CATalyst Laser Certification Creating Graphics in Adobe Illustrator

CONTENTS

Document Setup

Workspace Overview & Setup

Main Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Rectangle Tool
  2. Direct Selection Tool
  3. Copy and Reflect
  4. Rounding Edges and Stretching
  5. Offset Path
  6. Ellipse Tool
  7. Pen Tool
  8. Expanding Objects
  9. Placing and Image
  10. Type Tool
  11. Cutting and Engraving Setup
  12. Saving your Document
  13. Completed File

DOCUMENT SETUP

New Document window that appears after you launch Adobe Illustrator

Select the "Art & Illustration" tab in the top menu bar and select "Postcard." Adjust your measurement in the upper right hand corner to "Inches" for a better size perception. Towards the bottom right under "Raster Effects", select "High (300ppi)." PPI means "Pixels per Inch."

Back to Top

WORKSPACE OVERVIEW & SETUP

WORKSPACE OVERVIEW

AI workspace reference

These are the locations that we will be referring to throughout this tutorial. We won't be using every part in a single step, some rarely but just so you have a basic understanding of where different tools and actions are located within the Adobe Illustrator App.

WORKSPACE SETUP

For this tutorial we will be using the "Essentials Classic" workspace.

Once your new document has been created go to the menu bar at the top of your screen and select "Window > Workspaces > Essentials Classic." This will add additional tools and palettes to your workspace.

MAIN KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

  • A - Selection Tool
  • V - Direct Selection Tool
  • P - Pen Tool
  • T - Type Tool
  • M - Rectangle Tool
  • L - Ellipse Tool
  • CMND + C - Copy
  • CMND + V - Paste
  • CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + P - Place Image
  • CMND/CTRL + S - Save
  • SHIFT + X - Switch Fill and Stroke
  • CMND/CTRL + [ - Move down one layer
  • CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + [ - Move to bottom layer
  • CMND/CTRL + ] - Move up one layer
  • CMND/CTRL + SHIFT + ] - Move to top layer
Back to Top

STEP 1: RECTANGLE TOOL

Making a perfect square and rotate it 45 degrees
The Rectangle Tool can be found in the "Tool Bar" on the left hand of your screen.

To make a rectangle select the "Rectangle Tool" in the toolbar, or press the letter "M" on your keyboard, this is the hotkey to that particular tool. When we introduce a tool the hotkey will follow in parenthesis; for example "Rectangle Tool (M)."

Once selected you can click and drag to create a rectangle, note this does not create a perfect square. To make a perfect square hold the "Shift" key on your keyboard, remember to let go of your mouse/trackpad before releasing the shift key.

To move objects as a whole use the "Selection Tool (V)."

Click on the "Selection Tool (V)" to select your square. Notice a colored box will appear around the shape. This is called the "Bounding Box," it shows us which object/objects are selected and allows us to manipulate the shape by grabbing any of the corners or sides.

If you hover the Selection tool just outside one of the corners you will get a double ended arrow with a bend in the middle (pictured in the circle above) that will allow you to freely rotate the square. To rotate in perfect 45 degree increments hold the Shift key as you rotate.

Back to Top

STEP 2: DIRECT SELECTION TOOL

Manipulate the diamond into a triangle
The "Selection Tool (V)" allows you to select entire objects while the "Direct Selection Tool (A)" allows you to manipulate individual anchor points or line segments without disrupting the rest of the object.

Use the "Direct Selection Tool (A)" to select the diamond's right anchor point. Click and hold then drag the anchor point until it creates a perfect vertical line between the top and bottom anchor points.

Using the same technique drag the left anchor point inward slightly.

Using the "Direct Selection Tool (A)" select and drag the left anchor point inward slightly to create an elongated triangle.

Back to Top

STEP 3: COPY & REFLECT

Duplicate and mirror the triangle
There is more than one way to duplicate an object in Adobe Illustrator.

To copy an object, select it using the "Selection Tool (V)" then go to "Edit > Copy" then "Edit > Paste." You can also use the hot keys "Cmnd/CTRL+C" to copy and "Cmnd/CTRL+V" to paste.

Select your new elongated triangle using the "Selection Tool (V)" and go to "Object > Transform > Reflect." In the Reflect window that pops up select "Vertical" and click "Ok."

