About ADOBE Illustrator........

Most illustration or drawing programs are object-oriented, meaning that objects are created through vector mathematics rather than raster information. Illustrator uses the Postscipt language, which creates sharper images on screen and print output. The basic features that you can expect from most drawing programs are tools which enable you to create and edit basic shapes such as rectangles, squares, ellipses, circles, polygons, curves (Bezier), and text. Editing typically involves selecting, moving, duplicating, and transformations such as scaling, rotating, skewing, and reflecting objects. Objects can have attributes such as stroke (line weight) and fill, which can be patterned or colored, with gradients. Other features you can expect are layers, wire-frame and preview modes, object alignment, image tiling, blends, auto-tracing, text manipulation, and various calculation filters for special effects.

Why use Illustrator rather than other drawing programs?

• Dual platform (Mac/PC), industry standard

• Superior bezier tool interface

• Wide assortment of tools for creating various shapes and type

• Compliments Photoshop very well (both are Adobe products)

• Superior memory management and performance with large and complex images

• Converts text to bezier objects

• Brush/calligraphy features

• Masking features

• Lots of calculation filters

• Creates custom gradients in any direction

• Exports illustration as an image map for the Web

Illustrator works in Postscript and defaults to CMYK, so you will need to convert your document to RGB if you do on-screen work. You can open Illustrator files in Photoshop by using the Open command. Beware- once an illustration has been converted to a Photoshop (PSD) file, you cannot go back! Therefore- be careful not to overwrite your original file, and always keep a backup copy of any illustration in Illustrator format!

Tools and menus you will be most likely be using for the Digital Methods class:

• Selection tool

• Pen tool

• Text tool

• Layers window

• Color window

• Attributes window (stroke weight)

• Object menu (lock)

• View menu (zoom, outline and preview modes)

Illustrator 9...

The Toolbox:

The tools allow you to create, edit and manipulate objects. There are a number of hidden tools, identified by a little arrow to the right of the icons. These are accessible by clicking onthe tool icon and dragging to the right and highlighting your choice. The toolbox can be hidden or displayed under the Windows menu. Some tools have hidden options that are displayed by double-clicking on the icon. Transformation tools have options which are displayed by holding down the Option key while clicking on the object to be transformed.

Setting up a file for general use:

•Document SetUp & Page SetUp (File>) sets up the orientation, units, and size of drawing area.

•Document Color Mode (File>) choose RGB or CMYK depending on final output of file. RGB for on-screen and CMYK for printing.

•Preferences (Edit>Preferences>) is where you can set up tool behavior, edit behavior, keyboard increments, ruler & type units, grid parameters.

•Edit menu- allows for copy, paste, selection functions.

•Object menu- allows transformations; Arranging- shuffling objects front to back, precise movement of objects; Transform: Move, scale, rotate, reflect; Grouping/ungrouping of objects; Locking and hiding objects ; Blend options; Path- join and average anchor points; Masking.

•Type menu- all kinds of text manipulations, creating text outlines, etc.

•View menu will allow you to work in either wireframe (Outline) or a print preview (Preview). Keep in mind that working in Preview slows down performance when drawings become very complex.

•Rulers (View>Show rulers) allows you to set up guides. Ruler units are determined under Preferences. Drag out vertical and horizontal guides by clicking and dragging from center of each ruler. Guides can be moved or deleted by unlocking Guides (Objects>Guides>Lock).

•Color attributes (Window>Show Color) set color for objects.

•Stroke (Window> Stroke), select dashed line types (show stroke options) and set line weights.

•Layers (Window>ShowLayers) and other palettes can be found under the Windows menu. Layers allow you to organize and control objects in separate layers, to be visible, or active. You can move any selected object to any layer by pushing the square icon to a desired layer. You can print any layer or combination of layers.

•Filters (Filters menu) contain controls that allow you to modify existing objects. Especially useful filters are Stylize>Arrowheads, Calligraphy, Drop shadows.

•Align objects under Show Align (Window Menu). This is different from Average (Object>Path>Average) where the horizontal or vertical average between control points are calculated.

Working tips for Digital Methods class: Labeling

• Note the image dimensions of the CT image file you want to label

• Open your CT image in Illustrator

• Convert to RGB: File>Document Color Mode>RGB

• Work in layers: Create your text and lines in a new layer, and lock your CT image in the background layer. View or print only the layers you want. Move objects between layers by selecting the object, then moving the little square symbol on the far right in the Layers Palette. Hold the option/alt key down while moving to copy objects to another layer.

• Know which layer you are working in: Be sure you are in the correct layer when creating new text or lines.

• Label your layers: To avoid confusion, it is best to name each layer appropriately, for example, bones for one layer, processes for another.

• Set up your document with proper units: File>Document setup. Select pixels as your units.

• Work at high magnification: Zoom in to see your CT image and place lines and labels, but always check the quality of your work at 100% because the final file will be viewed at 100%.

• Create straight lines and angled lines: Hold option key while using the pen tool to constrain lines to straight or 90 degrees.

• Select object first before making changes to it: Objects must be selected before any changes will be applied to it.

• Check for any extraneous points in your text layers: Hide other layers and select all.

• Save-As: Save your file with an .ai extension. Be sure to include slice number in your file name.

• Open file in Photoshop: When opening your .ai file in Photoshop, be sure to select anti-aliasing, 72dpi, RGB, and input the original dimensions of your CT image.