Adobe Illustrator CS6 classroom in a book (August 2012 update)

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS6 choose Adobe Illustrator CS6 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS6 and how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, this completely revised CS6 edition covers the new tracing engine with improved shape and color recognition, a new pattern toolset with on-artboard controls and one-click tiling, a completely overhauled performance engine and modernized user interface for working more efficiently and intuitively, and more. \*\*Breaking News! In August 2012 Adobe released an update to Illustrator offering new features for Creative Cloud customers: Package files, Unembed images and Links panel enhancements. Register your book at peachpit.com/register to receive a free update that covers these features. “The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” –Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does–an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts. CONTENTS 5 GETTING STARTED 16 About Classroom in a Book 16 Prerequisites 16 Installing the program 17 Fonts used in this book 17 Copying the Classroom in a Book files 17 To install the Classroom in a Book files 17 Restoring default preferences 18 To save current Illustrator p references 18 To delete current Illustrator preferences 19 To restore saved preferences after completing the lessons 19 Additional resources 19 Adobe certification 21 Checking for updates 22 WHAT’S NEW IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS6 23 Efficient, flexible interface 23 Adjustable user interface brightness 24 Image Trace 24 Pattern creation 25 Mercury Performance System 25 Gradients on strokes 26 Other enhancements 26 A QUICK TOUR OF ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS6 27 Lesson overview 27 Getting started 29 Working with artboards 29 Drawing shapes and lines 30 Applying color 31 Working with the Shape Builder tool 32 Working with the Width tool 33 Creating and editing gradients 34 Placing Adobe Photoshop images in Illustrator 35 Using Image Trace 36 Working with the Color Guide panel 37 Creating and applying a pattern 37 Working with type 39 Working with drawing modes 39 Working with brushes 40 Using the Appearance panel and effects 41 Working with strokes 43 Aligning content 44 Working with perspective 45 Working with symbols 46 1 GETTING TO KNOW THE WORK AREA 47 Lesson overview 47 Getting started 49 Understanding the workspace 51 Adjusting the user interface brightness 52 Working with the Tools panel 53 Exploring the Control panel 56 Working with panels 57 Resetting and saving your workspace 61 Using panel menus 62 Changing the view of artwork 63 Using the view commands 63 Using the Zoom tool 64 Scrolling through a document 65 Viewing artwork 66 Navigating multiple artboards 67 Using the Navigator panel 70 Understanding rulers 71 Arranging multiple documents 72 Exploring document groups 75 Finding resources for using Illustrator 77 2 SELECTING AND ALIGNING 79 Lesson overview 79 Getting started 81 Selecting objects 81 Using the Selection tool 81 Using the Direct Selection tool 83 Creating selections with a marquee 84 Creating selections with the Magic Wand tool 85 Selecting similar objects 86 Aligning objects 87 Aligning objects to each other 87 Aligning to a key object 87 Aligning points 88 Distributing objects 89 Aligning to the artboard 89 Working with groups 90 Grouping items 90 Working in Isolation mode 91 Adding to a group 91 Exploring object arrangement 93 Arranging objects 93 Selecting objects behind 94 Hiding objects 94 Applying selection techniques 95 3 CREATING AND EDITING SHAPES 99 Lesson overview 99 Getting started 101 Creating a new document 101 Working with basic shapes 103 Understanding drawing modes 104 Creating rectangles 104 Creating rounded rectangles 108 Creating ellipses 109 Creating polygons 110 Working with Draw Behind mode 111 Creating stars 112 Changing stroke width and alignment 113 Working with line segments 114 Joining paths 116 Using the Width tool 117 Outlining strokes 120 Combining and editing shapes 122 Working with the Shape Builder tool 122 Working with Pathfinder effects 124 Working with shape modes 125 Using Draw Inside mode 127 Editing content drawn inside 128 Using the Eraser tool 130 Using Image Trace to create shapes 131 Cleaning up traced artwork 133 4 TRANSFORMING OBJECTS 135 Lesson overview 135 Getting started 137 Working with artboards 138 Adding artboards to the document 138 Editing artboards 139 Renaming artboards 142 Reordering artboards 143 Transforming content 144 Working with rulers and guides 144 Scaling objects 145 Reflecting objects 147 Rotating objects 149 Distorting objects 150 Shearing objects 151 Positioning objects precisely 152 Changing perspective 155 Applying multiple transformations 156 Using the Free Distort effect 157 5 DRAWING WITH THE PEN AND PENCIL TOOLS 159 Lesson overview 159 