Using the pencil tool to edit a closed shape Depending on where your students begin to redraw the path and in which direction students drag, they may get unexpected results. For example, students may unintentionally change a closed path to an open path, change an open path to a closed path, or lose a portion of a shape. Working in Illustrator 8

24 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Exercise Four: Adjusting Path Segments, Drawing Shapes, and Drawing and Editing Brushed Paths Adjusting path segments: The shape of the path can be changed by adding, deleting, or moving the path's anchor points. To adjust a curved segment, students can move one or more of its anchor points or direction points. Your students can also adjust a path by converting smooth points to corner points and vice versa. Drawing shapes: Many objects in Adobe Illustrator can be created by starting with basic shapes. The tools in Illustrator let students easily create rectangles, ellipses, polygons, spirals, and stars. Drawing and editing brushed paths: The Brushes palette in Illustrator contains four brush types Calligraphic, Scatter, Art, and Pattern brushes to use in adding art to paths. Students can choose from the brush effects that have been preloaded into the Brushes palette. Show your students that they can also modify these brushes, create brushes, or import a brush from the Brush Libraries to the Brushes palette. Brushes created and stored in the Brushes palette are associated only with the current file. After brushes have been applied to a path, they can modify the attributes of the path in several ways. To import a brush from a Brush Library to the current Brushes palette: 1. Make sure the Brushes palette into which students want to import a brush is open. 2. Choose Window > Brush Libraries > Brush Library name. To locate a Brush Library not stored in the Brush Libraries folder, choose Window > Brush Libraries > Other Library. 3. Have students select a brush, and then instruct students to do one of the following: Use the selected brush in the current artwork (recommended for one or two brushes at a time). Once it is used in the artwork, the brush is copied from the Brush Library to the Brushes palette. Drag the selected brush to the current Brushes palette (recommended for multiple brushes at a time). Choose Add to Brushes from the Brushes palette menu. Working in Illustrator 9

25 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Note to your students: each Illustrator file can have a different set of brushes in its Brushes palette. Your students can achieve the following effects using the four brush types. It would be a good idea to demonstrate to your students the various brush types: Calligraphic brushes create strokes that resemble strokes drawn with the angled point of a calligraphic pen, drawn along the center of the path. Scatter brushes disperse copies of an object (such as a ladybug or a leaf) along the path. Art brushes stretch an object or artwork (such as an arrow or dog bone) evenly along the length of the path. Pattern brushes paint a pattern made of individual tiles that repeats along the path. Pattern brushes can include up to five tiles, for the sides, inner corner, outer corner, beginning, and end of the pattern. A. Calligraphic brush B. Scatter brush C. Art brush D. Pattern brush To create a brushed path with a drawing tool: 1. Students should draw a path using a drawing tool, including the pen or pencil tool or a basic shape tool. 2. Choose a method for applying a brush to the path: Select the path that is to be brushed. In the Brushes palette, select a brush with which to brush the path. Drag a brush from the Brushes palette onto a path. To remove a brush from a path: 1. Students should select the path to change. 2. Then do one of the following: a. In the Brushes palette, choose Remove Brush Strokes from the palette menu or CLICK! the Remove Brush Strokes button ( ). b. In the toolbox or the Color palette, CLICK! the Stroke box and apply a stroke of None. c. The brush is removed and the path remains. Working in Illustrator 10

26 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 To draw a path with the paintbrush tool: 1. Students choose Window > View Brushes to display the Brushes palette, and select a brush from the Brushes palette. 2. Students double- CLICK! the paintbrush tool ( ), set preferences, and CLICK! OK: In the Smoothness text box, enter a value (0% to 100%) for the percentage stroke and curve smoothness, or use the slider. The higher the value, the smoother the stroke or curve. In the Fidelity text box, enter the number of pixels (from 0.5 to 20) for the number of pixels the stroke can stray from the path to produce smooth curves, or use the slider. The higher the value, the smoother the stroke or curve. Select Fill New Brush Strokes to have paths drawn by the brush filled. When the option is unselected, paths are unfilled. Select Keep Selected to keep the path just drawn with the brush selected. Note: the above may require additional demonstration from the teacher. By default, the path is selected when you release the mouse button. To draw a closed path with the paintbrush tool: 1. Students select the paintbrush tool. 2. Students position the pointer where they want the path to begin, and start dragging to draw a path. 3. As students drag, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS). The paintbrush tool displays a small loop to indicate drawing a closed path. It is very important that you do not hold down the modifier key until after you start drawing to create a closed loop. 4. When the path is the size and shape wanted, release the mouse button (but not the Alt or Option key). After the path closes, release the Alt or Option key. To edit a brushed path with the paintbrush tool: 1. Students select the path to edit with the selection tool ( ), or Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the path to select it. 2. Position the paintbrush tool on or near the path to redraw, and drag the tool until the path is the desired shape. Working in Illustrator 11

27 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Lesson Two: Check for Understanding Review questions 1. Describe two ways to change the size of your artboard. 2. There are two kinds of paths in Illustrator: a. b. 3. How are Illustrator paths changed in shape? 4. How are the curves of an Illustrator path controlled? 5. What are the advantages of doing work with the pen tool? 6. What are the four brush types in Illustrator and what are their optimal uses? Review answers 1. a. Commands can be selected from Choose File > Document Setup. Choose the artboard from the pop-up menu. b. Students may choose Custom from the Size pop-up menu and enter the dimensions they want. 2. a. Open like an arc. b. Closed like a circle. 3. The shape of a path can be changed by editing (moving) its anchor points. 4. Curves of a path can be controlled by dragging the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at anchor points. 5. The pen tool is a more sophisticated tool that allows students to create straight lines and smooth, flowing curves with very great precision. It is somewhat more difficult to use than the pencil tool. The pencil tool should be used generally for drawing free-form paths, for example. 6. Calligraphic brushes create strokes varying between light- and heavily angled. Scatter brushes disperse copies of an object along a path. Art brushes stretch an object or artwork. Pattern brushes paint a pattern that repeats along a path. Additional Adobe Resources on the Web Visit the Adobe in Education Web site at for additional resources: Instructional resources online tutorials, books, tech guides, and more: Complete product information: Training opportunities: Working in Illustrator 12

