What You’ll Do
The Stroke panel makes it easy to change stroke attributes, such as weight (width), position on the path, and its style. The weight of a stroke refers to the thickness of the line. The Eyedropper tool on the Tools panel is another way you can quickly pick up an object’s color and stroke attributes and apply them to another object. Instead of using a solid color as an object fill, you can create and use patterns. The process is very simple. In Illustrator, create a pattern using drawing tools, select and drag the object pattern to the Swatches panel, and then give it a name.
A blend uses two or more objects to create a transitional object in between. If you’re just getting start with blends, the Make command on the Blend submenu is an easy way to create a blend. All you need to do is select the objects that you want to use, and then choose the command. That’s it. If you want a little more control over the way a blend turns out, you can specify options in the Blend Options dialog box. If you want to specify the locations where the blend takes place, you can use the Blend tool. Transparency, or the opacity level of an object, is set in Illustrator by adjusting the Opacity option in the Transparency or Control panels. Along with the Opacity option is the blending mode, which blends colors together for objects in a group as well as all the objects below it.
A gradient is a smooth transition between two or more colors in an object. You can apply one of Illustrator’s built-in gradients or create one of your own by using the Gradient panel. There are two types of gradients: Radial (circular) and Linear (horizontal). With the Gradient tool, you can edit gradient colors applied to the object by adding or changing color stops, applying transparency, and changing gradient direction (linear) or angle (radial).
IL 3.2, 5.4
The Tools panel provides color boxes to make it easy for you to apply fill and stroke colors. The color box in the foreground is the Fill box and the outlined box in the background is the Stroke box. When you select an object, fill, or stroke, the color boxes (also known as thumbnails), on the Tools panel display the current colors. To change the fill or stroke color, select an object, fill or stroke, select the Fill or Stroke box, and then select a color from the Color, Swatches, or Color Guide panel., or use the Eyedropper to apply a color from the active document.
Select an object, fill, or stroke using the appropriate selection tool.
Click the Fill or Stroke color box on the Tools or Color panel to choose the color’s destination.
Click the Color button on the Tools panel to apply a color or click None to apply no color.
Use any of the following methods to change the active fill or stroke colors:
Select the Swatches panel, and then click a color swatch to change the color.
Select the Color panel, and then specify a color using the controls.
Select the Color Guide panel, and then click a color swatch to change the color.
Select the Eyedropper tool on the Tools panel, and then click anywhere in the active document to change the color.
Double-click the Fill or Stroke color box to open the Color Picker dialog box, select a color or enter color values, and then click OK.
Click the Default Colors Fill and Stroke Colors buttons to revert the fill and stroke colors to their default values of black and white.
Click the Switch Fill and Stroke Colors button to switch current colors.
Timesaver
Press D to change the foreground and background colors to their default values of black and white, and press X to switch the current colors.
IL 2.2
The Stroke panel makes it easy to change stroke attributes, such as weight (width), position on the path, and its style. The weight of a stroke represents the thickness of the line. A weight smaller than.25 may not print and a weight of 0 removes the stroke. In addition to the width of a stroke, you can also specify the position (known as alignment) of the stroke on the path (either center, inside, or outside). Style is what stands out on the page. You can change the stroke style by applying dashes and sharpening or rounding corners and endpoints.
Select one or more objects.
Select the Stroke panel.
To change the endpoints, click one of the following buttons:
Butt Cap. Creates a square-edged end.
Round Cap. Creates a rounded end.
Projecting Cap. Creates a square-edged end that extends past the endpoint.
To change the bends on corner points, click one of the following:
Miter Join. Creates a pointed join point.
Round Join. Creates a rounded join point.
Bevel Join. Creates a beveled (cut off) join point.
Select one or more objects.
Select the Stroke panel.
Click one of the Cap buttons.
Select the Dashed Line check box.
Enter a value in the first Dash box.
If you don’t enter any more values, the value in the first box is used for the rest of the boxes.
Enter a value in the first Gap box.
Fill in the remaining boxes.
To create a dotted line, click the Round Cap button, enter a dash value of 0, and then enter a gap value greater than or equal to the stroke weight.
IL 5.4
The Eyedropper tool on the Tools panel makes it easy to quickly pick up a color from one area of your artwork and apply it to another area. When you click an object with the Eyedropper tool, it picks up the object’s color and stroke attributes and displays them in the Tools, Color, and Stroke panels. You can pick up attributes from any type of object, even a graphic image and the object doesn’t need to be selected. If an object is selected, the color and stroke attributes are applied to the selected object. The Eyedropper tool also provides options for you to customize the attributes—such as Appearance, Transparency, Focal Fill and Focal Stroke, Character Style and Paragraph Style—that you want to pick up with the tool.
