Illustrator

Illustrator Tools



Tools reference:
http://www.coe.fau.edu/abinder/handouts/Itools.htm

Illustrator Tutorials

Tutorial:

Pumpkin Tutorial
Pen Tool, Gradient Tool, Pathfinder
http://www.ndesign-studio.com/resources/tutorials/halloween-pumpkin/

Assignment: Illustrator Digital Woodcut
Due:
BA113/02 Tuesday 11/11/08
BA113/03 Friday 11/14/08



You will make a digital woodcut in Illustrator using an original design or image created by you.
You may choose to follow one of your digital photos for this project if you wish. Your woodcut will be generated through an additive process of layering shapes. You will use the pen tool to complete shapes, as well as the shape tool for prefabricated shapes (circles, squares…). Remember to keep shapes hard-edged and sharp. See links for original and digital woodcuts below.

Purpose & Goals:
• To create a digital woodcut in Illustrator that gives the appearance of an original woodcut by layering shapes, some of which are sharp and hard-edged.
• To use the pen tool in a planned out and controlled manner. You will learn to control lines
• To use the shape tool for simple circles, ovals, squares, rectangles… when appropriate.
• To create a strong composition keeping in mind design principles such as:
Emphasis, Balance, Rhythm, Contrast, Movement and Harmony.

• To begin to understand the difference between vector and raster images and in some cases transfer raster images into Illustrator.

Guidelines:
• You may do a black and white image or use color.
• Complete the digital woodcut. Print two images (Letter Size) on the school’s laser printer- one for you, one for me. If your image has color be sure to print it out in color.
• Post to your blog.
• Save all work! A CD of all work done this semester will be handed in for final review.

Examples of original woodcuts/ linocuts:

http://www.oakton.edu/news/events/gallery/birowood.html

No Business, Louis Weiner (1892-1967)

http://www.cannonballpress.com/

Deja Vu, Martin Mazorra

http://www.howlingprint.com/


Wolf Carcus, Dennis McNett

Examples of digital woodcuts:

http://www.filmnoirwoodcuts.com/

Phantom Lady, Guy Budziak

http://www.bruteprop.com/

Panic Attack, Aiden Hughes

Live Trace Option

Google Image of Cat BEFORE AFTER

http://video.about.com/graphicssoft/Live-Trace-in-Illustrator.htm

Illustrator Logo

Logo Design

You will create a logo in Adobe Illustrator that will identify you as an artist. If this were on a business card or brochure how would your logo capture the attention of a client or prospective buyer. You will redesign a preexisting type style and add graphics to your logo. Keep your logo as simple and clear as possible.

Due Date:
BA113/02 Tuesday 11/18/08

BA113/03 Friday 11/21/08

Goals:
• To create a logo in Illustrator that is clear and simple and that effectively communicates what you are trying to express about yourself or your business.
• To choose an appropriate font for your personal logo.
• To alter text by layering shapes and objects.
• To use the pen tool in a planned out and controlled manner when appropriate.
• To use the shape tool when appropriate.
• To begin to incorporate text with image.
• To understand the Mac's Font Book and how to download free fonts online.

Guidelines:
• Choose the words you will focus on. Decide what i tis you are trying to express about yourself or business.
• Gather information and images that may help you.
• Sketch your ideas in your notebook if needed.
• Consider and experiment with various fonts to find the most appropriate text style to build on, transform or carve away from. There are plenty of free fonts to download from the Internet (Search Engine- Free Fonts). Alter you text to accommodate your graphic concept using the Illustrator knowledge you gained previously such as: layering shapes, adding drawings, or playing with effects. This will be the base of your logo design.
• Complete the logo. Print two (letter size) color copies on the school's laser printer- one for you, one for me.
• Post to your blog.
• Save all work! A CD of all work done this semester will be handed in for final review.

Tips:
Use images if your logo calls for them.

One option is to place the image within the text:
1. You may "place" or insert your images into your document and the "send to back" in the object menu. The logo will appear on top.

2. Select "all" then go to the Object menu and choose "Clipping Mask," then choose "Make."

Bleeding Cowboy Font

Web sources for logo work:
http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/
http://cooltext.com/

Logo designs turned into art:
Corporate Signs

By David Byrne and Danielle Spencer

A series of lenticular images based on corporate signs photographed at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Multinational tombstones nestled in the (landscaped) pastoral glade. When viewed from different angles the original corporate name transforms and flickers into a virtuous attribute. A utopian vision in the American countryside.
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/corp_signs/index.php

Logo Tutorials:

Use the pen tool to create a curved path and the type your phrase.

http://www.ndesign-studio.com/resources/tutorials/3d-logo/

Information on various computer tutorials:
This is the page for Logos:
http://vector-art.blogspot.com/search/label/Logo%20Design


Figure-ground tutorial from Vector-art blog
Cracked Font

Logo Competitions Ardentees Logo
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5516321/DESIGN-BRIEF-FOR-ARDENTEES-LOGO
Deadline: October 31, 2008
MTV Asia
http://www.eyeka.com/groups/756

Posting Illustrator files to your blog;

Save your image. Go to file, export, 72 resolution, OS/2, 24 bit then export it as a BMP file to either the desktop or your thumbdrive.

Raster (Bitmap/Photoshop) Graphics vs. Vector (Illustrator) Graphics

Raster graphics are composed of pixels often called bitmap images Vector graphics are composed of paths. Read the following article: http://www.sketchpad.net/basics1.htm
Why use Illustrator for Logo and type design? Read the following text:
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41

Put Photoshop Work into Illustrator:

•To open the file directly in Illustrator choose File>Open. Locate/ select the image and click OK.
•To place the image into an existing Illustrator file, choose File> Place. Locate the image, do not select the Link option and click OK.

Placing/Opening an Image without a link to the Original File:
When the Photoshop Dialog box appears-
Convert Photoshop Layers to Objects (This option preserves masks, blending modes,
transparency, and slices and image maps. Does not support adjustment layers and layer
effects.)
Flatten Photoshop Layers to merge all layers into a single layer. (This option preserves the
look of the image. but you can no longer edit individual layers.)

Linking to the Original File: •To place the image into an existing Illustrator file and keep it linked to the original, choose File> Place. Locate the image, select the Link option and click OK. The image will appear centered in your Illustrator document and a red X through your link will indicate it is linked and not editable. •Another option is to simply drag a file directly from Photoshop or the desktop in to your working file in Illustrator.