28 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 2 Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Working in Illustrator 13

29 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Applying and Using Color Level Advanced Beginner. Students are assumed to have mastered tools, palettes, and the concept of artwork windows. The exercises in Lesson Two should have been mastered. Students are assumed to have a familiarity with the Web and online resources. Summary and Overview The purpose of Adobe Illustrator /Lesson Three is to introduce students to applying and using color in a successful project of designing basic Web sites using Adobe tools. 1. Color modes and models Illustrator bases its color modes on established models for describing and reproducing color. Students will be introduced to these models. 2. Applying color Students will use the Fill and Stroke boxes in the toolbox to select an object s fill and stroke, to swap the fill color with the stroke color, and to return the fill and stroke to their default colors. 3. Modifying color Students will use the color picker to select the fill or stroke color by choosing from the color spectrum or by defining colors numerically. Students will also be able to use the paint bucket and eyedropper tools to copy paint attributes from one object to another. Lesson Three is designed to be taught in approximately one class hour. Depending on the teacher s pace of instruction and the prior knowledge of the students, Lesson Three may take more than one class hour. What Students Will Learn: Assessable Outcomes from the Exercises In this lesson, your students will learn To use color modes and models To apply color using the toolbox To use the color palette To apply color by dragging and dropping To display the color picker To use the Color Picker To modify colors in Illustrator Applying and Using Color 1

30 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Teacher Orientation for Lesson Three Key Definitions for Lesson Three: Color mode: a color mode In Illustrator determines the color model used to display and print Illustrator files. Illustrator bases its color modes on established models for describing and reproducing color. Common models include HSB, RGB, and CMYK. Fill attributes: in graphics applications, fill is used to paint the inside of an enclosed object. Typically, a color and pattern can be chosen, and then the object painted with a fill tool. The area that is painted is called the fill area. Grayscale: an image that only uses black, white, and shades of gray to represent color. Palettes and colors: the palette may be only a subset of all the colors that can be physically displayed. For example, SVGA systems can display 16 million unique colors, but a given program would use only 256 of them at a time if the display is in 256-color mode. In paint and illustration programs, a palette is a collection of symbols that represent drawing tools. As demonstrated in Lesson One: a simple palette might contain a paintbrush, and a pencil. Stroke: defines or paints outside border for a filled or open path. Web-safe palette: also called a Browser-Safe Palette; only contains 216 colors out of a possible 256. That is because the remaining 40 colors on Macs are different from those on PCs. By eliminating the 40 variable colors, this palette is optimized for cross-platform use. Applying and Using Color 2

31 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Exercise One: Applying Color and Changing Fill or Stroke Attributes Applying color using the toolbox: Explain to the students that they will use the Fill and Stroke boxes in the toolbox to select an object's fill and stroke, to swap the fill color with the stroke color, and to return the fill and stroke to their default colors. To switch between fill and stroke as the active selection, press x on the keyboard. To swap the fill and stroke colors of a selected object, press Shift+x. Below the Fill and Stroke boxes are the Color, Gradient, and None buttons. These buttons are used to change the selected fill or stroke to a color, to change a fill to a gradient, or to remove the fill or stroke from the selected object. Changing fill or stroke attributes using the toolbox: 1. Demonstrate to students how to select an object using any selection tool. 2. Then students should do one of the following (write on whiteboard or overhead): CLICK! the Swap Fill and Stroke button ( ), or press Shift+x to swap colors between the fill and the stroke. CLICK! the Default Fill and Stroke button ( ) to return to the default color settings (white fill and black stroke). CLICK! the Color button ( ) to change the currently selected stroke or fill to the last-selected solid color in the Color palette. CLICK! the Gradient button ( ) to change the currently selected fill to the last-selected gradient in the Gradient palette. CLICK! the None button ( ) to remove the object's fill or stroke. Use keyboard shortcuts to switch to Color, Gradient, or None: Press < to change the selection to a color; > to change the selection to a gradient; to change to None. Using the Color palette: Students will use the Color palette to apply color to an object's fill and stroke, and also to edit and mix colors either colors that students create or colors that students select from the Swatches palette, from an object, or from a color library. Applying and Using Color 3

32 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Editing the fill or stroke color using the Color palette: 1. Students select an object using any selection tool. 2. Students choose Window > Show Color. 3. Select the Fill box or Stroke box in the Color palette or in the toolbox. 4. Instruct the students to do one of the following: Position the pointer over the color bar (the pointer turns into the eyedropper), and CLICK! Choose an RGB, Web-safe RGB, HSB, CMYK, or Grayscale color model from the Color palette menu, and use the sliders to change the color values. Students can also enter numeric values in the text boxes next to the color sliders. Adjust the Tint slider if using a global color from the Swatches palette. Some students will encounter this problem concerning color. An exclamation point inside a yellow triangle in the Color palette when using HSB or RGB color indicates that students have chosen an out-of-gamut color that is, a color that cannot be printed using CMYK inks. The closest CMYK equivalent appears next to the triangle. CLICK! the CMYK equivalent to substitute it for the out-of-gamut color. A cube above the yellow triangle in the Color palette when using RGB, HSB, or CMYK color indicates that students have not chosen a Web-safe color. CLICK! the cube to substitute the closest Web-safe color. Applying and Using Color 4

