Adobe ILLUSTRATOR 6.0 User Manual
List of topics
Menu commands
Toolbar
Index
How to use this guide
List of topics
Basic concepts
Viewing and setting up documents
Drawing
Moving and aligning objects
Modifying shapes and applying
special effects
Painting
Creating custom colors, gradients,
and patterns
Using layers
Using type
Using graphs
Importing and exporting artwork
Printing documents
Producing color separations
Error messages and troubleshooting
What’s new in 6.0
Basic Concepts
Bitmap images and vector graphics
Opening documents
Saving documents
Setting preferences
Using the toolbox and the plug-ins
toolbox
Using the status bar
Using the Shortcuts palette
Correcting mistakes
Reverting to an earlier version of
your document
Using plug-in modules
Bitmap images and vector graphics
Computer graphics fall into two main
categories—
graphics
between these two types of graphics is
useful when you’re creating and editing
digital illustrations. (For more information on using these formats with Illustrator, see About graphic file formats.)
bitmap images
. Understanding the difference
and
vector
See also
Bitmap vs. Vector graphics
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Bitmap images
Bitmap images, such as those created
in Adobe Photoshop, consist of a grid,
bitmap
or
pixels
bitmap image is made up of a collection
of pixels in that location, with each pixel
part of a mosaic that together gives the
appearance of a tire. When working with
bitmap images, you edit pixels rather
than objects or shapes.
Bitmap images are best used for working with continuous-tone graphics, such
as photographs or images created in
painting programs. Bitmap images
are set at a fixed resolution—they are
resolution dependent. This means that
objects can appear jagged and lose
detail if they are scanned or created at a
low resolution (for example, at 72 pixels
per inch) and then enlarged or printed at
a higher resolution.
, of small squares, known as
. For example, a bicycle tire in a
jump to art
Vector graphics
Vector graphics, such as those created
in Adobe Illustrator, are made up of lines
and curves defined by mathematical
objects called
bicycle tire in a vector graphic is made
up of a mathematical definition of a circle filled with a specific color and set at
a specific location. When you move,
resize, or change the color of the tire,
the program changes the mathematical
definition of the shape or location of the
tire, or the tire’s color.
Vector-based programs are best for type
(especially small type) and drawings
that require crisp, clear lines regardless
of the size to which they are scaled.
Graphics created in vector-based programs such as Illustrator always appear
at the maximum resolution of the monitor or printer on which they are output—
they are resolution independent.
vectors
. For example, a
jump to art
Bitmap vs. Vector graphics
Click on artwork to jump to information on that format.
Bitmap
4:1 zoom
16:1 zoom
4:1 zoom
Vector
16:1 zoom
Opening documents
When you start Adobe Illustrator, the
program automatically opens a new
document. You can also create a new
document at any time, once Illustrator is
running. In either case, a new document
appears with the name
Untitled art
title bar.
You can open existing documents as
well as create new ones. An existing
document appears with its name displayed in the title bar.
in its
See also
To open a new document:
Opening and placing artwork.
Choose File > New from the Illustrator
menu bar.
To open an existing document:
Choose File > Open.
1
2
Select the name of the document you
want to open, and click Open.
Saving documents
You can save a document under its
current name, location, and file format
by using the Save command. If you are
saving the document for the first time,
the Save dialog box appears, enabling
you to specify how and where you want
to save the document.
By using the Save As command, you can
save a copy of a document under a different name, location, or file format. For
information on saving a document in a
different file format or with a special
preview option, see Exporting artwork.
To save a file:
Choose File > Save or File > Save As.
1
If you choose the Save As command, or
if the document has not been saved
before, choose any of the following
options:
•
Select the folder in which you want to
save the document.
•
Create a new folder by clicking New.
•
Enter the name of the document in the
Save This Document As text box.
•
From the Format pop-up menu,
choose the file format in which you
want to save the document.
2
If you save the document in EPS format, you can add Fetch® information.
Fetch
is a program that searches for and
retrieves files based on information
about the file. Choose any of the following options:
•
Select the Include Document Thumbnail option to create a thumbnail preview for the file when viewed by Fetch.
•
Enter the author’s name in the Author
text box.
•
Enter any search keywords, separated
by commas, in the Keywords text box.
