Illustrator

15. How to edit photos for vectors

  1. Open the photo in Photoshop. Use the Quick Selection Tool to select the person and delete the background.
  2. After, place the image back in Illustrator. Live trace with black and white.


14. How to vectorize an image

1. Place a photo on your screen. On the right side of your screen, click Live Trace.

2. Try out the different presets. When you find what you like, click Expand.

3. Click the Direct selection tool. After, click something on your image, and go to Select > Same > Fill Colour. Now try changing the colour.


13. How to create repeating patterns


  1. Start by making a simple illustration. I am going to make ice cream. After, group all of the elements, then click object> transform> reflect. Copy so you have two ice creams.
  2. Click Window > Pattern Options.
  3. Play with the different options to adjust your pattern.
  4. Try moving each individual object around to adjust your pattern.
  5. Once you’re done, name your pattern, close the Pattern Options box and press done on the top left of the screen.
  6. Create a rectangle. Now when you go to the fill, you can select your pattern to fill the box.


12. How to add gradients

  1. Click Window > Gradient to reveal the gradient panel.
  2. Double click the circles on the panel to select your colours. Double click on an empty space on the gradient toolbar to add an additional colour.

You can use the Gradient Tool on the left sidebar to change the angle of your gradient.


11. How to edit and break apart type

  1. Use the Type Tool to type something.
  2. Select your text, then Type at the top of your screen, then Create Outlines.

The has been converted into shape. You can now use Direct Selection Tool to mess with the text.


10. How to make text follow a path

Start by opening a blank document.

  1. Draw a line using the Pencil Tool.
  2. Select the Type Tool. Click on the line you drew in step one. Wherever you click, your text will start and follow the line.
  3. You can shift the starting and end points of the text using the Selection Tool. Use the centre line to change the position of the text. Pull up and down to change what side of the line the text is on.
  4. For other shapes, you need to use the Type on a Path Tool. Try do this with a square.


9. Pairing type faces

  1. Serif vs San Serif: Serif fonts have the points that stick off the lines (Times New Roman, Georgia), Sans Serif fonts don’t have them (Arial, Helvetica).
  2. Use the Typekit tool to find new fonts.

3. Check out font combinations using these websites:

https://www.creativebloq.com/typography/20-perfect-type-pairings-3132120

https://inkbotdesign.com/font-combinations/


8. How to use the width tool

Start by opening a blank Illustrator file.

  1. Make a couple of random lines with the pencil tool.
  2. Select the Width Tool on the left toolbar. When using the width tool, make sure your original lines are very thing (.25 stroke or less).
  3. Click on point on one of the lines and pull out. The width will automatically be wider at the point you drag.
  4. You can adjust the width at multiple points on a line.
  5. You can click and slide the points to move them into a different position.


7. How to draw using the pencil tool

Start by downloading this image and placing it on your Artboard: https://vsbworld-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/rghill_vsb_bc_ca/ETGhq4-qp-VDm-MiSOwQMhQBjvgoz92vHoqr2ThNUJxMRw?e=alDrLm


  1. Create a new layer and select the pencil tool. Make the stroke white and have no fill.
  2. Double-click the pencil tool to see different options. Turn up the smoothness! Draw a few lines.
  3. Click Window > Stroke
  4. When you double-click the stroke button, different options will come up. Try the different cap and corner options.
  5. Try the different line profiles to see how they look.
  6. Try making a dashed line. Adjust the dash length and gap size. A dash size of zero with round caps creates a dot.
  7. Try the different arrow points.

Brush Options

1. Start by drawing lines on a photo. After, click Window > Brush Libraries > Vector Packs > Grunge Brushes.

2. Move the box to the left side of your screen.

3. Experiment with the brushes and stroke options. You might have to change your corners.



6. How to use the curvature and pen tools

Start by downloading this image to trace: https://vsbworld-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/rghill_vsb_bc_ca/EeVaGDV_3gNDnlU-sscBQgsBgSKjhCKreBiVaoHEA7flJg?e=6pZgns

Also, download the image of these two shoes: https://vsbworld-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/rghill_vsb_bc_ca/Ekbqy_WPdJdMjRxuvzBnz1IBC3NUAcc7akO6YIBtb31L4g?e=uD7lrw


1. Place the image as a template. We’ll start with the alien on the right.

2. Select the Curvature Tool. After, click four corners on the alien’s eye. For circles, you need to select at least four points.

