Adobe ILLUSTRATOR 6.0 User manual

1
List of topics
Menu commands
Toolbar
Index
How to use this guide

2
Basic concepts
Viewing and setting up documents
Drawing
Moving and aligning objects
Modifying shapes and applying
special effects
Painting
Creating custom colors, gradients,
and patterns
Using layers
Using type
Using graphs
Importing and exporting artwork
Printing documents
Producing color separations
Error messages and troubleshooting
What’s new in 6.0
List of topics

3
Basic Concepts
Bitmap images and vector graphics
Opening documents
Saving documents
Setting preferences
Using the toolbox and the plug-ins
toolbox
Using the status bar
Using the Shortcuts palette
Correcting mistakes
Reverting to an earlier version of
your document
Using plug-in modules

4
Bitmap images and vector graphics
Computer graphics fall into two main
categories—
bitmap images
and
vector
graphics
. Understanding the difference
between these two types of graphics is
useful when you’re creating and editing
digital illustrations. (For more informa-
tion on using these formats with Illus-
trator, see About graphic file formats.)
See also
Bitmap vs. Vector graphics
jump to art

5
Bitmap images
Bitmap images, such as those created
in Adobe Photoshop, consist of a grid,
or
bitmap
, of small squares, known as
pixels
. For example, a bicycle tire in a
bitmap image is made up of a collection
of pixels in that location, with each pixel
part of a mosaic that together gives the
appearance of a tire. When working with
bitmap images, you edit pixels rather
than objects or shapes.
Bitmap images are best used for work-
ing with continuous-tone graphics, such
as photographs or images created in
painting programs. Bitmap images
are set at a fixed resolution—they are
resolution dependent. This means that
objects can appear jagged and lose
detail if they are scanned or created at a
low resolution (for example, at 72 pixels
per inch) and then enlarged or printed at
a higher resolution.
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6
Vector graphics
Vector graphics, such as those created
in Adobe Illustrator, are made up of lines
and curves defined by mathematical
objects called
vectors
. For example, a
bicycle tire in a vector graphic is made
up of a mathematical definition of a cir-
cle filled with a specific color and set at
a specific location. When you move,
resize, or change the color of the tire,
the program changes the mathematical
definition of the shape or location of the
tire, or the tire’s color.
Vector-based programs are best for type
(especially small type) and drawings
that require crisp, clear lines regardless
of the size to which they are scaled.
Graphics created in vector-based pro-
grams such as Illustrator always appear
at the maximum resolution of the moni-
tor or printer on which they are output—
they are resolution independent.
jump to art

Vector
Bitmap vs. Vector graphics
Click on artwork to jump to information on that format.
4:1 zoom
16:1 zoom
4:1 zoom
16:1 zoom
Bitmap

8
Opening documents
When you start Adobe Illustrator, the
program automatically opens a new
document. You can also create a new
document at any time, once Illustrator is
running. In either case, a new document
appears with the name
Untitled art
in its
title bar.
You can open existing documents as
well as create new ones. An existing
document appears with its name dis-
played in the title bar.
See also
Opening and placing artwork.
To open a new document:
Choose File
>
New from the Illustrator
menu bar.
To open an existing document:
1
Choose File
>
Open.
2
Select the name of the document you
want to open, and click Open.

9
Saving documents
You can save a document under its
current name, location, and file format
by using the Save command. If you are
saving the document for the first time,
the Save dialog box appears, enabling
you to specify how and where you want
to save the document.
By using the Save As command, you can
save a copy of a document under a dif-
ferent name, location, or file format. For
information on saving a document in a
different file format or with a special
preview option, see Exporting artwork.
To save a file:
1
Choose File
>
Save or File
>
Save As.
If you choose the Save As command, or
if the document has not been saved
before, choose any of the following
options:
•
Select the folder in which you want to
save the document.
•
Create a new folder by clicking New.
•
Enter the name of the document in the
Save This Document As text box.

10
•
From the Format pop-up menu,
choose the file format in which you
want to save the document.
2
If you save the document in EPS for-
mat, you can add Fetch® information.
Fetch
is a program that searches for and
retrieves files based on information
about the file. Choose any of the follow-
ing options:
•
Select the Include Document Thumb-
nail option to create a thumbnail pre-
view for the file when viewed by Fetch.
•
Enter the author’s name in the Author
text box.
•
Enter any search keywords, separated
by commas, in the Keywords text box.
•
Enter any identifying information
about the document in the Description
text box.
3
Click Save.