If you want to apply the pick up color and attributes to one or more objects, then select them.
Select the Eyedropper tool on the Tools panel.
Click an object in any window that contains the color and attributes that you want to pick up and apply.
If you want to apply color attributes from the currently selected object and apply them to another object you select, Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) the objects.
To have the Eyedropper tool only pick up an object’s color and not other attributes, click the Fill or Stroke box on the Tools or Color panel, and then Shift+click the color to be picked up.
Double-click the Eyedropper tool on the Tools panel.
In the left column, select the check boxes for the options that you want the Eyedropper to pick up and deselect the ones you don’t.
In the right column, select the check boxes for the options that you want the Eyedropper to apply and deselect the ones you don’t.
Click the Raster Sample Size list arrow, and then select a sample size for the pick up color and attributes.
Click OK.
IL 2.10
Instead of using solid color or gradients as object fills, you can also create and use patterns. The process is very simple. In Illustrator, create a pattern using tools—such as Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Arc, Spiral, Star, or Flare—on the Tools panel, select and drag it to the Swatches panel, and then give it a name. The pattern consists of a group of objects, which you can also edit using Isolation Mode.
Draw one or more objects to be used as a pattern.
Select the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
Select all the objects.
Click the Edit menu, and then click Define Pattern.
You can also drag the selection to the Swatches panel, deselect the objects, and then double-click the new swatch.
Type a name for the swatch.
Click OK.
To use the pattern as a fill, select an object, select the Swatches panel with the pattern, click the Fill box on the Tools panel, and then click the pattern in the Swatches panel.
Select the Swatches panel with the pattern that you want to edit.
Drag the pattern to an empty area on an artboard.
Double-click the object to enter Isolation Mode.
With the Direct Selection tool, edit individual objects in the pattern, and then click the gray bar to exit Isolation Mode.
Select the Selection tool on the Tools panel.
Alt+drag (Win) or Option+drag (Mac) the pattern object on the artboard to the original pattern in the Swatches panel to override it.
The Edit Color submenu allows you to blend fill colors for three or more objects. The more objects that you select, the more gradual the color blend. Stroke colors and attributes remain the same. Illustrator takes the objects on the edges (front and back, left and right, and top and bottom) as the starting and ending colors in the blend. All objects in between the starting and ending ones are intermediate blends.
Select three or more objects that contain fill colors.
The objects cannot contain global process colors, patterns, or gradients.
Click the Edit menu, and then point to Edit Colors.
Select any of the following commands:
Blend Front to Back. Uses the fill color of the front and back objects in the selection as the starting and ending colors in the blend.
Blend Horizontally. Uses the fill color of the left side and right side objects as the starting and ending colors in the blend.
Blend Vertically. Uses the fill color of the top and bottom objects as the starting and ending colors in the blend.
If you’re just getting started with blends, the Make command on the Blend submenu is an easy way to create a blend. All you need to do is select the objects that you want to use in the blend, and then choose the Make command. That’s it. Illustrator creates all the transitional objects in between. If you don’t like the results, you can undo the blend and try something else. If you no longer want the blend, you can release it, which removes the transitional objects and leaves the original objects and the path.
Select two or more objects or groups (with space in between them) that you want to blend.
Click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Make.
To undo the creation of the blend objects, click the Edit menu, and then click Undo.
Select the blend objects.
To release the blend objects, click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Release.
The transitional objects between the original objects are removed, while the original objects and path remain intact.
If you want a little more control over the way a blend turns out, you can specify options in the Blend Options dialog box. The settings automatically apply to any selected objects and future blends. The settings include Smooth Color, Specified Steps (number of transitional steps), Specified Distance, Align to Page, and Align to Path. The Preview option allows you to view your changes on the screen as you make them.
Select an existing blend object.
Click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Blend Options.
Select the Preview check box to view your changes.
Click the Spacing list arrow, and then select one of the following:
Smooth Color. Select to automatically create a smooth color blend based on the number of transitional steps needed.
Specified Steps. Enter the number of transitional steps (1-1000) that you want.
Specified Distance. Enter the distance (.1-1000 points) between the transition objects in the blend.
Select one of the following orientation buttons:
Align to Page. Click to align the blend objects perpendicular to the horizontal axes.
Align to Path. Click to align the blend objects perpendicular to the path.
Click OK.
IL 6.3
If you want to specify the locations where the blend takes place, you can use the Blend tool on the Tools panel. The Blend tool allows you to select the anchor points on the objects to determine the direction of the blend. For the best results and smoothest transitions, click anchor points on corresponding locations on the objects. If you’re not sure which anchor points to use, you can also select an object’s fill to let Illustrator select the anchor point for you. Experiment with it to determine what works best for you.
Select two or more objects or groups (with space in between them) that you want to blend.