33 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Exercise Two: Applying and Modifying Color Applying color by dragging and dropping: Students will be interested in knowing that an easy way to paint an object is to drag a color directly from the Fill box or Stroke box in the toolbox, the Color palette, or the Gradient palette and drop the color onto the object, or to drag a swatch from the Swatches palette and drop it on an object. Dragging and dropping lets students paint objects without first selecting them. You can also drag and drop colors from the Swatches palette to the Fill box or Stroke box in the toolbox, the Color palette, or the Gradient palette. When students drag color, the color is applied to either the object's fill or stroke, depending on whether the Fill box or Stroke box is currently selected. (For example, if students drag a red color to an unselected object when the stroke box in the toolbox is selected, the object's stroke is painted red.) Displaying the Color Picker: In order to display the Color Picker, students should do one of the following: Double-CLICK! the Fill or Stroke color selection box in the toolbox. Double-CLICK! the active color selection box in the Color palette. Using the Color Picker: Tell students that they can use the Color Picker to select the fill or stroke color by choosing from a color spectrum or by defining colors numerically. In addition, they can select colors based on the HSB, RGB, and CMYK color models. Modifying colors: Illustrator provides a wide variety of tools to modify and edit colors in your file. Ask students to experiment with the paint bucket and eyedropper tools to copy paint attributes from one object to another. Applying and Using Color 5

34 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 3 Lesson Three: Check for Understanding Review questions 1. Name two uses of the Color palette in applying color. 2. In terms of color, what do the initials RGB stand for? 3. In terms of color, what do the initials CMYK stand for? 4. What is the primary purpose of the Color Picker? 5. Name one tool that allows you to modify or edit colors. 6. How many colors are there in the Web-safe palette? 7. How are Web-safe colors represented? Review answers 1. Answers may include: apply color to an object s fill and stroke; edit colors; mix colors. 2. Red, green, blue. 3. Cyan, magenta, yellow, black. 4. The Color Picker allows students to select the fill or stroke color by choosing a color spectrum or defining colors numerically. 5. The two tools mentioned most often are: paint bucket and eyedropper. 6. The Web-safe palette contains 216 colors. 7. Web-safe colors are represented in hexadecimal code with a separate two-digit value for red, green and blue. Additional Adobe Resources on the Web Visit the Adobe in Education Web site at for additional resources: Instructional resources online tutorials, books, tech guides, and more: Complete product information: Training opportunities: Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Applying and Using Color 6

35 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Graphics for the Web Level Advanced beginner to intermediate. Students are assumed to have mastered tools, palettes, and the concept of artwork windows. The application of colors is a critical component of graphics in a Web environment. The exercises and projects in Lessons Two (artwork and windows) and Three (colors) should have been mastered. Students are assumed to have a familiarity with graphics, the Web, and online resources. Summary and Overview The purpose of Adobe Illustrator /Lesson Four is to introduce students to creating small graphics files to distribute images on the World Wide Web. With smaller files, Web servers can store and transmit images more efficiently, and viewers can download images more quickly. Teachers and students will find that Illustrator provides a variety of tools for creating and viewing Web graphics as well as optimizing and saving graphics for use on the Web. Lesson Four is designed to be taught in approximately one class hour. Depending on the teacher s pace of instruction and the prior knowledge of the students, Lesson Four may take more than one class hour. What Students Will Learn: Assessable Outcomes from the Exercises In this lesson, your students will learn To prepare graphics for the Web using a variety of Illustrator tools To use a variety of graphics file formats (JPG, GIF, PNG) To link objects to URLs for Web pages To view the project in various optimized formats To save images for export Graphics for the Web 1

36 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Teacher Orientation for Lesson Four Key Definitions for Lesson Four GIF: pronounced jiff or giff (hard g) stands for Graphics Interchange Format, a bitmapped graphics file format used by the World Wide Web, CompuServe, and many bulletin board services. GIF supports color and various resolutions. It also includes data compression and transparency. The GIF format is most often used for drawings and illustrations. HTML: a markup language used to structure text and multimedia documents and to set up hyperlinks between documents. HTML is used extensively on the World Wide Web. Image map: a single graphic image containing more than one hot spot. For example, imagine a graphic of a bowl of fruit. When you CLICK! on a banana, the system displays the number of calories in a banana and when you CLICK! on an apple, it displays the number of calories in an apple. JPG: short for Joint Photographic Experts Group, and pronounced jay-peg, sometimes spelled JPEG (except as a file-name extension). JPG is a lossy compression technique for color images (see definition below). Although it can reduce file sizes to about 5% of their normal size, some detail is lost in the compression. The JPG format is the most common format used for photographs because of its ability to create sharp images with small file sizes. Lossy Compression: Refers to data compression techniques in which some amount of data is lost. Lossy compression technologies attempt to eliminate redundant or unnecessary information. Most video compression technologies, use a lossy technique. Optimizing: special features in Illustrator to select an image for export in GIF, JPEG, or PNG file, and to preview the optimized images in different Web graphics file formats. Pixels: the smallest image-forming unit of a video display. PNG: short for Portable Network Graphics, and pronounced ping, a new bitmapped graphics format similar to GIF. In fact, PNG was approved as a standard by the World Wide Web consortium to replace GIF because GIF uses a patented data compression algorithm called LZW. In contrast, PNG is completely patent- and license-free. The most recent versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer now support PNG. Rasterize: This is the process of converting vector objects, those created in Illustrator, to a resolution-dependent graphic format. The rasterized image will not scale or resize as the user s screen size changes. URL: abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator, the global address of documents and other resources on the World Wide Web. The first part of the address indicates what protocol to use, and the second part specifies the IP address or the domain name where the resource is located. Vector Object: A resolution-independent graphic format that has the ability to resize itself to match the resolution of the views monitor. Graphics for the Web 2

