Adobe Illustrator Blank Canvas Syndrome
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Adobe Illustrator Blank Canvas Syndrome

By: Andrew Whiteman

Adobe Illustrator is 2D vector-based drawing program which has three primary functions. Firstly, it can be used to create graphics for print, such as logos, illustrations and diagrams. Secondly, it can help you build web graphics: buttons, icons; even entire web page designs. As well as drawing, Illustrator can also become a desktop publishing environment where you can create single page layouts such as posters, fliers, book jackets, DVD CD covers, etc.

We often find that delegates attending our Adobe Illustrator training courses have difficulty in getting to grips with the program, finding applications for it and incorporating it into their workflows. One of the main reasons for this is what we sometimes refer to as "Blank Canvas Syndrome". The thing is: at first glance, Adobe Illustrator often seems a lot less enticing and inviting than, say, Photoshop. To many new users, Photoshop is like a big city with bright lights and lots of exciting things to do and places to go. By contrast, Illustrator can seem like a wasteland; there's just nothing there when you create a new document; it's up to you to create everything from scratch.

Adobe Illustrator training courses need to do more than simply teach delegates how to use the various tools and techniques. Delegates also need to learn how to get past that intimidating blank page they see when they create a new image. We've identified four main techniques for curing "Blank Canvas Syndrome". Firstly, to identify precisely what type of artwork you need to create. Secondly, to use Illustrator's Live Trace facility to generate useful vector content. Thirdly, to use scanned images as background elements within your drawings which can act as guides and points as reference for the artwork you create. And, finally, to base new elements you create on elements that already exist within your drawings.

We find that some of the most successful Adobe Illustrator courses that we run are for organisations that have a very clear idea of the type of artwork that they need to produce with Illustrator. For example, fashion companies using Illustrator to create drawings showing off their designs and products; or people like architects and cartographers who are using the program to generate some of the less technical illustrations required in their line of business.

When we are dealing with users who don't have such straightforward uses for Illustrator, we try to emphasise to them that there are ways of avoiding having to draw every single stroke of your artwork from scratch. We show them how bitmaps and scanned artwork can be used as starting points for their own vector drawings, how they can trace images and keep images on background layers as points of reference as they create their own artwork.

Illustrator's Live Trace function is a powerful built-in utility which converts bitmapped images into editable Illustrator vector images. It contains a series of presets for tracing specific types of image, such as colour or black and white logos, line art, charts or technical drawings. As well as these presets it is also possible to create your own customised settings. The artwork produced by the Live Trace function will almost always need to be cleaned up and modified before becoming useable as Illustrator artwork. However, it can be a huge time saver and can be a welcome alternative to drawing elements from scratch.

Scanned or other images can also be placed on a background layer and used to provide constant points of reference when originating new Illustrator artwork. Background images can help to ensure that elements within the Illustrator artwork you create are of the correct dimensions have the correct relative proportions and so forth. For example, if you are drawing human figures, placing a photo of some people on a background layer can help to ensure that you don't end up creating figures with disproportionately large heads or long arms.

Another trick we always point out to delegates attending our Illustrator training courses is the ease with which you can create elements which are variations on existing elements within your drawing. Illustrator has powerful techniques for creating transformed copies of an object. It also allows you to place multiple strokes and fills on an object and to apply effects to each of them. Thus, for example if you need to create four concentric circles, you can just create one circle and give it four strokes, using the Offset Path command to position each of them.

The bottom line is that Illustrator's blank canvas doesn't have to stay blank for very long. You just need to formulate a clear idea of what you want to achieve with the program. Wherever possible, find images which you can either trace or use as reference points as you originate your own artwork. And, when creating new elements always ask yourself: "Can I base these new elements on items that already exist within the drawing?" If you use these simple techniques, then Blank Canvas Syndrome will never become a huge affliction for you.

Article Source: http://articlenexus.com

The The writer of this article is a training consultant with Macresource Computer Solutions, a UK IT training company offering Adobe Illustrator Classes in London and throughout the UK.

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