Hot pink lines will appear while moving objects around, these are Smart Guides.

Once the shape has been reflected use the "Selection Tool (V)" to move the second triangle into place.

To select more than one object without dragging over everything, select the first one and then hold the Shift key while clicking on other objects to add them to your selection.

Select both triangles by clicking and dragging over both of them using the "Selection Tool (V)" and then click on the "Unite" function in the "Pathfinder" section of the "Properties Menu" on the right side of the workspace. This will combine the two shapes into one, note that Pathfinder functions require multiple objects to be selected.

Back to Top

STEP 4: ROUNDING EDGES & STRETCHING

Convert the sharp edges to rounded edges and stretch the shape as desired
Rounding edges can also be done by going to the "Application Menu Bar" at the top of your screen and selecting "Effects > Stylize > Round Corners."

Select the new diamond shape using the "Selection Tool (V)" and then click on the "Direct Selection Tool (A)" and look for the small blue circles near each the corner of your shape. Click and hold on one of them then drag towards the middle to round your corners.

Stretch the shape in any way you need until you are happy with the appearance.

Using the "Selection Tool (V)" click and hold on the edges of your Bounding Box and drag to stretch your design until you are happy with the appearance.

Back to Top

STEP 5: OFFSET PATH

Offset the path to create a second object that can be used as an outline
Offsetting a Path creates a second shape that extends the same distance from the edge of the original shape in all directions.

To create an "Offset Path" select your object using the "Selection Tool (V)," then go the the "Application Menu Bar" and select "Object > Path > Offset Path."

Offset Paths can extend inward or outward depending on if the number you input is positive or negative.

In the "Offset Path" window that pops up plug in ".125 in," and click "Ok."

Back to Top

STEP 6: ELLIPSE TOOL

Create a keychain hole using the ellipse tool
Any tool that has a small triangle in the bottom right corner has a "Drawer," where other similar tools are located.

Clicking and hold on the "Rectangle Tool" in the "Toolbar" and choose the "Ellipse Tool (L)."

When using Shape Tools, they can be used by clicking and dragging or simply clicking on your "Artboard" once and a window will pop up allowing you to input specific measurements, sides, and dimensions depending on the shape.

Once you have the "Ellipse Tool (L)" selected click once on your "Artboard" and input ".2" for both your width and height in the pop up menu, then click "Ok." Once the circle has been created use the "Selection Tool (V)" to move it into place towards the top of your diamond shape.

Back to Top

STEP 7: PEN TOOL

Add simple design elements using the pen tool
To make perfectly horizontal/vertical/45 degree angle lines with the Pen Tool hold shift while setting your second anchor point.

Select the "PenTool (P)" from Toolbar. Click on either the left or right path of your diamond shape to set the first anchor point. Hold the shift key while you click on the opposite side of your diamond to set the second anchor point to create a perfectly horizontal line.

Once you have completed your line you will need to switch to the "Selection Tool (V)" or the line will attempt to your next line.

Repeat the same steps to create the remaining lines.

Repeat the same steps to complete the remaining lines, or complete the top three lines then repeat Step: 3, which consists of cop and paste and reflect, then move them into place using the "Selection Tool (V)."

Anytime you are looking for a palette they can be found in the "Window" tab on your "Application Menu Bar."

Go to "Window > Stroke" to open the "Stroke" palette. Once the palette is open click on the three little lines in the upper right hand corner of the palette and select "Show Options," to reveal the palette you see in the image above.

Remember to select multiple objects hold down the Shift key as you click on them.

Hold shift and select the inner diamond shape and all the horizontal lines you just created. Make sure there is no fill on any of the objects and then raise the weight on their stroke using the "Stroke" palette to about 5pt, or whatever weight you like the look of.

Back to Top

STEP 8: EXPANDING OBJECTS

Expand your strokes to convert them into objects
Expanding objects turns things such as Strokes and Fonts into filled objects.

While you have all the lines still selected go to "Object > Expand" and choose the options "Fill and Stroke" like in the picture above and then press "Ok." This will convert the Stroke paths into filled objects that we can now combine.

Strokes can be Grouped but not United into a single object.

Now that the Strokes have been converted to filled objects we can convert them all into a single object using the "Unite" tab in the "Pathfinder" section of your "Properties Menu" on the right hand side of your screen. Make sure you still have everything selected before clicking unite.

