Master Adobe Illustrator's Editing and Combining Tools

Editing and Combining Shapes and Paths in Adobe Illustrator

• In this lesson, users will learn how to edit and combine shapes and paths in Adobe Illustrator to create complex artwork.

• Tools covered in the lesson include the Scissors tool, Knife tool, Eraser tool, Shape Builder tool, and more.

• The lesson is estimated to take around 45 minutes to complete.

• Users can download the lesson files from the web page for the book at adobepress.com/IllustratorCIB2023.

• The lesson involves creating artwork for a diner (restaurant) poster using basic shapes and paths.

• Users are instructed to delete or deactivate the Adobe Illustrator preferences file to ensure that tools function and defaults are set correctly.

• The lesson involves opening and working with two files: L4_end.ai and L4_start.ai.

• The Scissors tool is used to cut paths at anchor points or line segments to create open paths.

• The Knife tool is used to cut vector artwork and create closed paths.

• The Eraser tool is used to erase areas of vector artwork and can only erase selected objects.

• The lesson also covers joining paths, outlining strokes, and creating compound paths.

• Users are instructed to group artwork together using the Group button in the Properties panel.Illustrator Techniques: Compound Paths, Shape Builder Tool, Reshaping Paths, and More

• The lesson involves erasing a circle to create a bush and dragging a head to a sign.

• The Eraser tool can be edited to make it much bigger for erasing larger shapes.

• Compound paths allow vector objects to cut holes in other vector objects and can be edited individually.

• The Unite button in the Pathfinder section permanently combines multiple shapes into one.

• The Shape Builder tool allows for visually and intuitively merging, deleting, filling, and editing overlapping shapes and paths.

• Combining shapes is easier than using drawing tools like the Pen tool.

• The Reshape tool can stretch parts of a path without distorting its overall shape.

• The Width tool allows for altering regular stroke widths to create a variable width along the stroke of a path.

• The Simplify command can be used to smooth out erasures.

• Pathfinder effects make permanent changes to shapes, while shape modes create a compound shape that preserves the original underlying objects.

• Selecting a top object as the "cutting" object in a compound path creates holes where paths overlap.

• The Eyedropper tool can be used to sample and apply colors to shapes.Illustrator Tutorial: Using Variable Stroke Widths and Intertwine

• Variable stroke widths can be created by using the Width tool and dragging a width point to create a discontinuous width point.

• The Width Point Edit dialog box allows for the editing of both width points, and values can be entered for more precision.

• Width points can be selected and deleted, and removing the only width point removes the width completely.

• Intertwine is a feature in Illustrator that allows for a path to appear on top of or behind another object.

• To use Intertwine, select multiple objects and choose Object > Intertwine > Make.

• Selections can be made to tell Illustrator which parts of the path should go behind or in front of the object.

• To assemble a sign, drag and position the dog's head and tail onto the sign and resize them.

• To assemble a poster, drag all the pieces from the other artboards onto the poster on the far right and resize the "OPEN 24 HOURS" sign.

• The Shape Builder tool can be used to merge, delete, fill, and edit overlapping shapes and paths directly in the artwork.

• The Scissors tool is used to split a path or frame at an anchor point or along a segment, while the Knife tool cuts objects along a drawn path.

• The Eraser tool can erase in a straight line by pressing and holding the Shift key.

• Shape modes and Pathfinder effects in the Properties panel or Pathfinder panel have different effects on the original objects selected, with shape modes preserving the original objects and Pathfinder effects permanently transforming them.