Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 7 Introduction to Illustrator
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 7 Introduction to Illustrator Summary Goal(s): Navigate the Adobe Illustrator interface and create/edit vector graphics. SMART Objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive By the end of this module, students should be able to: GD7.1: Set-up a document and identify the uses of basic tools. GD7.2: Utilize the Shape Tool and understand stroke and fill. GD7.3: Draw and trace complex shapes. GD7.4: Align objects with grids, guides, and the Align Palette. Instructor: Delivery Method(s): Lecture Hands-on lab Group work Length: 8.5 hours Any Applicable Business and/or Soft Skills? Business Skills: Additional Corresponding NLS Lesson #? Take Away Message(s): Transcribers-in-training will be introduced Adobe Illustrator and be able to use many of the basic tools within it. Graphic Module 7-1
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator Instructor Preparation Title of Module: Introduction to Illustrator The intent of the graphic design modules is to emphasize to transcribers-in-training how to communicate information in the most effective way. These principles will be applied when creating a number of projects using the Adobe Creative Suite. Agenda topics to be covered in the module and length of each item Topic: Introduction to Illustrator Time Allotted: 8.5 hours A. Illustrator Fundamentals (1 hour) B. Shapes & Fill and Stroke (1 hour) C. Making Complex Paths (4 hours) D. Arrange, Group, and Alignment (2.5 hours) Materials & Supplies items needed in order to carry out the agenda and classroom activities 1. Computer loaded with Adobe Illustrator, connected to a projector 2. Creating a New Document in Illustrator (7.A.1) 3 Shapes, Fill, and Stroke (7.B.1) 4. Introduction to the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator (7.C.1) video 5. Complex Shapes (7.C.2) 6. Pen Assessment 1 (7.C.3) 7. Arrange, Group, and Alignment (7.D.1) 8. Pen Assessment 2 (7.D.2) (Digital file only) Classroom Preparation steps to follow when setting up the learning environment 1. The graphic design modules are developed for instructors to demonstrate the applications on a computer connected to a projector so students can follow along. Students should then be given time to practice what they have seen by working independently on computers loaded with the applications. Graphic Module 7-2
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator Curriculum Content A. Illustrator Fundamentals (1 hour) Objective: Set-up a document and identify the uses of basic tools. PREINSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES Discuss the objectives for this module. Facilitate a discussion of Adobe Illustrator reminding students of the primary uses of the application. CONTENT PRESENTATION AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION Allow transcribers-in-training to sit at a computer loaded with Illustrator. Have students open the program and create a new document (File>New). Discuss new options including Artboards and Bleed. Use Creating a New Document in Illustrator (7.A.1) as a guide and distribute to students. Reminder: Pallets are referred to as Panels in Illustrator and InDesign. Review the definition of a vector graphic. Remind students these graphics can be scaled to any size. Show examples and discuss how they are frequently used (as logos, clip art, etc.). Discuss and demonstrate Selection vs. Direct selection. The Selection Tool acts as you expect a mouse curser to act. Use it to select objects and move things around. The Direct Selection Tool is also used to select objects. However, it selects all of the points that make up an object and allows you to manipulate them individually. This will make more sense later in the lesson. For now, just make sure students are using the Selection Tool (black arrow), not the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow). ASSESSMENT Identify the functions of the following: Artboards, Bleed, Selection Tool, and Direct Selection Tool. B. Shapes, Fill and Stroke (1 hour) Objective: Utilize the Shape Tool and understand stroke and fill. CONTENT PRESENTATION AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION Graphic Module 7-3
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator Explain the easiest way to create basic vector shapes (circles, rectangles, etc.) is by using the Rectangle Tool. Click and hold the mouse over the Rectangle Tool in the Toolbox to reveal the additional tools available including ellipse, polygon, and star. Demonstrate using each. Discuss the Bounding Box and demonstrate adjusting the size and rotation using the Handles. Distribute Shapes, Fill, and Stroke (7.B.1). Define and discuss Fill and Stroke. Fill refers to the color inside while stroke is the outline. The default setting is a white fill and a black stroke. Demonstrate how to adjust the weight (or thickness) of the stroke. Also demonstrate various ways to change to the color. Demonstrate how to constrain proportions to make squares and circles, how to make shapes an exact size, how to make shapes around a specific center point, and how to duplicate shapes using Shapes, Fill, and Stroke (7.B.1) as a reference. ASSESSMENT Create at least 8 different vector graphics varying the shape, stroke, and fills. C. Making Complex Paths (4 hours) Objective: Draw and trace complex shapes. CONTENT PRESENTATION AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION Show the video Introduction to the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator (7.C.1). Facilitate a discussion of the video with a focus on defining the following terms: Pen Tool, Anchor Points, Direction Lines, Open Path, Closed Path, Direct Select Tool, Corner points, Smooth Points, and Convert Anchor Point Tool. Review tracing and discuss copyright considerations. Review the following definition: The exclusive legal rights to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something. (Merriam-Webster.com) Graphic Module 7-4
