{"id":2568,"date":"2020-01-14T15:43:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T15:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.la.utexas.edu\/kb\/?p=2568"},"modified":"2021-07-22T20:30:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T20:30:51","slug":"basic-training-ai-shape-manipulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sites.la.utexas.edu\/kb\/2020\/01\/14\/basic-training-ai-shape-manipulation\/","title":{"rendered":"Principles of Design | How to Manipulate Shapes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This training will get you acquainted with the tools you will need to transform basic shapes and into more complex shapes using Adobe Illustrator.<\/p>\n

Part 1: Basic Shapes Manipulation<\/h1>\n

Please download this starter document here<\/a>. The Ai document you\u2019re given will be your worksheet; in it, you\u2019ll find 3 examples of complex shapes that can be made in Illustrator. In the same document, follow along with the steps to recreate the shapes as closely as you can. The idea is to become familiar enough with Ai tools that you can create any complex shape you want to.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> There are usually multiple ways to complete a task. Use the hints below as guidelines if you get stuck, but go with the method that works best for you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Symmetrical Shape (Heart)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Choose the layer named “heart.” You will be putting all of your work here. The layer “final_heart” will be where you can check to see if your work aligns well.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Select the Eclipse tool by clicking L.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Click anywhere on your artboard and create a 200 x 200 px eclipse \/ circle.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Give your circle an outline, if there isn’t one, so you can see it on the screen.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Move this circle to the top left square so that it fits perfectly.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Duplicate this circle by clicking Ctrl \/ Cmd + C and then Ctrl \/ Cmd + F. The Ctrl \/ Cmd + F pastes the new circle directly on top of the old one. Then hold Shift and move this new circle to the top right square so that it fits perfectly. Holding Shift allows you to lock the horizontal or vertical movement of the object (in this case we will lock the vertical and only change the horizontal position – don’t worry, Ai will detect which movement you want to lock based on your cursor drag).
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Next, we need to delete the bottom anchor points of the two circles to create 2 half-circles. Click on the Direct Selection Tool.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Then click on this bottom anchor point.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Click Delete. You should have something like this.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Repeat the process similarly to delete the other circle’s bottom anchor point.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. Now we’ll connect the heart using the pen tool. Click on this tool.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  12. Click on the leftest anchor point of the left circle to add an anchor there. Then click on the mid-point of the bottom guide. Lastly, click on the rightest anchor point of the right circle.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  13. You should end up with something like this.
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  14. Toggle the visibility of the “final_heart” layer. If it fits your heart perfectly, you’re good to go!
    \n    \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Cut Out Shape<\/b><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Now hide the “heart” and “final_heart” layers, and click on “cutout.”
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Holding down on the Eclipse Tool. You’ll see a drop down appear. Choose the Star tool.<\/li>\n
    3. Hold Shift + Alt and draw your star of an arbitrary size. We’ll adjust it later. Align it so that the star’s center is at the center of your guide.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Click on the star to select it, and adjust its size by holding down Shift (to preserve aspect ratio, so that your star won’t look flattened or stretched). Align it so that the left and right wings touches the left and right vertical guide, while the center is still aligned with the guide’s center. The bottom and top will not touch the guide and that’s okay!
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. Give the star a solid color.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. Now copy the heart from the “heart” layer and move it to the “cutout” layer. You must unhide the “heart” layer in order to copy from it. Put it on top of the star.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. Now hide the “heart” layer again. You should still have the duplicated heart visible. Select it, hold down Shift and resize it so that it can fit in the star. Place it in the middle of the star. Note that the center of the heart doesn’t necessarily needs to be at the center of the guide.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    8. Now select both of the shapes. Hold down Shift while you click on both the these double circles in the Layer panel to select both shapes.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. Now click Window > Pathfinder.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    10. The Pathfinder panel will pop-up. Click “Minus front.”
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    11. You should have something like this. You can also check your work by toggling the visibility of the “final_cutout” layer, but note that for this shape you don’t need to be exact.
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Radial Form<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Click on the “radial” layer. You should see that the two starter stars are already there for you.
        \n        \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      2. Select both stars by clicking on the Selection Tool, and hold Shift while clicking on both stars.
        \n        \"\"<\/a>
        \n        \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      3. Click Object > Transform > Rotate.
        \n        \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      4. Set the rotating angle to 30\u00b0 and click Copy.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      5. You should see something like this.
        \n        \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      6. Click Ctrl \/ Cmd + D until you have a full circle of stars.
        \n        \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
      7. You can check your work by toggling the visibility of the “final_radial” layer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Part 2: Intermediate Radial Form<\/h1>\n

        In this part you will be following instructions to create a simple flower pattern. Then, you can use the tips and tricks learned from this section to create your own pattern<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Start with a 500×500 px document in Illustrator.<\/li>\n
        2. Add guides to keep your radial pattern.\n