3. For non-circles, click the apex of the curve.

4. Use the Direct Select Tool to select anchor points. When you click an anchor point, you will see they have a handle. Use the handle to adjust the curve of the line.

5. If you have too many anchor points, you can select and delete them.

6. Double click to make straight corners using the Curvature Tool.

7. Select the Pen Tool. Click to get straight corners. Click and drag to get round corners.

***Trace the bottom two images. Make one with the pen tool and the other with the curvature tool.***


5. How to make a Penrose Triangle

1. Open a new file. Click Advanced Options and make the colour mode CMYK.

2. Draw a horizontal line. Copy and paste it twice. Select all three lines. On the right panel of your screen click Horizontal Align Centre and Vertical Distribute Centre. You should now have three horizontal lines

3. Copy the three lines. Look at the top right panel and rotate the lines 120 degrees. Repeat the same step, but rotate 240 degrees. Make a triangle by lining up the left and right corners on the bottom.

4. Select the entire triangle. After, use the Shapebuilder Tool to trim the excess lines.

5. Use the Shapebuilder to connect the outside spaces with the inside spaces. Look at pictures of a Penrose Triangle for reference. Be patient.

6. After you finish, colour the three sections.


4. How to make a fox using the Shape Builder tool

Start by downloading this image to your computer: https://vsbworld-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/rghill_vsb_bc_ca/EdYiRQ3BL2BCgQoc738hofsBtYghOy4X_nTtcMTTBKGB9A?e=m53jq4


  1. Create a blank file. After, go to file > place to drop the image of the fox. Select Template when you place the image.
  2. Use the Polygon Tool to create a triangle. Place it on the point of the nose.
  3. After, create a circle to place over the right ear. Copy and paste the circle to put over the space to the right.
  4. Select all three shapes. Click the Shape Builder Tool. Hold Alt to remove the empty space. After, duplicate the head to add the other ear.

Use these tools to make the rest of the fox. After, sketch your own animal using the grid paper to make a flat design. YOU MUST USE SHAPES AND THE SHAPE BUILDER!!!


3. Shape Builder Tool

Start by opening a blank file.

  1. Start by creating some random shapes that overlap.
  2. Select all of the shapes then click the Shape Builder Tool on the left toolbar.
  3. Click and drag the tool across the shapes to combine them.
  4. Hold the Alt key to minus bits off.
  5. Select a colour and click on one are to fill it with a specific colour.

Use the shape builder tool in your tracing assignment!


2. Drawing Shapes and Lines

Before you get started on this section, make a simple drawing, take a picture and save it to your computer.

  1. Click file > place to put the image on your artboard. Click Layers on the right side of your screen. You now have something to draw over in your template.
  2. Try creating a box. You’ll notice that you can adjust the dimensions using the selection tool. Change the fill and stroke colour by pressing properties on the right side of your screen.
  3. Click the Direct Selection Tool. Select one of the corners. On the inside corners of your rectangle, you can round the edges.
  4. Use the Pen Tool to make custom shapes. The pen tool is your best friend.
  5. Select the Polygon Tool. Click once to decide how many sides your object will have. Use the Direction Selection Tool to grab and adjust anchor points.
  6. Click the Line Tool to draw straight lines. Press the Arc Tool to create curved lines.


1. Getting Started

Here are a few things you need to know before we begin.

  1. In the top right corner of your screen, hit Essentials then Reset Essentials to set up your workspace.
  2. There is a chevron icon on the left-hand toolbar. Click that to find what workspace you like best.
  3. The Selection Tool on the left sidebar lets you move items around your page. The Direction Selection Tool below allows you to pick a specific part of an item.
  4. On the left sidebar, click and drag the Airboard Tool to create or edit an artboard.
  5. Select multiple items on an artboard, then press object > group to group the items together.

If you double-click an item, you will enter isolation mode. Click Layer 1 on the top left to leave isolation mode.