61905S-1 DVC3401S-Digital Visualization Week 2

Elements of Design To further discuss the basic element of design, they can also be defined as dot, line, shape and form. Dot comprises a small spot or speck that is usually circular in shape. It often denotes the starting position of a design from which other elements such as line, shape and plane are brought into motion. Dots are often used in multitudes or in combinations to form patterns, rhythm and movement. Line defines the position and direction of a design, image or form. Types of line include vertical, horizontal, diagonal, contour or a combination of these. They may be curved, straight, thick, thin, smooth, long, short and so forth. Lines are used to create shape, pattern, texture, space, movement and optical illusion in design. Shape is a two-dimensional area enclosed by lines - it is the silhouette representation of form, being flat without depth or thickness. Shape is divided into two categories - organic (freeform/naturalistic) and geometric. Light and shading techniques applied to shape can create an illusion of three dimensional form. Form is a three dimensional object embodying volume and thickness. Length, depth and height measurements present form as a visible mass which can be viewed from many angles.

What is Graphic Design (or Visual Communication, or Communication Design) A creative process of creating and combining shapes, colors, typefaces, images and words Convey a specific message (or messages) to a targeted audience Involve a client and a brief It is a problem solving process The common usage are logo design, advertising, packaging, publication, typeface, websites, user interface of mobile application, etc The knowledge and skills a graphic designer may needs are drawing and illustration, photography, film and video, typography, 3D graphics, programming, etc The tools can be anything from pencil to paint brush, spray, clay, camera, fax machine, etc but the most important tool for graphic designers after all is computer. It is a great tool,
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but we should use it creatively and combine it with other techniques and media and not limit by it.

Modifying objects in Illustrator

Transform panel
The Transform panel (Window > Transform) displays information about the location, size, and orientation of one or more selected objects. By typing new values, you can modify the selected objects, their pattern fills, or both. You can also change the transformation reference point and lock the objects proportions. Below tools does the same job as what you can do with Transform panel

Rotate tool

Reflect tool

Scale tool

Shear tool

Align Panel
You use the Align panel (Window > Align) and the align options in the Control panel to align or distribute selected objects along the axis you specify. You can use either the object edges or anchor points as the reference point, and you can align to a selection, an artboard, or a key object. A key object is one specific object in a selection of multiple objects. The Align options are visible in the Control panel when an object is selected. If they do not appear, choose Align from the Control panel menu.

Align Panel
The top row of buttons in the panel, make paths or compound paths by default, and compound shapes only when you press the Alt or Option key. You can choose from the following shape modes: Add To Shape Area Adds the area of the component to the underlying geometry. Subtract from Shape Area Cuts out the area of the component from the underlying geometry. Intersect Shape Areas Uses the area of the component to clip the underlying geometry as a mask would. Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas Uses the area of the component to invert the underlying geometry, turning filled regions into holes and vice versa. The bottom row of buttons in the panel, called Pathfinder effects, let you create final shape combinations on the first click.

Clipping Mask
A clipping mask is an object whose shape masks other artwork so that only areas that lie within the shape are visiblein effect, clipping the artwork to the shape of the mask. The clipping mask and the objects that are masked are called a clipping set. You can make a clipping set from a selection of two or more objects or from all objects in a group or layer. To create a clipping mask, select both the mask and the masked object while having the mask on top, from menu select Object > Clipping Mask > Mask.

Layers

Layer Panel
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You use the Layers panel (Window > Layers) to list, organize, and edit the objects in a document. By default, every new document contains one layer, and each object you create is listed under that layer. However, you can create new layers and rearrange items to best suit your needs. By default, Illustrator assigns a unique color (up to nine colors) to each layer in the Layers panel. The color displays next to the layer name in the panel. The same color displays in the illustration window in the bounding box, path, anchor points, and center point of a selected object. You can use this color to quickly locate an objects corresponding layer in the Layers panel, and you can change the layer color to suit your needs. When an item in the Layers panel contains other items, a triangle appears to the left of the items name. Click the triangle to show or hide the contents. If no triangle appears, the item contains no additional items. A. Visibility column B. Edit column C. Target column D. Selection column The Layers panel provides columns to the left and right of the listings. Click in a column to control the following characteristics: Visibility column Indicates whether items in the layers are visible Edit column Indicates whether items are locked or hidden (blank space).

or unlocked (blank space).

Target column Indicates whether items are targeted for application of effects and edit attributes in the Appearance panel. Selection column Indicates whether items are selected.

Shortcuts:
Command C Copy Command X Cut Command V Paste Command B Paste in Back Command F Paste in Front Hold Shift and drag object Move along x or y axis Hold Option and drag object Copy Command D Duplicate Command G Group Command Shift G Ungroup Command 7 Mask Clipping Mask Command Shift 7 Release Clipping Mask

Exercise Continue with last lessons exercise.