An Introduction to Adobe Illustrator for Planners Presenter: Mike Foster Course Content: Stephen Kennedy and Mike Foster

1. Intro to the
Adobe Creative Suite
M.Foster - 2013

2. Illustrator
• Adobe Systems, Inc.
Photoshop
• Collection of Graphic Software
• Efficient and Robust Visualization
InDesign
Dreamweaver
Flash
Acrobat
M.Foster - 2013
• Publishing and Presentation
• Graphic Design
• Web Design
• Photo Editing
• Video Editing
• Animations
• Web Publishing
• Etc. Etc. Etc.

3. Fall 2013 - Introduction
Illustrator
Photoshop
 Vector-based Graphics
 Lines
 Points
 Polygons
 Point based
 Raster-based Images
 Grid
 Pixels
 Photos
 Pixel based
M.Foster - 2013
InDesign
 Production and Layout
 Text
 Images
 Layouts
 Viewshed/Layout based

4. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Points, polygons, and lines
• Discrete features
M.Foster - 2013

5. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Great for creating illustrations, diagrams, and charts
M.Foster - 2013

6. Introduction to Illustrator
• Primary purpose is to draw and manipulate vector-based shapes
• Easily enhance a drawing with different strokes and fills
M.Foster - 2013

7. Introduction to Illustrator
• Layer based
• Organize your graphic content by placing it on layers
M.Foster - 2013

8. Interface
• Massive Interface
• There are important, basic elements
that make it easy!
• Open it up!
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

9. Interface
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

10. Selection Tool
1.
Use the Selection Tool (V) to
select objects in the drawing
area
2.
In the Layers panel, find the
buildings layer and delete the
Clipping Mask
3.
Right click on the buildings in the
drawing area and Ungroup
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

11. Direct Selection Tool
1.
Use the Direct Selection Tool (A)
to select parts of object
(Anchors/Paths)
2.
Click on the corner or side of a
building to adjust the shape
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

12. Styling Objects
1.
Click on a building. Select >
Same > Fill & Stroke to select all
the same type of object.
2.
In the Stroke Menu, adjust the
line Weight to 1 pt.
3.
Align Stroke to Inside of the
objects.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

13. Drawing Objects
1.
Using the Rectangle Tool, draw a
few shapes on top of a building.
2.
Double-click on the object Fill to
bring up the Color Picker.
3.
Select Color in the gradient field
to change the object fill.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

14. Drawing Objects
1.
In the Layers Menu, Create New
Layer.
2.
Double-click on the layer to bring
up Layer Options. Rename the
layer to “trees”.
3.
Using the Ellipse Tool, draw
several circles by the park.
TIP – Hold Shift while drawing to
create objects with equal aspect
ratios.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

15. Using Transparency
1.
Select all your trees by clicking
on the radio button on that
layer.
2.
Using the Eyedropper Tool, click
on the green space to make your
trees the same color.
3.
In the Transparency Menu,
change the object transparency
to Multiply.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

16. Copying and Duplication
1.
Copy (CTRL+C) and Paste
(CTRL+V) to create more trees,
or by clicking and dragging while
holding Alt.
2.
Scale the new trees down by
holding shift and dragging in/out
the corners of the bounding box.
3.
Using the Rotate Tool (R), click
and drag around the axis point
to rotate the new trees.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

17. Drawing Lines
1.
Using the Pen Tool, create a line:
click once to create the first
Anchor Point. Click again to
create a second Anchor Point.
2.
Remove Fill by clicking None on
the Tool Panel. Change the
Stroke color to red.
3.
In the Stroke Menu, add
Arrowheads and click the
Dashed Line box.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

18. Drawing Lines
1.
Using the Pen Tool, create
another line. BUT, this time,
when you draw the second
Anchor point, click-hold-drag to
create a bezier curve.
2.
You can manipulate the curve by
playing with the Handles of the
Anchor point.
3.
Create more anchor points on an
existing line using Add Anchor
Point Tool.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

19. Using Guides
1.
CTRL+R (Command+R on Mac)
adds the Rulers to your window.
2.
Click and drag down from the
top Ruler to the new Anchor
point on the line to create a
horizontal Guide
3.
Using the Scissors Tool, cut the
first line where it intersects with
the Guide.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

20. Adding Text
1.
Lock all other layers by clickdragging down the Toggles Lock
boxes in the Layer Menu.
2.
Use the Line Tool to create a
short line pointing up. Add an
Arrowhead.
3.
Using the Text Tool, draw a
textbox. Inside, type “N” for
north.
4.
Using the options on the
Properties bar, change text Size
and Font.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012

21. Save Your File
1.
File > Save As… > Format
2.
Checking Preserve Illustrator
Capabilities will allow you to
reopen the files in Illustrator.
M.Foster, 2013, S.Kennedy, 2012