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator It is vital students understand copyright issues so they do not get in trouble. If something is copyrighted, calling it your own work is illegal, even if you have recreated the image! Provide time for students to complete the handout Complex Shapes (7.C.2). Practice making the shapes as clean as possible with only as many anchor points as the shape specifies. ASSESSMENT Complete Pen Assessment 1 (7.C.3) in Illustrator. Open the PDF in an Illustrator document, lock the layer, add a second layer and recreate the image. If time, experiment with color, stroke, and add more to the picture. D. Arrange, Group, and Alignment (2.5 hours) Objective: Align objects with grids, guides, and the Align Palette. CONTENT PRESENTATION AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION Discuss with students the difficulty of keeping work organized when using multiple paths to create one image. By default, when a new path is created, it builds on top of whatever was created earlier. Like layers, what is below is still there; it is just hidden. Distribute and review the arrange portion of Arrange, Group, and Alignment (7.D.1). Demonstrate arranging the order of various overlapping paths. Define grouping as combining two or more separate objects. The artboard can easily become busy when you have multiple paths. One way to keep desired objects together is by grouping them so the objects move as one rather then independently. Demonstrate how to group, edit grouped objects, and ungroup using Arrange, Group, and Alignment (7.D.1) as a guide. Explain to students various ways to align objects using grids, guides, and the Align Panel. Note: Grids and guides will be discussed further in a later module. Make clear guides are for onscreen use only. They will not appear when the document is printed. Demonstrate for students then provide time for students to independently experiment with these tools. ASSESSMENT Complete Pen Assessment 2 (7.D.2) (Digital file only). Open the Illustrator document, lock the layer, add a second layer and recreate the letters. Use guides to be a precise as possible. Graphic Module 7-5
Module #7 Introduction to Illustrator Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 7 Introduction to Illustrator Handouts Graphic Module 7-6
File>New opens this dialogue box: Creating a New Document in Illustrator (7.A.1) Important things to consider: What looks familiar? Creating a new document in Illustrator is similar to Photoshop. The New Document Profile dropdown menu is like the Preset menu in Photoshop. The name and size of the document can be specified. The Advanced options include color mode and pixels per inch. What is an artboard? The artboard represents your printed page. It is surrounded by the canvas which can be used to create and edit work before moving it to the artboard. When you print, work on the canvas will not appear. Multiple artboards can be created in one Illustrator file to making it easy to create multiple pages in one document. The view can be adjusted to make the artboards appear in rows or columns. What is Bleed? The bleed is important if you are printing a document with an element that touches the edge of the page. When work is printed, it is often trimmed (cropped) to the correct final size. This process is not always exact so, to leave room for error, the document is printed a little larger then it needs to be. This way, even if the paper is not trimmed exactly, the color will still run to the edge of the page. Graphic Design Module 7-7
The Illustrator Workspace: Creating a New Document in Illustrator cont. (7.A.1) Panels Canvas Artboard Artboard New Tools: SELECTION TOOL vs. DIRECT SELECTION TOOL The Selection Tool acts like a typical mouse cursor. It is used to select objects and move things around. The Direct selection Tool is a white mouse cursor, also used to select objects. However, it selects all of the points that make up an object to allow additional manipulation. Graphic Design Module 7-8