Select the Blend tool on the Tools panel.
Click the fill of the first object (not the center point) to let Illustrator determine an anchor point to use, or click the anchor point that you want to use.
Click the fill or an anchor point on the next object. If the path is open, click an endpoint.
For the best results and smoothest transitions, click anchor points on corresponding locations on the objects.
Continue to click corresponding anchor points on the selected objects.
To release the blend objects, select the blend, click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Release.
IL 6.3
After you create a blend, you can use commands on the Blend submenu to reverse stacking order, reverse spine location, and replace the spine. These commands allow you to quickly change the look of the blend. If you want to modify a blend, you can change blend objects using other Illustrator features, such as recoloring, reshaping, or transforming. Experiment to determine what works best for you.
Reverse Stacking Order. Changes the stacking order (front to back) without changing the x/y location. Select a blend object, click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Reverse Front to Back.
Reverse Spine. Changes the x/y location of the blend objects without changing the stacking order. Select a blend object, click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Reverse Spine.
Replace Spine. Replaces the current spine in a blend with a new path. Create a new path for the spine, select a blend object and the new path, click the Object menu, point to Blend, and then click Replace Spine.
Recolor. Select all the objects in the blend that you want to recolor, click the Recolor Artwork button on the Control panel, specify the color changes you want, and then click OK.
Transform. Select all the objects in the blend, and then use the object’s bounding box, the Free Transform tool, or other transformation tools.
Reshape Path. Move one of the original blend objects with the Direct Selection tool or use any of the reshaping path tools.
IL 3.3, 5.1
Transparency, or the opacity of an object (to what degree you can see through the object), is set in Illustrator by adjusting the Opacity option in the Transparency, Control, or Appearance panels. The Opacity option allows you to specify a percentage to set the transparency level. Along with opacity, you an also change the blending mode, which controls how object colors blend with other object colors below it. You can apply transparency options to an object, group, or layer. This includes an object’s fill or stroke, and type.
Select an object, group, or layer.
For a layer, click the target circle on the Layers panel.
For type, select individual characters or the entire object.
For an object’s fill or stroke, click the target circle on the Layers panel, and then click Fill or Stroke on the Appearance panel.
Select the Transparency panel.
To change opacity, click the Opacity list arrow, and then specify a percentage.
To change the blending mode, click the Blending Mode list arrow, and then select a blending mode.
IL 3.3
When you apply a blending mode to a group, the blend is applied to all the objects in the group as well as all the objects below it. If you want to isolate the blend to only the objects nested in the group, you can use the Isolate Blending option in the Transparency panel. You can also use the option on individual objects with overlapping strokes and fills. If objects in a group overlap, you can use the Knockout Group option to control whether objects will show through each other (except for semi-transparent objects) or be knocked out.
Click the target circle for a group or layer on the Layers panel that contains nested objects.
Select the Transparency panel.
Click the Options menu, and then click Page Knockout Group to knock out the objects so that you can’t see through them. However, you’ll still see through any semi-transparent objects. Deselect this option to allow objects to be seen through each other.
IL 3.3
The Transparency grid makes it easier to work with semi-transparent objects. The gray and white checkerboard background allows you to distinguish between different levels of transparencies. You can quickly show or hide the transparency grid by using the Show Transparency Grid command on the View menu. Before you use the command, you can customize the look of the grid in the Document Setup dialog box.
Click the File menu, and then click Document Setup.
Click the Grid Size list arrow, and then select a size: Small, Medium, or Large.
Click the Grid Colors list arrow, and then select a color: Light, Medium, Dark, or a specific color.
Select the Simulate Colored Paper check box to simulate the use of colored paper, which blends with objects.
Click the Preset list arrow, and then select a resolution.
Click OK.
IL 3.6
A gradient is a smooth transition between two or more colors in an object. You can apply one of Illustrator’s built-in gradients or create one of your own by using the Gradient panel (New!). The built-in gradients are available from gradient libraries. After you apply a gradient, you can change the direction or smoothness of the color transition.
Select an object.
For type, convert it to outlines (click the Type menu, and then click Create Outlines), or select the type, and then select Add New Fill from the Appearance panel menu.
Select the Swatches panel.
To open a gradient library, click the Swatch Libraries menu, point to Gradient, and then select a gradient library.
Click a gradient swatch on the Swatches or gradient library panel.
From the Gradient panel, you can use the Gradient Fill box list arrow (New!) to apply any of the gradients on the Swatches panel.
When you select a swatch from a gradient library, it’s automatically added to the Swatches panel.
Did You Know?
You can expand a gradient fill to create an effect. Select an object with a gradient fill, click the Object menu, click Expand, click the Specify option in the Expand Gradient To area, and then enter the number of objects that you want to create. For a smooth color transition, enter a large number (100), and then click OK.
