HISTORY
It was created as a solution to help speed up the design process for graphic artists working in advertising. Previously, all artwork (including logos), and fonts were laboriously drawn by hand. WIth the introduction of this vector based software, the artists had more time to put towards planning and design instead of the physical labor of creating by hand. It also replaced MacDraw, Macʼs earliest computer aided drawing program. Illustrator was an easier software program to master, and provided a better tool for people who did not have the money to learn complicated programs such as AutoCad. As well, Illustrator puts emphasis on painting, which was an element that was missing from CAD.
In the 1980ʼs interest in computer generated images was growing rapidly, which meant Illustrator was being upgraded with better technology beginning in 1988. In 1989 the first version for Windows was released, but it failed. Apple eventually developed version 4.0 for Windows, but that too drew criticism for not being advanced enough or even remotely equal to Windowʼs own illustrating software, CorelDraw. By 1997, designers were finding standardization in Illustrator and versions for Windows became more impressive. WIth the rise of the internet, Adobe added Plug-ins to the Illustrator software, making the program even more attractive to web designers.
By 2000, Illustrator was the number one choice in vector graphic editing software. In 2003, Adobe began bundling Illustrator with its other creative software, such as Photoshop, into one super package called Creative Suite. With this package users are able to create 3D images as well as a whole host of other cool applications like Live Paint, where the user can actually “paint” an object in Illustrator exactly how their eye sees it in real life, and Bristle Brush which allows the user to paint vectors that look like natural-media brush strokes.
Illustrator has come a long way from its inception. In todayʼs world, it is a tool that designers cannot be without.
History written by Heather McHugh citing the following sources:http://www.vecteezy.com/blog/2-the-history-of-adobe-illustrator
http://www.educationonlineforcomputers.com/learn_about_adobe_illustrator.html
http://www.odditysoftware.com/about/development-adobe_illustrator_41.html
Why Use Illustrator?
- It’s great for alternative media such as laser cutting, engraving, embroidery, vinyl cutting, good Print On Demand products, postcards/posters for shows, etc
- ability to re-size images (vector vs raster), which allows you to take your drawings to a new scale (really big, or small and repetitive, etc)
- It’s a good skill to understand (if not master) when entering the field of professional art (people will just assume you know computer programs like this).
- to make cool stuff
- cleaner image
- expand the media we use
- tied to technology
- web compatible
- keeping with the digital world
- efficiency
- graphic quality
WHY NOT TO USE
- expensive
- loss of hand skills/tradition?
- disconnect with tradition – it’s hard to change our ways
- requires a new skill set
Tips & Tricks for Illustrator
One of the most difficult, yet most important skills to master is the use of the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. You can use the Add Anchor Point tool to create bezier curves out of straight lines and the Delete Anchor Point tool to eliminate unwanted/unneeded points or curves.
The scissors too can also be used to divide a path into two separate segments.
There are commonly used shortcuts such as select pen tool (P), Select Add anchor point tool (+), Select Delete anchor point tool (-) Select Convert anchor point tool (Shift + C), or Select Scissors tool (C).
There are some secondary mouse controls which are useful as well when the path is selected, such as: when you hover the Pen tool over an anchor point, the pen tool changes to the Delete anchor point tool; when the Pen hovers over a path segment, it changes to the Add anchor point tool; or when the Pen tool hovers over an ending anchor point, it can be used as the Convert anchor point tool to change the curve of the path.
A handy trick is when trying to create a rounded rectangle, change the corner radius on the fly by using the up and down arrows.
Also, if you want to create several objects as you draw, hold the tilde key while you draw.
Tips & Tricks written by Sarah Kett and Phil McCollam, citing these sources:http://www.trainstation.cc/Tutorials/Illustrator/illustratortutorials.html
http://www.illustratortips.com/index.php/Instruction/Beginner-Tips/5-essential-illustrator-pen-tool-tutorials.html