37 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Exercise One: Preparing and Linking Web Graphics Preparing Web graphics in Illustrator: Your students can make use of a variety of Illustrator tools to ensure that graphics created for the Web display correctly in a Web browser. Be sure that you emphasize that students should keep the following in mind as they prepare graphics for use on the Web: When your students first start the Illustrator application, they can choose between the RGB and CMYK color modes for their files; if they are creating Web-based graphics, they should choose the RGB color mode. To preview the artwork as it would display if rasterized for use on the Web, students should use the Pixel View mode. While they work in Pixel View mode, artwork that is created will snap to a pixel grid. To create a link from an object in the artwork to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), students will use the image map option in the Attribute palette. To apply Web-safe colors to artwork, students will use the Web-safe color options in the Color palette or the Color Picker. See Using the Color palette and Using the Color Picker in Lesson Three. To export images in specialized Web formats such as Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format or Macromedia Flash (SWF) format, as well as other formats for the Web, use the Export command. To optimize images in several graphic file formats used on the Web, such as Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), and Portable Network Graphics (PNG-8 or PNG-24), use the Save for Web command. Graphics for the Web 3

38 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Linking objects to URLs for Internet Web pages: The following is for more advanced students or to challenge all students if there is sufficient class time: Any object your students create in Adobe Illustrator can be linked to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) string, transforming the object into a button that links the user to an Internet Web site. This feature is useful when creating artwork for Web pages, allowing students to pre-attach Web links to individual objects before importing the artwork into a Web page design application. After assigning a URL to an object in an illustration, more advanced students can verify that the URL is valid by using the Launch Browser button in the Attributes palette. If your computer systems have an Internet browser (such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer), clicking the Browser button automatically connects to the URL you or your students have defined as the object's link. To activate URL links to objects, students must designate the object as an image map using the Attributes palette. The image map defines the shape of the button that links to the assigned URL. The image map can be assigned a shape such as a rectangle, or as a free-form polygon that follows the outline of the selected object. See the illustration below: Imagemap set to Rectangle and to Polygon in Attributes palette Graphics for the Web 4

39 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Exercise Two: Optimizing and Saving In Illustrator Optimizing in Illustrator: For basic image optimization tasks, your students can export an image in Illustrator as a GIF, JPEG, or PNG file. Students can use the special optimization features in Illustrator to preview optimized images in various Web graphics file formats and with different file attributes. They can view multiple versions of an image simultaneously and modify optimization settings before previewing the image and select the best combination of settings. In Illustrator, preferences can be set for saving image previews, using file extensions, and maximizing file compatibility. To set file saving preferences: Have students choose Edit > Preferences > Saving Files, and set the following options: Image Previews: Students should choose an option for saving image previews: Never Save to save files without previews, Always Save to save files with specified previews, or Ask When Saving to assign previews on a file-by-file basis. (In Mac OS, you can select one or more of the following preview types to speed the saving of files and minimize file size, select only the previews needed: Icon to use the preview as a file icon on the desktop. Macintosh Thumbnail to display the preview in the Open dialog box. Windows Thumbnail to save a preview that can display on Windows systems. Full Size to save a 72-ppi (pixels per inch) version of the file for use in applications that can only open lowresolution Photoshop images. For non-eps files, this is a PICT preview.) File Extension (Windows): Students should choose an option for the three-character file extensions that indicate a file's format: Use Upper Case to append file extensions using uppercase characters or Use Lower Case to append file extensions using lowercase characters. Graphics for the Web 5

40 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Append File Extension (Mac OS): File extensions are necessary for files that students want to use on or transfer to a Windows system. Choose an option for appending extensions to filenames: Never to save files without file extensions, Always to append file extensions to filenames, or Ask When Saving to append file extensions on a file-by-file basis. Select Use Lower Case to append file extensions using lowercase characters. In Mac OS, to append a file extension to the current file only, hold down Option and choose a file format from the Save As or Save a Copy dialog box. To display a preview file icon (Windows only): 1. Students Save the file in Photoshop format with a thumbnail preview. 2. Right-CLICK! the file on the desktop (or in any Windows or Photoshop dialog box that displays a file list), and choose Properties from the context menu that appears. 3. CLICK! the Photoshop Image tab. 4. Select an option for generating thumbnails, and CLICK! OK. Preview icons appear on the desktop and in file lists (when the view is set to Large Icons). Graphics for the Web 6

41 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Viewing the Save for Web dialog box: Instruct students to choose File > Save for Web. Optimizing files and choosing options: Instruct your students that they can use the Settings panel of the Save for Web dialog box to select the file compression format and other optimization settings for an image. They can also optimize an image to a specified file size, using current optimization settings or automatically generating a GIF or JPEG file. Graphics for the Web 7

42 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Saving optimized images: Students can save an optimized image in Illustrator in its current state, and save the HTML file for the image in the same folder. The HTML file also includes the image name, the image dimensions, and other code necessary to specify the image for display on a Web site. This code can than be cut and pasted in the students Web page. Finally, saving an optimized file: 1. To save an optimized file, students should CLICK! OK in the Save for Web dialog box. 2. In the Save Optimized As dialog box, type a filename, and choose a location for the file. The file is saved in the format specified in the Settings panel of the Save for Web dialog box. 3. Select Save HTML File to save the HTML file with the image file, and CLICK! Save. Graphics for the Web 8