•
Enter any identifying information
about the document in the Description
text box.
3
Click Save.
Setting preferences
After you have used Illustrator for a
while, you may develop preferences for
the way in which various commands
and tools work in the program. To
accommodate different styles of working, Illustrator lets you set and save a
wide variety of preferences. Any time
you work in Illustrator, your saved preferences take effect, and tools and commands work the way you have specified.
To set preferences:
Choose File > Preferences and then
1
choose the type of preference you want
to change:
•
The General Preferences dialog box
contains preferences for how various
commands and tools work.
•
The Color Matching dialog box lets
you coordinate the colors displayed
by your monitor with the color system
you choose.
•
The Hyphenation Options dialog box
defines which language dictionary is
used and lets you specify any words you
don’t want Illustrator to hyphenate.
•
The Plug-ins dialog box lets you
indicate where the plug-in modules
are located.
General Preferences dialog box
Click on any option for information on that option.
return to text
Using the toolbox and the plug-ins
toolbox
The first time you open a document, the
toolbox appears on the left side of the
screen. The toolbox contains the set
of working tools with which you can
create, select, and manipulate objects
in Illustrator.
A further set of tools is available on the
plug-ins toolbox. This second toolbox
contains tools that can be provided by
third-party developers. For more information about plug-ins, see Using plug-in
modules.
To show or hide either toolbox:
Choose any of the following options:
•
Choose Windows > Show Toolbox to
display the standard tools.
•
Choose Windows > Show Plug-in Tools
to display the plug-in tools.
•
Choose Windows > Hide Toolbox to
hide the standard tools.
•
Choose Windows > Hide Plug-in Tools
to hide the plug-in tools.
To move either toolbox:
Drag it by the title bar.
See also
•
Selecting tools
•
Using the tool pointers
•
Toolbox overview
Using the tool pointers
Many of the tools change the mouse
pointer to an icon that indicates the
function of the selected tool. For example, choosing the brush tool changes
the pointer to a brush. You can also
change any painting or editing tool
pointer to a cross hair.
To change the pointer to a cross hair:
Choose one of the following options:
•
While the tool is selected, press the
Caps Lock key on the keyboard.
•
Choose File > Preferences > General,
select the Use Precise Cursors option,
and click OK.
jump to art
Selecting tools
Select a tool from the default toolbox by clicking the tool. Select
a hidden tool by positioning the pointer on the current tool in the
toolbox and dragging to highlight the tool.
Click on any tool to jump to information on that tool.
Selection
Hand
Pen
Brush
Oval
Measure
Rotate
Reflect
Paint Bucket
Gradient
Graph
Directselection
Zoom
Scissors
Freehand
Rectangle
Type
Scale
Shear
Eyedropper
Blend
Page
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Group-selection
Add-anchor point
Delete-anchor point
Convert-direction
point
Autotrace
Rounded-rectangle
Path-type
Area-type
Twirl
Star
Knife None
Spiral
Polygon
Toolbox overview
Click on any artwork to jump to information on that tool.
The selection tool
selects entire objects.
The hand tool moves the
Illustrator artboard within
the document window.
The direct-selection tool
selects points or segments
within objects.
The zoom tool increases
and decreases the view in
the document window.
The group-selection tool
selects objects and groups
within groups.
The pen tool draws
straight and curved
lines to create objects.
Toolbox overview, continued
Click on any artwork to jump to information on that tool.
The scissors tool splits
paths.
The convert-anchor-point
tool changes smooth
points to corner points
and vice versa
The add-anchor-point
tool adds anchor points
to paths.
The brush tool draws
freehand lines of
varying thickness.
The delete-anchor-point
tool deletes anchor points
from paths.
The freehand tool
draws freehand lines.
Toolbox overview, continued
Click on any artwork to jump to information on that tool.
The autotrace tool
traces the outline of
objects in a template.
The rounded rectangle
tool draws squares and
rectangles with rounded
corners.
The oval tool draws
circles and ovals.
The measure tool
measures the distance
between two points.
The rectangle tool
draws squares and
rectangles.
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the baritone
bassoon,
and bass
The type tool creates
individual type and type
containers and lets you
enter and edit type.
Toolbox overview, continued
Click on any artwork to jump to information on that tool.
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The area-type tool creates
individual type and type
containers and lets you
enter and edit type.
