Illustrator workshops (OUGD403)

ILLUSTRATOR WORKSHOPS.

SESSION 1.  

 11-10-2012

After completing the first beginner Pen tool task we got given this hand-drawn letterform to move to further improve our skills with the pen tool. I am quite familiar using the pen tool on Photoshop but on Illustrator the techniques are slightly different.

USING THE ANCHOR POINTS TO POSITION THE STROKE.

after I had drawn around the shape, i hid the hand-drawn layer to see the result. as i was  bit wonky, I adjusted some of the strokes slightly to neaten it up.

NEATENED UP

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Another technique we got shown was to use the ellipse tool to create the basic individual shapes that make up the letterform.

We the used a shape finder tool in the pathfinder window. This tool called 'unite' merges all the circular shapes by connecting the outside surface areas together and getting rid of the innards.

You can the manipulate this single path to created the desired shape. 

I had trouble getting the 'ear' feature of the letterform to the correct shape/angle at first but after a bit of trial and error i got there. I used the ellipse tool again to create an oval for the bottom ring an a circle for the top ring.

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After getting to grips with the creating and adjusting of the paths we then experimented with the width of each stroke.

ADJUSTING THE STOKES OF A SINGLE STRAIGHT LINE

ADJUSTING THE STOKES OF THE LETTERFORM

After completing the the 'G' letterform we then experimented with the 'width tool'. This allows you to adjust the width of each of the strokes we made with the pen tool. You simple click and drag the path you want to alter.

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ILLUSTRATOR WORKSHOPS.

SESSION 2.  

 18-10-2012

We started this session off by experimenting with manipulating existing typefaces. To do this you first have to high light the letterform, go to 'Type' on the tool bar and select 'create outline'. This lets you to see the paths and anchor points that make up the existing type therefore allowing you to adjust and manipulate them.

ADJUSTING PATHS AND ANCHOR POINTS

BEFORE&AFTER

(WRONG WAY ROUND)

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We then were introduced to the different ways in which you can stylise the strokes that you create with the pen tool. To do this you highlight the path you have created and use the drop down boxes on the top tool bar and click on the small icon of a pile of books. This allows you to select the style of stoke you want.

STROKE STYLE TOOL BOX

 

DIFFERENT BASIC STROK STYLES

As well as the style of the stroke you can also adjust the actual line shape on the 'variable width profile'.

TOOL BOXES TO ADJUST LINE PROFILE

THICKER TO THINNER

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We then looked into the 'blend tool' which allows you to transform one shape into another shape either through the outside stroke of the shapes of the inside fill. You can also use this tool with multiple shapes.

BLEND TOOL BUTTON ON SIDE TOOLBAR

SQUARE TO CIRCLE TO HEXAGON BACK TO SQUARE

(USING THE OUTSIDE STROKE OF THE SHAPES)

EXPERIMENTING WITH THE BLEND TOOL ON THE COLOURED FILL OF THE SHAPES

    I have found the Illustrator workshop very helpful in improving my skills on this design software. With tutor expertise and the chance to experiment i think that my knowledge has grown and I have become more confident on how to use illustrator. Even if I forget certain things that I have been taught in the future, the fact that I have blogged all the information will help to guide me.