IL 3.6
Instead of using one of Illustrator’s built-in gradients, you can create your own by using the Gradient panel. It’s easy and you can be creative in the process. You can create a gradient with two or more colors and add transparency (New!). There are two types of gradients: Radial (circular) and Linear (horizontal). After you create a gradient, you need to save it in the Swatches panel in order to use it again later.
Select an object.
Select the Gradient panel.
Click the Gradient Fill box on the Gradient panel.
Click the left color stop and use the Color panel to create the color you want, or Alt+click (Win) or Option+click (Mac) a color swatch on the Swatches panel.
Repeat the previous step for the right color stop.
Click the Type list arrow, and then select a gradient type: Radial or Linear.
To add color stops, click below the gradient spectrum in a blank area. To remove a color stop, drag it down and away from the gradient spectrum.
To adjust the amount of each color in the gradient, drag the diamond above the gradient spectrum.
To add transparency, select a color stop, and then specify an Opacity value.
To save the gradient, drag the Gradient Fill box from the Gradient panel to the Swatches panel.
To save and name the gradient, click the Gradient Fill box on the Gradient panel, click the New Swatch button on the Swatches panel, enter a name, and then click OK.
IL 3.6
After you apply a built-in gradient or use one of your own, you can edit it. You can edit a gradient in an object and keep the gradient in the Swatches panel unchanged or you can edit the gradient in the Swatches panel and keep the gradient in an object unchanged. Editing a gradient is similar to creating one. The techniques are the same. All you need to do is select the element that you want to edit.
Select an object with a gradient, or click the gradient swatch on the Swatches panel that you want to edit.
Select the Gradient panel.
Click the Gradient Fill box on the Gradient panel, or click the Gradient Fill box list arrow (New!), and then select one of the saved gradients (from Swatches panel).
To change the gradient type, click the Type list arrow, and then select a gradient type: Radial or Linear.
Do any of the following:
Add color stops. Click below the gradient spectrum in a blank area.
Remove color stops. Drag it down and away from the gradient spectrum.
Move color stops. Drag it or enter a Location value (New!).
Duplicate color stops. Alt+drag (Win) or Option+drag (Mac) a color stop.
Adjust color amount. Drag the diamond above the gradient spectrum.
Change Transparency. Select a color stop, and then specify an Opacity value (New!).
To save the gradient, Alt-drag (Win) or Option-drag (Mac) the Gradient Fill box from the Gradient panel over the old gradient on the Swatches panel.
IL 3.6
The Gradient tool on the Tools panel allows you to change how a gradient appears for an object. You can change how gradient colors blend, the angle of a linear gradient, and the location of the center for a radial gradient with a drag of the mouse over the gradient fill. You can also edit gradient colors on the object (New!) by adding or changing color stops, applying transparency to color stops, and changing gradient direction (linear) or angle (radial).
Select an object with a gradient that you want to change.
Double-click the Gradient tool on the Tools panel, which will bring up the Gradient panel.
Do any of the following:
Short Color Transitions. Drag the diamond icon on the object a short distance.
Gradual Color Transitions. Drag the diamond icon on the object a long distance.
Change Position. Drag the larger circle on the object.
Reverse Color Direction. Drag the diamond icon on the object in the opposite direction.
Change Radial Center. Drag the small circle attached to the larger circle on the object.
Change Linear Angle. Alt+drag (Win) or Option+drag (Mac) the diamond icon to another angle.
Change Color Stops. Click below the spectrum line to add, drag to move, and drag away to remove color stops.
Change Transparency. Double-click a color stop on the object, and then specify an Opacity value in the popup Gradient panel.
IL 6.2
A mesh object is a multicolored gradient type object that allows colors to flow in different directions and transitions from one point to another. A mesh object uses mesh lines (like a grid) to make it easier for you to modify color flow, transitions, and intensity. The points in the grid are called mesh points (diamonds). Mesh points are like anchor points, except you can assign color to them. The area between four mesh points is a mesh patch, which you can modify the color. You can create two types of mesh objects. One with an irregular pattern of mesh points or one with a regular pattern of mesh points.
Select an object.
Do one of the following:
Irregular Pattern. Select the Mesh tool on the Tools panel, select a fill color for mesh points, click to place the first mesh point, and then continue to click to place other mesh points.
Regular Pattern. Click the Object menu, and then click Create Gradient Mesh. Set the number of rows and columns, select the highlight direction, enter a percentage of white highlight (100% = white, 0% = no white), and then click OK.
To edit a mesh object, select the Mesh tool on the Tools panel, and the drag to move a mesh point, Alt-click (Win) or Option-click (Mac) a mesh point to delete it, or select a color, and click to add a mesh point.
