Purpose: Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator for generating maps and other diagrams.

Location: computer lab BOL 3051

Assignment Due: Tuesday, February 22 @ 1 PM: colored and improved strike and dip figure.  So many students are waiting until Tuesday to submit assignments, I might as well wait to do the grading as well.

Materials: Adobe Illustrator program, Strike and dip figure

Some shortcut keys

Adobe Illustrator is a sophisticated graphic program used to make diagrams. It has a steep learning curve, but an investment now will pay off later. You will learn the basics of the program so that next class you can make a map.

Graphic programs consist of drawing programs and painting programs. Painting programs are bitmapped, in that the information in encoded in pixels (squares that vary in size). When you enlarge them, edges are ragged and the quality is poor. Drawing programs (A.I.) use vector graphics, meaning that all data are represented by mathematical formulas, so when the scale changes, the object is changed mathematically, resulting in crisp clear lines etc. at whatever scale.

Opening new or existing files is the same as most other programs. Save and Save as executions are also the same. Keep your file on your "H" drive, not your thumb drive, but keep a back-up copy on your thumb drive.

You can use the redo command in the edit menu many times to get back to where you last saved the file or till you run out of memory.

preview or outline.

either select hand tool or hold down the space bar and move the mouse.

you can expand the view up to 4800% normal size, by using the magnifying glass (with a + in it), you can zoom out (with a - in it) to 3.13% of normal size.

Document set up under the file menu allows you to pick the size of paper, units for rulers, landscape or portrait view etc.

A path is any line or shape that you create using the A.I. drawing tools, and represents the outline of a graphic object. Paths usually consist of segments and each segment is joined by an anchor point which can be modified, thus modifying the shape of the object. Paths can be open or closed. Anchor points can be added or subtracted from a path using the anchor tool options.

This tool most closely mimics using a pencil. Make a line across the screen, select no fill and some color for the line from the paint style window. To continue along the same line, position the pencil tip on an endpoint of the path until the end of the pencil top turns black, then click and drag the mouse to continue the line.

This is the most powerful tool to use. To make diagonal lines, click the tool where you want the tool to start and click again where you want it to end. To constrain the line to horizontal, vertical or at 45° hold down the shift key as you click the mouse. To end the path as open, click the pen box in the toolbox or hold down the command key (turns pointer to the selection tool) and click elsewhere on the figure. To close as a closed path, your last click should be on the first anchor point. A closed circle appears next to the pen tip when it is correctly positioned to close the path.

You can make curves with the pen tool. Start a line with the pen tool, then move the cursor to where you want the path to end, click and hold the mouse down, then start dragging to make your curve. Using this technique you can draw, or trace, detailed curves.

There are two main selection tools. The black arrow that selects an entire object or line, and the white arrow is the direct-selection tool and is used to edit the anchor point chosen or object chosen by dragging. You can select multiple objects by dragging a marquee around them all (by using the selection tool and dragging across many objects but starting on no object) or by shift clicking. Select an object then hold down the shift key as you continue to select more objects. If you shift click an object a second time you deselect it.

You then can group objects, so that when you do one thing to an object (i.e. change its color or line width) all of the group objects are selected at once.

This tool lets you make a closed path that varies in width and can be like a calligraphic pen. Double click on the paintbrush icon in the toolbox to select the options.

Rectangles tool and other shapes can be made with these tools. To make squares or circles hold down the shift key. To make an object a specific shape select the tool and click once on the page without dragging, then enter the dimensions. This will be useful for making your lithostratigraphic log.

The text tool can be used anywhere on the diagram. You have to click it where you want it to start. When you are finished typing, select the selection tool, this selects the type (a blue box at the start of the type and the type is underlined - indicating it is selected). To deselect it click elsewhere on the diagram or choose’ select none’ from the edit menu. The shortcut is after typing, hold down the command key, this turns the type tool into the selection tool. Type fonts and sizes can be chosen from the font and text menus. You can change the color of type by first selecting the type then choosing a color for the fill in the paint style box. If you choose stroke, it puts a colored outline around the text.

Use this tool to rotate an object, text or otherwise. You can double click on the icon in the toolbox, then enter in the degrees of rotation. 10° rotates it 10° counter clockwise, if you want clockwise, then enter -10 or 350. You can do a free rotate by selecting the object you want to rotate, then select the tool which turns into a cross-hair. Click on the object where you want the object to pivot. The cursor then turns into a black triangle, you can then click and drag the object to rotate it however you want.

The scale tool is used by double clicking on it, then entering the percentage enlargement or reduction that you want. You can make it uniform or non-uniform specifying vertical and horizontal scale changes. You must first select objects you want to change the scale of.

Download and save this image file needed for your assignment.

Assignment

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