Back to Top

STEP 9: PLACING AN IMAGE

Add and convert a wildcat logo to your keychain
The Wildcat image can be downloaded below.

WILDCAT IMAGE

Download and save the image on your computer. Now you can import it into Abode Illustrator by going to "File > Import" and then select the image. To place it into the document click in the vicinity of where you would like to place it, then use the "Selection Tool (V)" adjust its location and size.

Depending on the file type you may need to rasterize an image before converting it.

Once you have the image in place make sure it's selected using the "Selection Tool (V)". Then go to "Object > Rasterize" and make sure the resolution is set to the highest setting which is 300 PPI, then press "Ok."

Image trace has a variety of options, depending on the results you may want to attempt a couple different options before deciding.

Go to the "Tool Specific Menu Bar" and select the drop down menu for "Image Trace" and select the option "Sketched Art." This will convert any dark portion of your image to an object and make anything that is a light color disappear.

The object must be expanded to be edited.

To convert the image into an editable object we need to click on the "Expand" option in your "Tool Specific Menu Bar." This will generate all the anchor points that will compose the object.

To scale an image larger or smaller without distorting its proportions hold the Shift key.

While holding the "Shift" key click and hold on one of the corners of the objects "Bounding Box" and drag inward until it's the size you want.

Back to Top

STEP 10: TYPE TOOL

Add text to your keychain
Type tool can be used to create a Text Box or create a running line of text.

Select the "Type Tool (T)" from your "Toolbar" on the left side of your screen. Create a text box by clicking and dragging, or add a line of type by simply clicking once. We are going to click once, and type the word "GO."

Fonts can be downloaded from Adobe Fonts as well as sites such as Dafont and installed for free, links below.

Adobe Fonts - Dafont

Click and drag over the word "GO" so it's selected then go to the "Character" drop down menu in your "Tool Specific Menu Bar" at the top of your screen. Select the font "Arial Black."

Using the "Selection Tool (V)" scale and move the type into place.

After you have scaled the word "GO" into place duplicate the type by clicking on the word and holding the "Option/Alt" key as you drag it downward. If you prefer you can use the copy paste method we used in Step:3.

To change what the duplicated text says, use the "Type Tool (T)" or double click on the word to select it and begin editing.

Before moving to the next step select both sets of type and Expand them by going to "Object > Expand" in the pop up window select "Fill & Stroke" then click "OK."

Back to Top

STEP 11: CUTTING AND ENGRAVING SETUP

  • A FILL will result in ENGRAVING.
  • A STROKE below .003 will result in a CUT, a STROKE above .003 will result in ENGRAVING
Select the highlighted stroke paths above using the "Selection Tool (V)."

Select the outer diamond shape and the small circle near the top. To create a cutting path for the Laser change the Weight of your stroke to .003. Anything above a .003 setting will result in an engraved path and not a cut.

Swatches are your preset and customizable color palette.

To open your Swatch Library go to "Window > Swatches," and your preset library will appear in a new palette.

Changing the color of objects allows you to quickly identify Cut and Engrave sections of your design.

Using the "Selection Tool (V)" select the outer diamond shape and the small circle near the top and change the stroke color to the default Red color on the top row of your "Swatch Library."

Now select the inner Diamond Shape, Wildcat and the Type and make sure the "Fill Box" is in front of the "Stroke Box" and select the default Blue color from the top row of your "Swatch Library."

You can scale an entire image or any part of it by using the "Transform" option in the "Tool Specific Menu Bar."

Select the entire image by clicking and dragging over all the objects using the "Selection Tool (V)." Click on the "Transform" option in the "Tool Specific Menu Bar" and make sure the "Chain Link" icon in the upper right hand corner of the Transform Menu is intact and not broken. In the Height "H" section of the menu type 5 in. This will scale the entire image proportionally to the desired height.

Back to Top

STEP 12: SAVING YOUR DOCUMENT

To save your document to a drive for cutting/engraving, go to "File > Save As > Save on your computer." Then select your flash drive from the menu on the left hand side. Title your document with an appropriate name, in this case we used "Wildcat Keychain," and saved it as its native file ".ai."

Back to Top

COMPLETED FILE

Back to Top