Getting started 161 Starting with the Pen tool 161 Creating straight lines 163 Creating curved paths 165 Building a curve 166 Converting smooth points to corner points 168 Creating the violin illustration 171 Drawing curves 171 Selecting a curved path 171 Drawing a curved path 172 Drawing a closed path with curves 173 Drawing the violin shape 174 Creating the strings 176 Splitting a path 177 Adding arrowheads 177 Creating a dashed line 179 Editing curves 180 Deleting and adding anchor points 181 Converting between smooth points and corner points 183 Drawing with the Pencil tool 185 Editing with the Pencil tool 186 Finishing the violin illustration 187 Assembling the parts 187 Painting the artwork 189 6 COLOR AND PAINTING 191 Lesson overview 191 Getting started 193 Understanding color 193 Color modes 194 Understanding the color controls 194 Creating color 197 Building and saving a custom color 197 Editing a swatch 198 Using Illustrator swatch libraries 199 Creating a spot color 200 Using the Color Picker 201 Creating and saving a tint of a color 203 Copying appearance attributes 203 Creating color groups 204 Working with the Color Guide panel 205 Editing a color group 206 Editing colors in artwork 209 Working with the Kuler panel 211 Assigning colors to your artwork 212 Adjusting colors 214 Painting with patterns 215 Applying existing patterns 215 Creating your own pattern 216 Applying a pattern 218 Editing a pattern 219 Working with Live Paint 220 Creating a Live Paint group 220 Editing Live Paint regions 222 Working with gap options 224 7 WORKING WITH TYPE 227 Lesson overview 227 Getting started 229 Working with type 230 Creating point type 230 Creating area type 231 Importing a plain text file 232 Working with overflow text and text reflow 233 Threading text 234 Creating columns of text 235 Formatting type 236 Changing the font size 238 Changing the font color 239 Changing additional text attributes 240 Working with glyphs 241 Resizing type objects 243 Changing paragraph attributes 244 Creating and applying text styles 246 Creating and applying a paragraph style 246 Editing a paragraph style 247 Sampling text formatting 248 Creating and applying a character style 248 Editing a character style 249 Reshaping text with a preset envelope warp 250 Reshaping text with an object warp 252 Wrapping text around an object 253 Creating text on an open path 254 Creating text on closed paths 255 Creating text outlines 257 8 WORKING WITH LAYERS 259 Lesson overview 259 Getting started 261 Creating layers 263 Selecting and moving objects and layers 264 Duplicating layer content 266 Moving layers 266 Locking layers 268 Viewing layers 269 Pasting layers 272 Creating a clipping mask 273 Merging layers 274 Locating layers 276 Applying appearance attributes to layers 276 Isolating layers 279 9 WORKING WITH PERSPECTIVE DRAWING 281 Lesson overview 281 Getting started 283 Understanding perspective 283 Understanding the Perspective Grid 284 Working with the Perspective Grid 285 Using a preset grid 285 Editing the Perspective Grid 285 Drawing objects in perspective 288 Selecting and transforming objects in perspective 290 Attaching content to perspective 295 Editing planes and objects together 296 Adding and editing text in perspective 301 Working with symbols in perspective 303 Adding symbols to the Perspective Grid 303 Transforming symbols in perspective 303 Releasing content from perspective 306 Working with the horizontal plane 307 10 BLENDING COLORS AND SHAPES 309 Lesson overview 309 Getting started 311 Working with gradients 312 Creating and applying a linear gradient to a fill 312 Adjusting the direction and angle of a gradient fill 315 Applying a gradient to a stroke 316 Editing a gradient on a stroke 317 Creating and applying a radial gradient 319 Editing the radial gradient colors 319 Adjusting the radial gradient 322 Applying gradients to multiple objects 323 Exploring other methods for editing gradient colors 324 Adding transparency to gradients 326 Working with blended objects 328 Creating a blend with specified steps 328 Modifying a blend 329 Creating and editing smooth color blends 331 11 WORKING WITH BRUSHES 335 Lesson overview 335 Getting started 337 Working with brushes 338 Using Calligraphic brushes 338 Editing a brush 339 Using a fill color with brushes 340 Removing a brush stroke 340 Using Art brushes 341 Drawing with the Paintbrush tool 341 Editing paths with the Paintbrush tool 342 Creating an Art brush 344 Editing an Art brush 345 Using Bristle brushes 346 Changing Bristle brush options 346 Painting with a Bristle brush 347 Using Pattern brushes 349 Creating a Pattern brush 351 Applying a Pattern brush 354 Changing the color attributes of brushes 355 Changing a brush color using Tints colorization 356 Changing the brush color using Hue Shift colorization 357 Working with the Blob Brush tool 359 Drawing with the Blob Brush tool 359 Merging paths with the Blob Brush tool 360 Editing