Vector Basic Training : A Systematic Creative Process for Building Precision Vector Artwork

Listen up, designers, and wipe those grins off your faces! It’s time to get serious about your design work. For too long you’ve allowed yourself to go soft, relying on your software to do all of your creative work for you. This book will NOT show you how to use every tool and feature in Adobe Illustrator. This book WILL, however, teach you the importance of drawing out your ideas, analyzing the shapes, and then methodically building them precisely in vector form using the techniques explained in this book. In Vector Basic Training , acclaimed illustrative designer Von Glitschka takes you through his systematic process for creating the kind of precise vector graphics that separate the pros from the mere toolers. Along the way, he’ll whip your drawing skills into shape and show you how to create elegant curves and precise anchor points for your designs. Between the book and the video tutorials on the included DVD, you’ll be ready for active creative duty in zero hundred hours or less. In Vector Basic Training , you’ll learn: The tools and shortcuts that make up a design pro’s creative armament How to use “The Clockwork Method” to create accurate curves every time When and where to set just the right number of anchor points for any design How to build shapes quickly using basic Illustrator tools and plug-ins Techniques for art directing yourself so that your work gets the response you desire Why symmetry is your friend and how to use it effectively in your designs To get the most out of this book it is recommended that you have Adobe Illustrator CS4 or higher . On the DVD-ROM : Von Glitschka reports for duty in over four hours’ worth of video tutorials that walk you through all of the techniques explained in the book. Also included: downloadable art files you can use to follow along on your own and deconstruct samples shown in the book. Listen up, designers, and wipe those grins off your faces! It's time to get serious about your design work. For too long you've allowed yourself to go soft, relying on your software to do all of your creative work for you. This book will NOT show you how to use every tool and feature in Adobe Illustrator. This book WILL, however, teach you the importance of drawing out your ideas, analyzing the shapes, and then methodically building them precisely in vector form using the methods covered in this book. ¿ In Vector Basic Training, acclaimed iillustrative designer Von Glitschka takes you through his systematic process for creating the kind of precise vector graphics that separate the pros from the toolers and hacks. Along the way, he'll whip your drawing skills into shape and show you how to create elegant curves and precise anchor points for your designs. Between the book and the video tutorials on the included DVD, you'll be ready for active creative duty in zero hundred hours or less.¿ ¿ In Vector Basic Training, you'll learn: ¿The tools, plugins, and shortcuts that make up a design pro's creative armament How to use “The Clockwork Method” to create accurate curves every time When and where to set just the right number of anchor points for any design How to build shapes quickly using familiar Illustrator tools Techniques for art directing yourself so that your work gets the response you desire Why symmetry is your friend and how to use it effectively in your designs Available by download: Von Glitschka reports for duty in over an hour's worth of video tutorials that walk you through all of the techniques explained in the book. Also included: downloadable art files you can use to follow along on your own. See the instructions for download at the end of your ebook. Praise for Vector Basic Training 2 Acknowledgements 7 About the Author 8 Introduction 12 Vector Basic Training 12 Chapter 1 Bézier Curves: A Brief History 18 Fear of Math 19 Who Created Bézier Curves? 20 What Is a Bézier Curve? 23 Behind the Vector Curtain 28 Chapter 2 Your Creative Armament 32 A Love-Hate Relationship 33 Core Tools for Vector Building 34 Customize Your Environment 43 Stop Re-creating the Wheel 46 Deconstructing Design 52 Chapter 3 Analog Methods in a Digital Age 58 Don’t Be a Tooler 59 I Get Paid to Draw 60 Concepts and Ideas 61 Analog Tools 62 The Lost Art of Thumbnailing 62 Refine Your Drawing 66 Systematic and Creative 74 Essential Nonsense 80 Chapter 4 Getting to the Points 88 On Prime Point Placement 89 The Good Anchor Point and Path 89 The Bad Anchor Point and Path 91 The Ugly Anchor Point and Path 92 A Scrutinizing Eye 93 A Good Example 97 Vector Skeletons 100 Chapter 5 Shape Surveillance 104 The Clockwork Method 105 Prime Point Placement 117 Deconstructing the Vector Monster 125 Progressive Improvements 129 Spotting Clocks 130 Chapter 6 Vector Build Methods 134 Point-by-Point Method 137 Shape-Building Method 143 BetterHandles Plug-in 151 E Pluribus Buildum 153 Symmetry Is Your Friend 156 A Healthy Creative Process 162 Fast and Easy 164 Chapter 7 Style Appropriate 168 Design Chameleons 169 Use It or Lose It 192 Chapter 8 Art Directing Yourself 198 Fresh Eyes Effect 199 Your Inner Art Director 202 Avoid Visual Tension 206 Full-Tilt Creative Boogie 211 Hop to It 212 Chapter 9 Good Creative Habits 218 Doodle Binders 220 Layers Are Your Friend 222 Colors and File Naming 236 Last, But Not Least 238 Top-Eight List 240 Index 248 This work teaches a creative process that will enable designers to improve their skills and expand their creativity. An accompanying DVD offers video tutorials for each chapter, worksheets, and source files - a great resource for both students and teachers