43 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 4 Lesson Four: Check for Understanding Review questions 1. What is the benefit of selecting the Web palette when preparing images for publication on the World Wide Web? 2. For each of these types of files, what file type would be best for the Web? Photo, line art, etc. 3. How is a file saved for publication to the Web? 4. What optimization benefits does Illustrator offer as part of its features? Review answers 1. Selecting the Web palette ensures that the images are displayed using the same color palette, regardless of the platform on which the image is displayed. 2. Answers may vary. Example: The style of artwork being worked with determines the file format that should be used to save an image for publication on the Web. In addition, file size and image integrity may also affect which file format is used. In general, the integrity of the image should be maintained and the file size should be kept small. 3. Choose File > Save for Web. 4. Illustrator allows images to be previewed in various Web-graphics file formats and with various file attributes. This allows for viewing of multiple versions of an image simultaneously and modification of optimization settings before previewing the image. Additional Adobe Resources on the Web Visit the Adobe in Education Web site at for additional resources: Instructional resources online tutorials, books, tech guides, and more: Complete product information: Training opportunities: Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Graphics for the Web 9

44 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Saving, Exporting, and, Printing Artwork Level Advanced beginner to intermediate. Students are assumed to have mastered tools, palettes, and the concept of artwork windows. The application of colors is a critical component of graphics in a Web environment. The exercises in Lessons Two (artwork), Three (colors), and Four (graphics) should have been mastered. Students are assumed to have a familiarity with graphics, the Web, and online resources as well as basic Save and Print commands. Summary and Overview The purpose of Adobe Illustrator /Lesson Five is to introduce students to saving artwork in a variety of formats through using Illustrator. Artwork can be saved in PDF and EPS formats and can be exported in a variety of other common graphic file formats. Students will want to print artwork as a way to take it home, to put it in a portfolio, or to show it to other students. Artwork usually progresses through a variety of stages before a final printing, and students will often want to maintain a record of the progression of the artwork. Lesson Five is designed to be taught in approximately one class hour. Depending on the teacher s pace of instruction and the prior knowledge of the students, Lesson Five may take more than one class hour. What Students Will Learn: Assessable Outcomes from the Exercises In this lesson, your students will learn To understand the different graphic-file formats To save artwork files in several formats: PDF, EPS, AI To export artwork files for use in other applications including the Web To print artwork files Saving, Exporting and, Printing Artwork 1

45 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Teacher Orientation for Lesson Five Key Definitions for Lesson Five There are a number of terms with which both teachers and students should be familiar. While some teachers and students will know (or remember) these terms, they are provided here for reference and review. About graphic file formats: Adobe Illustrator can import and export many common file formats. Graphic file formats are distinguished by the way they represent graphic information. Graphic information can be represented as either vector drawings or bitmap images. Some graphic file formats contain only vector drawings or only bitmap images, but many can include both in the same file. Bitmap images Paint and image-editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, generate bitmap images, also called raster images. The images use a grid (also known as a bitmap or raster) of small squares, known as pixels, to represent graphics. Each pixel in a bitmap image has a specific location and color value assigned to it. For example, a bicycle tire in a bitmap image is made up of a collection of pixels in that location, with each pixel part of a mosaic that gives the appearance of a tire. When working with bitmap images, you edit pixels rather than objects or shapes. Bitmap images are the most common electronic medium for continuous-tone images, such as photographs or images created in painting programs, because they can represent subtle gradations of shades and color. Bitmap images are resolution dependent that is, they represent a fixed number of pixels. As a result, they can appear jagged and lose detail if they are scaled on-screen or if they are printed at a higher resolution than they were created for. Resolution in bitmap images Resolution is the number of dots or pixels per linear unit used to reproduce artwork and images. Output devices display images as groups of pixels. The resolution of vector graphics, such as Illustrator artwork, depends on the device used to display the artwork. The resolution of bitmap images, such as digital photographs, depends on both the display device and the inherent resolution of the bitmap image. Pixel dimensions the number of pixels along the height and width of a bitmap image. The display size of an image on-screen is determined by the pixel dimensions of the image plus the size and setting of the monitor. A typical 13-inch monitor displays 640 pixels horizontally and 480 vertically. An image with pixel dimensions of 640 by 480 would fill this small screen. On a larger monitor with a 640 by 480 setting, the same image (with pixel dimensions of 640 by 480) would still fill the screen, but each pixel would appear larger. Changing the setting of this larger monitor to 1152 pixels by 870 pixels would display the image at a smaller size, occupying only part of the screen. When preparing an image for online display (for example, a Web page that will be viewed on a variety of monitors), pixel dimensions become especially important. Because your image may be viewed on a 13-inch monitor, you will probably want to limit the size of your image to a maximum of 160 pixels by 120 pixels. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 2

