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Continuous Line Drawing
Continuous Line Drawing
For your Illustrator Pen Tool final, you will be tracing a complex continuous line drawing.
Continuous = one connected line
Choose between Options A, B, or C for Tracing Reference
Choose between Options A, B, or C for Tracing Reference
Option A: Choose
Option A: Choose
Choose one from the Continuous Line Drawing Google Drive folder
Right-click and select "Download"
Option B: Find Your Own
Option B: Find Your Own
Search online for a different complex continuous line drawing.
The line drawing must be similar complexity (length of line, combination of curves and straight lines, etc.) to the options in the Google Drive folder.
Right-click and select "Save image as..." and save as a .jpg or .png
Option C: Trace Your Own
Option C: Trace Your Own
Search online for a photograph or use one of your own photographs.
You will be tracing it on your own (watch this example video)
Your line must be similar complexity (length of line, combination of curves and straight lines, etc.) to the options in the Google Drive folder.
Right-click and select "Save image as..." and save as a .jpg or .png
Create File, Save as a Cloud file, & Adjust Workspace
Create File, Save as a Cloud file, & Adjust Workspace
Open Adobe Illustrator
Click "Letter"
"File" > "Save as..."
Name: "Last Name, Tracing Final"
Make sure to save it as a Cloud file (there will be a cloud icon in your tab and ".aic" at the end).
Adjust your workspace (go to "Window" > "Workspace" > "Essentials Classic"
Create a Background
Create a Background
In your "Layers" panel, rename your "Layer 1" to "Background"
Click on the "Rectangle tool" in the left toolbar
Click and drag to create a rectangle that covers your artboard.
Double click the black square on the bottom of the left toolbar to open the "Color Picker"
Choose a color.
Lock your background layer.
Create Reference Layer & Import Reference
Create Reference Layer & Import Reference
In your "Layers" panel, click the + to create a new layer.
Rename the "Layer 2" as "Reference"
Open your "Downloads" folder and drag your chosen drawing/image reference into Illustrator
Hold "Shift" and click and drag a corner to adjust the size.
Embed Image
Embed Image
Go to "Window" > "Links" to open the "Links" panel.
In the "Links" panel, click on your reference image and then click the three lines at the top right and click "Embed Image(s)"
In the "Layers" window, click the empty square next to the "Reference" layer to lock it.
Create Path Layer
Create Path Layer
In your "Layers" panel, click the + to create a new layer.
Rename the "Layer 3" to "Path"
Choose Your Stroke Color & Stroke Weight
Choose Your Stroke Color & Stroke Weight
On your left side toolbar, double-click the black outline square to open the color picker.
Choose a color for your stroke.
In the top left corner, next to "Stroke:" adjusted between "1 pt" and "3 pt"
Trace Your Reference
Trace Your Reference
Trace your reference as on continuous line.
Review the Pen Tool visual paper on your desk to remember how to create specific path and point types.
Hide "Reference" Layer
Hide "Reference" Layer
In the "Layers" panel, click the "Line Drawing" layer and click the eye icon to the left of it to hide the original drawing.
Save as .aic and .pdf
Save as .aic and .pdf
Go to "File" > "Save" to make sure to save your .aic file (if it is grayed out then it is already saved).
Go to "File" > "Save As..."
Choose "On your computer"
Click "Creative Cloud Files" folder on the left menu
Name: "Last Name, Tracing Final"
Click "Save"
Click "Save PDF"
Once you save as a .pdf, exit out of Illustrator. If you need to edit again and resave, make sure to edit your .aic file and re-save as a .pdf.
Turn in to Canvas
Turn in to Canvas
Turn in your .pdf file on Canvas in the "Tracing Final - Pen Tool" assignment.
More time in class?
More time in class?
If you have more time in class, your options are:
Start a new Illustrator file and practice drawing with the pen tool
Play the Bezier Game online and screenshot your best score (email to Mrs. Hodges to add the scoreboard)
Help a classmate with the assignment
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