with the Eraser tool 361 12 APPLYING EFFECTS 365 Lesson overview 365 Getting started 367 Using live effects 368 Applying an effect 368 Editing an effect 370 Styling text with effects 371 Editing shapes with a Pathfinder effect 374 Applying the Offset Path effect 375 Working with a 3D effect 380 Creating a revolved object 380 Changing the lighting of a 3D object 382 Mapping a symbol to the 3D artwork 383 13 APPLYING APPEARANCE ATTRIBUTES AND GRAPHIC STYLES 389 Lesson overview 389 Getting started 391 Using appearance attributes 392 Editing and adding appearance attributes 392 Adding another stroke 394 Adding another fill 395 Reordering appearance attributes 396 Applying an appearance to a layer 397 Using graphic styles 398 Creating and saving a graphic style 398 Applying a graphic style to an object 399 Replacing graphic style attributes 400 Applying a graphic style to a layer 400 Editing a graphic style applied to a layer 402 Applying an existing graphic style 403 Applying multiple graphic styles 404 Applying a graphic style to text 405 Copying and removing graphic styles 406 Creating web graphics 407 Aligning content to the pixel grid 407 Slicing content 409 Selecting and editing slices 411 Using the Save For Web command 411 14 WORKING WITH SYMBOLS 415 Lesson overview 415 Getting started 417 Working with symbols 418 Using existing Illustrator symbol libraries 418 Creating symbols 421 Editing a symbol 422 Replacing symbols 424 Breaking a link to a symbol 426 Editing symbol options 427 Working with the Symbolism tools 427 Spraying symbol instances 427 Editing symbols with the Symbolism tools 429 Copying and editing symbol sets 431 Storing and retrieving artwork in the Symbols panel 433 Mapping a symbol to 3D artwork 434 Working with symbols and Flash integration 434 15 COMBINING ILLUSTRATOR CS6 GRAPHICS WITH OTHER ADOBE APPLICATIONS 439 Lesson overview 439 Getting started 441 Working with Adobe Bridge 441 Combining artwork 443 Vector versus bitmap graphics 443 Placing Photoshop files 445 Placing a Photoshop file 445 Transforming a placed image 446 Embedding a Photoshop image with layer comps 447 Applying color edits to a placed image 449 Masking an image 451 Applying a simple clipping mask to an image 451 Editing a mask 451 Masking an object with a shape 453 Masking an object with multiple shapes 453 Creating an opacity mask 455 Editing an opacity mask 456 Sampling colors in placed images 458 Working with image links 458 Finding link information 459 Replacing a linked image 460 Exporting a layered file to Photoshop 461 Illustrator and Adobe InDesign, Adobe Muse, Adobe Fireworks, and Adobe Flash 461 INDEX 463 A 463 B 464 C 465 D 466 E 467 F 467 G 467 H 468 I 468 K 469 L 469 M 470 N 470 O 470 P 471 Q 472 R 472 S 473 T 475 U 476 V 476 W 476 X 476 Y 476 Z 476 WHERE ARE THE LESSON FILES? 482 V413HAV Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS6 choose Adobe Illustrator CS6 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS6 and how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video.

In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, this completely revised CS6 edition covers the new tracing engine with improved shape and color recognition, a new pattern toolset with on-artboard controls and one-click tiling, a completely overhauled performance engine and modernized user interface for working more efficiently and intuitively, and more.

**Breaking News! In August 2012 Adobe released an update to Illustrator offering new features for Creative Cloud customers: Package files, Unembed images and Links panel enhancements. Register your book at peachpit.com/register to receive a free update that covers these features.

'The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.' –Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training

Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does–an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS6 choose Adobe Illustrator CS6 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS6 and how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, this completely revised CS6 edition covers the new tracing engine with improved shape and color recognition, a new pattern toolset with on-artboard controls and one-click tiling, a completely overhauled performance engine and modernized user interface for working more efficiently and intuitively, and more. **Breaking News! In August 2012 Adobe released an update to Illustrator offering new features for Creative Cloud Package files, Unembed images and Links panel enhancements. Register your book at (http://peachpit.com/register) peachpit.com/register to receive a free update that covers these features. The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students. Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training Classroom in a Book, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program doesan official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.