46 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Image resolution the number of pixels displayed per unit of printed length in an image, usually measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Two images of the same pixel dimension of different resolutions would be two different on-screen sizes when scaled to 100%. For example, a 1-inch by 1-inch image with a resolution of 72 ppi contains a total of 5184 pixels (72 pixels wide x 72 pixels high = 5184). The same 1-inch by 1-inch image with a resolution of 300 ppi would contain a total of 90,000 pixels. Monitor resolution the number of pixels or dots displayed per unit of length on the monitor, usually measured in dots per inch (dpi). Monitor resolution depends on the size of the monitor plus its pixel setting. The typical resolution of a PC monitor is about 96 dpi, of a Mac OS monitor 72 dpi. Understanding monitor resolution helps explain why the display size of an image on-screen often differs from its printed size. Vector graphics Drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator create vector graphics, made of lines and curves defined by mathematical objects called vectors. Vectors describe graphics according to their geometric characteristics. For example, a bicycle tire in a vector graphic is made up of a mathematical definition of a circle drawn with a certain radius, set at a specific location, and filled with a specific color. You can move, resize, or change the color of the tire without losing the quality of the graphic. A vector graphic is resolution independent that is, it can be scaled to any size and printed on any output device at any resolution without losing its detail or clarity. As a result, vector graphics are the best choice for type (especially small type) and bold graphics that must retain crisp lines especially when scaled to various sizes for example, logos. Because computer monitors represent images by displaying them on a grid, both vector and bitmap images are displayed as pixels on-screen. Common Web Graphic Formats: Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) The EPS file format is used to transfer post-script language artwork between applications and is supported by most illustration and page layout programs. Typically, EPS files represent single illustrations or tables that are placed onto a host page, but an EPS file can also represent a complete page. Because EPS files are based on the PostScript language they can contain both vector and bitmap graphics. Flash (SWF) format The Flash format is a version of the Macromedia Flash Player vector-based graphics format for interactive, animated Web graphics. Students can export artwork to the Flash format for use in Web design, and view the artwork in any browser equipped with the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 3

47 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) GIF is a popular Web graphic format. GIFs contain a maximum of 256 colors. This format offers good image compression, but if the image contains more than 256 colors quality is significantly reduced. GIFs can also contain a transparent area and multiple frames for animation. Images compressed with lossless compression normally lose no image quality. A GIF compresses by scanning horizontally across a row of pixels, finding solid areas of color, and then abbreviating identical areas of pixels in the file. GIFs are only lossless if the image contains very few colors, as line or geometric art usually does. Therefore, images with areas of solid color compress best when exported as GIFs. A GIF is usually ideal for cartoon-like graphics, logos, graphics with transparent areas, and animations. Vector objects are often saved as GIFs. Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) JPEG was developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group specifically for photographic or high-color images. JPEG supports millions of colors (24-bit), whereas GIF supports only 256 colors. JPEG always produces higher quality for photographic image data. JPEG is a lossy format, which means that some image data is discarded when it is compressed, reducing the quality of the final file. However, image data can sometimes be discarded with little or no noticeable difference in quality. When exporting a JPEG, use the Quality slider pop-up menu in the Optimize panel to control how much quality is lost when compressing the file. A high percentage setting maintains image quality but compresses less, producing larger files. A low percentage setting yields a small file, but produces a lower-quality image. Use the 2-Up and 4-Up previews to test and compare the appearance and estimated file size with different Quality settings for an exported JPEG. The JPEG format is best for scanned photographs, images using textures, images with gradient color transitions, and any images that require more than 256 colors. Portable Document Format (PDF) The PDF format is used by Adobe Acrobat, Adobe's electronic publishing software for Macintosh, Windows, UNIX, and DOS. You can view PDF files using the Acrobat Reader software included on your Adobe Illustrator CD. PDF can represent both vector and bitmap graphics. PDF pages are identical to PostScript pages, but PDF files can also contain electronic document search and navigation features. PDF files, for example, can contain hypertext links and an electronic table of contents. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 4

48 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Because Illustrator can open a PDF file, you can use the vector artwork or bitmap images from any PDF file in an Illustrator file. Students can also use Illustrator to make changes to individual PDF pages. To modify a page within a PDF file, open the PDF file, select the page to modify, make changes, and save the modified PDF file. The modified page is restored to its original position in the PDF file. Portable Network Graphic (PNG) PNG is a versatile Web graphic format. However, not all Web browsers can take full advantage of PNG characteristics without using plug-ins. Therefore it is not a common file format for the Web. A PNG can support up to 32-bit color, can contain transparency or an alpha channel, and can be progressive. PNG compression is lossless, even in high color depths. It compresses across rows and columns of pixels. For high-color images, JPEG produces a superior quality. PNG allows transparency with 32-bit color images, but the image size is large. The PNG format is best for creating complex live transparency, high-color graphics, and better compressed low-color graphics. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) and Scalable Vector Graphics Compressed (SVGZ) formats The Scalable Vector Graphics formats are a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) specification for a standard, two-dimensional vector graphics language for the Web. SVG works well with HTML and JavaScript, giving Web designers creative control in designing an interactive and dynamic Web experience. The scalable vector-graphic plug-in is required. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 5

49 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Exercise One: Saving Files in PDF or EPS Format Saving files: Indicate to students that Adobe Illustrator provides several ways to save files: Saving in PDF: 1. Instruct students to choose File > Save. The Save command saves the file with its current name, location, and file format. The Save As command lets students save an alternative version of the file with a different name, location, or file format. The Save a Copy command saves an identical copy of the file, with the word Copy added to the filename. This command leaves the original file as the active file. The Save for Web command (covered in the previous lesson) allows the user to export a graphic in one of several Web- Compatible graphic file formats. 2. Then, select the folder where you want students to save the file and have them enter a name for their files. 3. Next, students select Adobe PDF from the Save as Type (Windows) or Format (Mac OS) pop-up menu. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 6

