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  • Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics

    Posted on 28th August 2021 by Greta Powell

    Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics

     

    Adobe InDesign Introduction Training ideal for beginners - one of our Creative Cloud Training CoursesIn this Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics tutorial find out what vectors are and how they are used. Unlike raster images vector graphics are completely scalable with no loss of quality.

     

    Vector v Raster – what is the difference?

    The easiest way to describe these would be to say that if you were an artist for example Lau Trec then you would be working with vectors whilst if you were a photographer such as Bill Brandt then you would be working with Raster.

     

    In the physical world Vector would be described as art formed from a canvas using paint and brushes. Incidentally the fact that Illustrator’s workspace is called a canvas is not by mistake. And a Raster image would be anything with a pixel, a photographic image.

     

    Vector Art is………….what exactly?

    Put simply it is artwork that consists of vectors meaning the graphics are lines, curves, shapes and points based on mathematics. Adobe Illustrator is a prime example of vector artwork.

     

    A term that refers to the algorithm working in the back of the software that creates artwork in Illustrator. Vector artwork can be resized, rotated and generally edit without loss of quality.

     

    Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics Tutorial from Greta Powell Training Illustrator Hints & TipsAn example of Vector Artwork can be seen in the image on the left created by PCH Vector

     

    If you click on the image to the left you will see how clearly defined it is.

     

    At the back you can see the original image and at the front you see the editable paths in the picture.

     

    These are fills and strokes so can be resized, recoloured and generally edited in many ways.

     

    Vector Art Read More

     

    So what are vectors used for?

    It’s used in many ways to create steady artwork. It is very popular with logo designers because of its flexibility with text. You can turn your text into a graphic in Illustrator and then using tools such as the knife cut up the character or word graphic and apply a two colour effect to it. People love using it to design and produce flyers, posters and signage and of course it is the number one choice of package designers.

     

    Quick question – ever thought about how the label on a tin of peas is designed? Illustrator probably.

     

    Other uses are:

     

    • Website Mockups
    • Email Campaigns
    • Advertising (very popular)
    • Infographics
    • Original Charts & Graphs for Financials
    • Games
    • Cartoons
    • Artwork
    • Fashion Design

     

    Can you turn a photo into a vector image?

    Yes you can and one of the best ways to do this is to use the Image Trace tool in Illustrator. Incidentally if you have an older version of Illustrator then the tool is known as Live Trace.

     

    Adobe Illustrator Vector Graphics Tutorial - Illustrator Training Post

    How do you do that?

     

    In this picture the Image Trace tool was used to break down this image from the Freepix website so that we could re-colour the little girl.

     

    Make sure that the image you want to trace is selected then select the Image Trace drop down & select an option.

     

    In this instance the choice was six colours.

     

    Image Trace will then run and show you the result. If you’re happy with the result press Expand and the image will convert to vector.

     

     

    Image Trace Video Tutorial

     

     

    Vector Historial Facts

    For anyone interested in vector history like most things they have their feet firmly in maths and are “a quantity that has both magnitude and direction but not position”. Which means they’ve been around for a very long time but “in their most modern form, vectors appeared late in the 19th century when Josiah Gibbs and Oliver Heaviside” worked with them in electromagnetism. 

     

    We don’t know much about electomagnetism here at Greta Powell Training but enjoyed reading about vectors here at Encyclopedia Britannica here 

     

    Illustrator Introduction Course

    Or if you’d simply like a trainer to work with and learn all about vectors you come on our Illustrator Introduction Course.

     

    Find out more about our Illustrator Course here

     

    or download our Adobe Illustrator Introduction Training Course Overview

     

    Onsite Illustrator Training Courses

    We travel UK wide to deliver our onsite Illustrator Courses including Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Liverpool, Lincoln, York – just about everywhere really.

     

    Online Illustrator Training

    With everything so unsure these in regard to Covid we are running the whole range of our Adobe Courses as Online Training Sessions

     

    Find out more about Online Illustrator Training

     

     

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