The scale tool resizes
objects around a fixed
point.
The path-type tool changes
paths to type paths, and
lets you enter and edit type
on a type path.
The reflect tool flips
objects over a fixed axis.
The rotate tool rotates
objects around a fixed
point.
The shear tool skews
objects around a fixed
point.
Toolbox overview, continued
Click on any artwork to jump to information on that tool.
The eyedropper tool
samples paint attributes
from objects.
nstrument
The blend tool creates a
blend between the color
and shape of two objects.
The paint-bucket tool fills
objects with the current
paint attributes.
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The graph tool creates
graphs.
The gradient tool adjusts
the beginning and ending
points of gradients within
ojbects
The page tool adjusts
the page grid to control
where artwork appears
on the printed page.
Using the status bar
A status line is displayed at the bottom
left edge of the Illustrator document
window. The status line can display
information about any of four different
topics:
• The current tool in use
• The time and date
• The amount of free memory (RAM)
available for your open document
• The number of undos and redos
available
To specify the type of information you
want to display in the status line:
Position the cursor over the status
1
line bar and hold down the mouse
button.
2 Drag to choose the type of informa-
tion you want from the pop-up menu.
Using the Shortcuts palette
The Shortcuts palette displays a brief
description of the function of all tools
and keyboard shortcuts available in
Illustrator.
To use the Shortcuts palette:
Choose Show Shortcuts from the Help
1
menu, located at the top right of the
menu bar.
2 Click Forward or Back to go forward
or backward one topic at a time.
Correcting mistakes
You can use the Undo command to
correct mistakes you make while using
the Adobe Illustrator program. You can
even undo an operation after you have
chosen the Save command (but not if
you have closed and then reopened the
file). If an operation cannot be undone,
the Undo command is dimmed.
Depending on how much memory is
available, you can undo up to 200 of
the last operations you performed, in
reverse order, by repeatedly choosing
the Undo command. Illustrator’s performance is usually not affected by the
number of undo levels you choose;
however, if you are trying to display
complex artwork, you may receive a
message asking you to reduce the
number of undo levels because of
insufficient memory.
The default undo level is set at 10.
You can set the number of undo levels,
between 0 and 200, in the General
Preferences dialog box.
To undo or redo an operation:
Choose Edit > Undo or Edit > Redo.
To change the maximum number of
undo levels:
Choose File > Preferences > General,
enter a value in the Undo Levels text
box, and click OK.
Reverting to an earlier version of your
document
The Revert to Saved command restores
your document to the version that was
last saved. You cannot undo this action.
To revert your document to the saved
version:
Choose File > Revert to Saved.
Using plug-in modules
A plug-in is a software module that adds
functions to the main program. A collection of plug-ins is installed in the Plugins folder within the Adobe Illustrator
6.0 folder. Third-party developers
also can create plug-in modules; see
Creating plug-in modules for Adobe
Illustrator for more information.
Plug-ins work the same way that other
functions in Illustrator work. In fact, in
most cases, you cannot even tell which
functions are part of the main Illustrator
program and which are plug-ins.
When you install Adobe Illustrator and
include plug-ins as part of the installation, these files are placed in the Plugins folder in the Adobe Illustrator folder.
If you change the location of these files
or of the Plug-ins folder, you must use
the Plug-ins preferences command to
tell Illustrator about the new location of
the plug-ins.
You can also use plug-ins from version
3.0.4 or later of Adobe Photoshop, and
from Adobe Gallery Effects (included in
the Adobe Illustrator Deluxe CD-ROM
disc). In addition, you can use thirdparty plug-ins designed for Photoshop
or Illustrator. (Plug-ins designed for
Photoshop display a Photoshop icon
in the Illustrator menu.)
To install a plug-in module:
Drag the plug-in into the Adobe
Illustrator Plug-ins folder.
To specify the location of plug-in
modules:
Choose File > Preferences > Plug-ins.
1
2 Select the folder containing the plug-
in modules and click the Select button at
the bottom of the dialog box.
3 Quit Illustrator, and then start it again
for the plug-in modules to take effect.
Tip: Make an alias to your Photoshop
plug-in filters in your Illustrator Plug-ins
folder, so you don’t have to duplicate
your filters between the two programs.
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