50 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 4. There are options that you will want to explain to students: In the Adobe PDF Format Options dialog box, students may select from the following options in the Options Set menu: Select the Default option to use the default PDF general settings and compression settings. Select either Acrobat 5.0 or 4.0 in the File Compatibility panel. Transparent artwork will be preserved only when saved in the Acrobat 5.0 format. Select Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities to export the file in a Acrobat PDF format that allows you to reopen and edit the file in Adobe Illustrator. Select the Embed All Fonts option to save the fonts used in the file with the saved file. (Protected Japanese fonts cannot be embedded in the file.) Select the Subset Fonts When Less Than _ % of the Characters are Used option to minimize the PDF file size by embedding only those characters of the font that are used in the document that is, a subset of the font. This option is available when you select Embed All Fonts. Type the character threshold that determines when a font subset is created. If the percentage of characters used in the document exceeds this setting, then the entire font is embedded in the file rather than a subset of the font. Select the Embed ICC profile option to embed a color profile into the saved file. The color profile is determined in the Color Settings dialog box. This embedded color profile is then applied to the file when the file is reopened in Adobe Illustrator. Select the Generate Thumbnails option to save a thumbnail image of the artwork with the saved file. When working with images optimized for the Web, select Screen Optimized to use default settings appropriate for use on the Web. When selecting Screen Optimized, the file is automatically converted to the RGB color mode. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 7

51 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Exercise Two: Exporting Artwork Exporting artwork: To use an Adobe Illustrator file in another application, students must save or export their files in a graphics file format that the other application can use. Instruct students that if they want to save a file as an Illustrator file (AI), an Illustrator EPS file, or a PDF file, they use the Save, Save As, or Save a Copy command. To save files in an optimized Web format (JPEG, GIF, or PNG), use the Save for Web command. All other file formats are exported using the Export command. In order to export an Illustrator file to another file format: 1. Student choose File > Export. 2. Students select the folder where they want to save the file, and type a name for the file in the Name text box. 3. Students choose a file format from the Save as Type (Windows ) or Format (Mac OS) pop-up menu. 4. CLICK! Save (Windows) or Export (Mac OS). Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 8

52 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Exercise Three: Printing Improving printer performance: Students should be informed of the following: Objects that contain overly complex paths are a main cause of printing problems. A path's complexity is determined by the number of line segments and anchor points it contains. The more complex the path, the longer it takes to print. Before printing, make sure that paths contain only the necessary anchor points. Here are some suggestions for your students to simplify paths: Use the pen tool instead of the pencil tool, when possible. Drawings made with the pen tool typically contain fewer points than those created with the pencil tool. Use the Object > Path > Simplify command to simplify the path. Remove unnecessary points. Delete stray points. Change the output resolution. Increase the flatness of curves. Split overly complex paths. Printing a file: 1. Instruct students to choose File > Print. The number of pages that Illustrator will be printing determined by the View options selected in the Artboard panel of the Document Setup dialog box. If the Single Full Page option in the Document Setup dialog box is selected, a single page prints. If any other View option is selected, for example, the Tile Full Pages option, you can specify a page or a range of pages to print by entering beginning and ending page numbers in the From and To text boxes. 2. Students need to indicate which pages they want printed. If fonts print diagonally and do not show the correct typeface, the fonts are not stored on the printer. Forcing the fonts to download allows you to print them (with reduced print quality). For better print quality, install the fonts on the printer. 3. CLICK! OK (Windows) or Print (Mac OS). Important: Adobe Illustrator does not support PDF Writer format; if you attempt to print to PDF Writer you may experience delays or errors in printing. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 9

53 ILLUSTRATOR LESSON 5 Lesson Five: Check for Understanding Review questions 1. What is a common way to save artwork files so that they can be shared with other applications? 2. What are the commands used to save a file as an Illustrator file, an Illustrator EPS file, or a PDF file? 3. What is the command used to save files in an optimized Web format (JPEG, GIF, or PNG)? 4. What is the command used to export to all other file formats? 5. What is a main cause of printer problems in printing artwork? Note: For this Lesson, teachers may wish to include questions concerning common Web graphic formats and/or graphic file formats. Review answers 1. A common way of sharing Illustrator artwork is to save the artwork as an EPS file. Virtually all page layout, word processing, and graphic applications accept imported EPS files. 2. Students should use the Save, Save As, or Save a Copy command. 3. Save for Web command. 4. File > Export. 5. Objects that contain overly complex paths are the main cause of printing problems. Additional Adobe Resources on the Web Visit the Adobe in Education Web site at for additional resources: Instructional resources online tutorials, books, tech guides, and more: Complete product information: Training opportunities: Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Saving, Exporting and Printing Artwork 10

54 ILLUSTRATOR THE MOVIE PROJECT The Movie Project Begins Almost every commercial movie has a marketing campaign that starts publicly with the poster/playbill. You are the Director of the Marketing Team working for a large Hollywood studio ( Palisades Pictures ). As the Director, it has fallen on your shoulders to design and create the advertising poster/playbill for the soon-to-be released film described below. The head of the studio has made it clear that she expects an outstanding advertising campaign centered on your poster/playbill. In short, the commercial success of this film is YOUR responsibility. Here is an example of the vital statistics for the film you are working on (you may create your own with your teacher s guidance and permission): Working Title: Once Upon a Day in Wonderland Starring: John Revath, Charlize Sheron, Gregg German, and Christine Grant Directed by: Tim O'Connors Assumed Rating: PG-13 / PG Final Cut Running Time: 160 minutes (two hours, forty minutes) Synopsis of the Script: Tom Jeever's rather creepy mission is to create a new virtual world called Wonderland. But others are out to stop this new virtual paradise. When Tom meets Christine Grant, another virtual reality programmer working for the enemy, all madness breaks loose. Will the two live happily ever after in charmed bliss? Or will Christine s deep, dark secret throw a wrench into the works? Using the above example (or your own vital statistics) and the information learned from your Illustrator lessons, you will create one or more movie posters to advertise Palisades Pictures new film. Of course, your poster will be created on the computer you use employing Illustrator as your tool. The studio has high hopes for Once Upon a Day in Wonderland (or your title). As the Director of Marketing, you are to make those hopes come true. Your teacher will tell you the time/class periods you have to create your poster. Assignment: Design a poster to advertise Once Upon a Day in Wonderland (or your title). Necessary procedures: 1. Use Illustrator to create the desired graphic elements for the poster. 2. Use the Internet to locate other resources, if needed, to use in your poster. 3. Use Illustrator to lay out the poster using color, text, and graphics. 4. Save your poster as a PDF file and as a JPG file. 5. Print your poster and turn it in to your teacher. The Movie Project Begins 1