Shapes, Fill, and Stroke (7.B.1) Making Shapes It is very easy to make basic shapes in Illustrator. Clicking and holding the Rectangle Tool will reveal all of the shapes available. To make a shape, select a tool, hold down the mouse any place on the screen, drag the mouse diagonally and release. The shape will be surrounded by a blue line called the bounding box. The bounding box has little squares (called handles) which adjust the size and rotate the shape. Click and drag them when the shape is selected. To deselect, click outside the bounding box. Holding shift will constrain proportions making a perfect square, circle, etc. Change the number of sides and points when creating polygons and stars by selecting the tool, clicking once on the screen, and changing the numbers in the pop-up box. To make a shape an exact size select the tool and click once on the screen. A box will pop-up where you can input exact measurements. Click OK and the shape will appear. To make the shape around a specific center point, click and hold the mouse down over the desired spot. Hold Alt and drag the mouse. Note how the shape s center point is maintained rather then the top left corner. Like in Photoshop, select Object>Transform to transform paths. Many of these adjustments can also be made using the Selection Tool. Helpful keyboard shortcut: To create a duplicate of something, press and hold Alt while you click on the object. The mouse cursor will change showing an overlapping black and white triangle. Drag the mouse and a duplicate will appear. This can be faster then using copy/paste. Graphic Design Module 7-9
Shapes, Fill, and Stroke cont. (7.B.1) Fill and Stroke All vector shapes have a fill and/or stoke. Fill refers to the color inside and stroke means the outline. Fill Stroke Default Fill Swap fill and stroke Stroke Color Gradient None As in Photoshop, to select a new color, double click on the fill or stroke box. If a fill or stroke is not needed, select the correct square and select none. Colors can also be adjusted using the Color and Swatches palettes. Note: whichever is selected (in this case fill) is brought to the front and this is the color that will change. To bring stroke to the front, simply click on it. The thickness of the stoke can be adjusted. When an object with a stoke is selected, you will see the word Stoke in the Properties Bar. Next to this is a drop down menu where the weight (or thickness) can be adjusted. A numerical value can be typed in as well. Notes about scaling: One of the biggest advantages of vector graphics is they can be scaled to any size. When a path is scaled, the weight (thickness) of the stroke stays the same and does not change proportionally. Thus, you may have to readjust the weight. To avoid this, you can select Object>Path>Outline Stroke and the stroke will remain in proportion. However, there is no way to undo this and once the stroke is outlined, it can be difficult to make adjustments. This is also true of type. To add text, use the Type Tool. If you try to scale type, the bounding box changes but the font stays the same. The type can be outlined so it will scale (Type>Create Outlines) but again, you will not be able to edit. For this reason, it is best practice to make a copy before turning anything into an outline. That way, the original is available if needed. Graphic Design Module 7-10
Complex Shapes (7.C.2) Recreate the following shapes in Illustrator using the number of anchor points specified. Four Five Eight Four Three Two Seven Four Four Four Graphic Design Module 7-11
Pen Assessment 1 (7.C.3) Recreate the image below, tracing it using the pen tool. Graphic Design Module 7-12
Arrange Arrange, Group, and Alignment (7.D.1) Arranging changes the order of paths. To adjust the order select Object>Arrange. You will have the option to more an object behind once or all the way to the back, as well as bring it forward once or all the way to the front. An alternative way to change the order is by right clicking on a selected item and chosing from the list under Arrange. Group Grouping combines two or more separate objects. Group objects by selecting two or more objects and clicking Object>Group. Objects can be ungrouped by selecting Object>Ungroup. To edit individual paths when they are grouped, use the Direct Select Tool. Or, double click the group using the Selection Tool. This will cause everything that was not part of this group to turn gray so grouped objects can be freely edited as if they were ungrouped. To exit this screen, double click anywhere on the artboard. The path will again be grouped. Objects can also be grouped and ungrouped by right clicking, or with the following key commands: Crtl + G (to group) and Shift + Ctrl + G (to ungroup). Aligning Objects There are several tools to aid with precise alignment: 1) Grid To show the grid, select View>Show Grid (indicated with a check mark). To make objects follow the grid lines, select View>Snap to Grid. Click View>Hide grid to remove the grid and View>Snap to Grid to turn this feature off (removes the checkmark). These can also be turned on and off by right clicking or with the key command: Ctrl + (to show/hide grid). 2) Ruler Guides Use the rulers to place guides in specific places. Click on the ruler (if rulers are hidden click Ctrl + R) and drag the mouse down to the desired place. When you release, a line will appear. Guides can be locked to prevent them from moving by selecting View>Lock Guides (indicated by a checkmark). To move or delete a guide, make sure it is unlocked and select it with the mouse. To hide guides click View>Hide Guides and to delete all, click View>Clear Guides. These can also be turned on and off by right clicking or with the key command: Ctrl + ; (to show/hide guides) Note: Grids and guides are for onscreen use only. They will not appear when the document is printed. Graphic Design Module 7-13
Arrange, Group, and Alignment cont. (7.D.1) Aligning Objects 3) Align Panel (found on the Property Bar) Use to align objects to the left, right, center, and make the spacing between the objects even. Graphic Design Module 7-14