Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Rethinking Construction
Rethinking Construction
INTRODUCTION
Constructing objects is at the heart of artwork in Illustrator, and nowhere has
Illustrator been more innovative than in finding new ways to construct new
objects from the amalgamation of simple paths and shapes. The early days of
painstakingly constructing and joining every path, anchor point by anchor
point, is giving way to methods of coloring shapes in ways that create new
objects or that more closely simulate drawing with pencil and paper. This
chapter works its way from newer methods for combining and editing shapes
—using the semi-automatic methods of the Eraser, Blob Brush, the Shape
Builder tools, Live Paint, and Image Trace—to older methods such as the
Pathfinder panel and working with compound paths and shapes. Here also
you'll find drawing assistants—such as drawing inside or behind objects,
joining paths, and aligning objects and anchor points—that will help you to
combine basic paths and objects.
THE ERASER TOOLS & THE BLOB BRUSH
One of the easiest ways to separate and combine objects is using the Eraser
and the Blob Brush tools. With the Eraser tool you can cut an object into
many parts, and with the Blob Brush you can combine multiple objects with
the same fill attributes (and no stroke).
The Eraser tools
If nothing is selected, the Eraser tool (or the eraser end of your stylus if
you're using a graphics tablet) erases objects as you drag over them. To
restrict the effect of the Eraser tool, select the paths you want to edit, then
drag the Eraser tool through them, or enter isolation mode. If you want
certain paths to be protected from the Eraser tool when nothing is selected,
lock or hide those paths or their layer. You can constrain the direction of the
Eraser tool by Shift-dragging, or by Option-dragging/Alt-dragging a marquee
to erase a rectangular area. The Eraser tool also has the calligraphic
attributes of the Paintbrush tool: Double-click the Eraser tool in the Tools
panel to customize it.
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