55 ILLUSTRATOR THE MOVIE PROJECT Sample movie posters that can be created using Illustrator: Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. The Movie Project Begins 2

56 ILLUSTRATOR TOOLBOX OVERVIEW The selection tool (V) selects entire objects. The directselection tool (A) selects points or path segments within objects. The groupselection tool (Shift+A) selects objects and groups within groups. The lasso tool (Y) selects entire objects. The direct-select lasso tool (Q) selects points or path segments within objects. The rotate tool (R) rotates objects around a fixed point. The twirl tool (Shift+R) twirls objects around a fixed point. The scale tool (S) resizes objects around a fixed point. The reshape tool (Shift+S) smoothes or changes a path while retaining the path's overall shape. The reflect tool (O) flips objects over a fixed axis. The shear tool (Shift+O) skews objects around a fixed point. The pen tool (P) draws straight and curved lines to create objects. The add-anchorpoint tool (+) adds anchor points to paths. The deleteanchor-point tool (-) deletes anchor points from paths. The convertanchor- point tool (Shift+P) changes smooth points to corner points and vice versa. The type tool (T) creates individual type and type containers and lets you enter and edit type. The area type tool (Shift+T) changes closed paths to type containers and lets you enter and edit type within them. The path-type tool (Shift+T) changes paths to type paths, and lets you enter and edit type on them. The vertical type tool (Shift+T) creates vertical type and vertical type containers and lets you enter and edit vertical type. The vertical area-type tool (Shift+T) changes closed paths to vertical type containers and lets you enter and edit type within them. The vertical path-type tool (Shift+T) changes paths to vertical type paths and lets you enter and edit type on them. The ellipse tool (L) draws circles and ovals. The polygon tool (Shift+L) draws regular, multisided shapes. The star tool (Shift+L) draws different sorts of stars. Illustrator Toolbox Overview 1

57 ILLUSTRATOR TOOLBOX OVERVIEW The spiral tool (Shift+L) draws clockwise and counterclockwise spirals. The rectangle tool (M) draws squares and rectangles. The roundedrectangle tool (Shift+M) draws squares and rectangles with rounded corners. The pencil tool (N) draws and edits freehand lines. The paintbrush tool (B) draws freehand and calligraphic lines, as well as art and patterns on paths. The scissors tool (C) splits paths. The knife tool (Shift+C) slices objects and paths. The measure tool (Shift+H) measures the distance between two points. The eyedropper tool (I) samples paint or type attributes from objects. The paint bucket tool (K) fills objects with the current paint or type attributes. The gradient mesh tool (U) creates multicolored objects and applies a mesh for adjusting color shading. The gradient tool (G) adjusts the beginning and ending points and angle of gradients within objects. The auto trace tool (Shift+W) traces the outlines of objects in placed images. The blend tool (W) creates a blend between the color and shape of multiple objects. The page tool (Shift+H) adjusts the page grid to control where artwork appears on the printed page. The column graph tool (J) positions columns vertically. The stacked column graph tool (Shift+J) stacks columns on top of one another. The bar graph tool (Shift+J) positions columns horizontally. The stacked bar graph tool (Shift+J) stacks columns and positions them horizontally. The line graph tool (Shift+J) shows the trend of one or more subjects over time. The area graph tool (Shift+J) emphasizes totals as well as changes in values. The scatter graph tool (Shift+J) plots data as paired sets of x and y coordinates. The pie graph tool (Shift+J) creates a circle graph with wedges showing relative percentages of the compared values. The radar graph tool (Shift+J) uses a circle to compare sets of values at given points in time or in particular categories. Illustrator Toolbox Overview 2

58 ILLUSTRATOR TOOLBOX OVERVIEW The hand tool (H) moves the Adobe Illustrator artboard within the illustration window. The zoom tool (Z) increases and decreases the magnifycation in the illustration window. The free transform tool (E) scales, rotates, or skews a selection. The smooth tool (Shift+N) removes excess anchor points to smooth a path while retaining the overall shape. The erase tool (Shift+N) erases paths and anchor points from the artwork. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, Classroom in a Book, Illustrator, ImageReady, LiveMotion, Photoshop, and PostScript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows NT, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Illustrator Toolbox Overview 3

59 ILLUSTRATOR USING THE PEN TOOL Using the Pen Tool Drawing with the pen tool Use the pen tool to draw a freeform path. The pen tool lets you create straight lines and smooth, flowing curves with great precision. A path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The beginning and end of each segment are marked by control points, which work like pins holding wire in place. You change the shape of a path by editing its control points. A path is either open, like an arc, or closed, like a circle. For an open path, the starting and ending control points for the path are called endpoints. You can control curves by dragging the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at control points that form curves. A. Selected endpoint B. Selected control point C. Curved path segment D. Direction line E. Direction point Paths can have two kinds of control points--corner points and smooth points. At a corner point, a path abruptly changes direction. At a smooth point, path segments are connected as a continuous curve. You can draw a path using any combination of corner and smooth points. If you draw the wrong kind of point, you can always change it. A. Four corner points B. Same point positions using smooth points C. Same point positions combining corner and smooth points A corner point can connect any two straight or curved segments, while a smooth point always connects two curved segments. Using the Pen Tool 1