posted
Not being the brightest color in the crayon box, it took me going to the Detroit meet to start to notice how sign lettering is put together. So now I'm playing around in Illustrator on my Mac and having trouble outlining type in more than one color. Is there a workaround for this or do I need a big expensive rig to do this?
ps, welcome Ken Millar !
-------------------- Earl Kallemeyn Kallemeyn Press 61 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11222 718 349 8900 nyletterpress@earthlink.net Posts: 4 | From: New York | Registered: Jul 2004
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With the word you have add a 2 point stroke (black)
then to "Object" then "Expand"
"Ungroup" then "Pathfinder" then "unite"
Paste the word you copied
With the new word you have, add a .5 point stroke (white)
then to "Object" then "Expand"
"Ungroup" then "Pathfinder" then "unite"
Paste the word (black)
Center it and there you go, now practice it.
This will give you a word with a small outline with a thicker outer outline you can stack. In time with keybours shortcuts you can do this 10-15 seconds...you will also get used to laying it out first without all the producion work, when the client approves it, then to all the "expanding" uniting blah, blah, blah.....
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Give it the fill you want (whether it's a pattern, solid fill, gradient fill, whatever)
Give it a stroke of whatever thickness and color you want, then use the "Outline Path" command which converts the stroke into an outline.
Now you can give that outline a stroke, run the "Outline Path" command and you'll have another outline. You can keep adding outlines this way til you're heart's content.
You can also use the "Offset Path" command, probably even fewer steps involved.
Create your text, give it a fill.
Run "Offset Path" to the thickness you want, give the new path another color and send it to the back so it shows up as an outline around the original instead of on top of it.
Run "Offset Path" again but on the new path this time. Give it a fill, send it to back.
Keep doing that til you have all the outlines you want.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I agree, Mikes way is faster.....and thats how I started doing it.
When I layout, for customer approval, I use strokes, it is faster to layout, if I have to change it, it is faster than figuing out what offset I gave it, and with text at different sizes, I go back and forth with "oulining path" (could be my quirk) till I get it looking like I want, thus taking me more time. With strokes, it's more active with the stroke window, then when the cutomer approves the layout, it will look exactly how it was presented using "expand".
On this image, if I didn't like the outline from offset path, I have to delete it and give it a different offset. With strokes can adjust all the strokes to compliment each other, rather that removing all 3, it has more control prior to doing production.
If I do not need customer approval I do it the way Mike described it.
[ September 06, 2004, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
Keep Illustrator since Gerber isn;t made for Mac...highlite the subject...hit offset path enter size...hit enter
Do all of you, do cut ready layouts prior to approval?
Yes if it's an easy outline...do it simple way.
I was thinking he might...(and I may be assuming) of more elaborate outlines like this image below (with strokes, masks and dropshadow cut-out that if needed could be change prior to production, and above graphic, each outline having a different width and color, all done in Illustrator, with strokes, and effects that are eaiser to change on the fly.
Maybe I am doing to many complex letters and it's showing in my overly complicated post's... I sometimes forget to KISS
[ September 06, 2004, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Wondering if there is even more time savings assigning multiple strokes to a single vector instead of adding strokes to strokes or continually visiting the Offset Paths or related commands.
Take your single vector text and add multiple strokes via the Appearance palette. Keeps the wireframe view clean (not sure about file size and RIP time being reduced) and you can perform easy “stroke” ordering with simple drag and drop operation within the Appearance palette. For cutting, convert all strokes to vectors in one operation instead of the multiple visit’s while building the outline; correct?
This being asked from someone that doesn’t use Illustrator in a production atmosphere or with much product knowledge.
-------------------- Bob Gilliland InKnowVative Communications Harrisburg PA, USA
"The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself." Benjamin Franklin Posts: 642 | From: Harrisburg, PA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I use AI v8 and there is no Appearance Palette nor any option for multiple strokes so it depends on the version being used.
When it comes to laying things out for customers, they pretty much get what I design. They don't get to nitpick over fine details like the weights of outlines, inlines, etc but they get input on the overall design.
I usually design in full size so when I specify outlines and such there is very little guesswork required.
It all comes down to the methods and procedures you are used to. There's no single way to go about anything and the only *right* way is the way that makes you most efficient. Shoot, I still use ALL keyboard commands when I mess around with AutoCAD and I'd challenge anyone to a race.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Yeah I deal with architect, interior designers, art directors and other graphic designers...so you can imagine what I sometimes have to do. When I worked at a shop, it was easier...(unless you got the occasional picky customer) so I would make it ready. I design in scale since all my layouts usually have to be approved. I rarely design just a layout, a structure and dimension is usually involved. I palyed around with Bobs comment, adding outlined drop shadows with cut outs with multiple stokes of differing weighs. Cutting out copy and paste....(didn't this feature come out in Illy 10?) Anywho..me thinks I'm gonna have to play with this a little more. With Corel I used to design basically the same as most people I worked with, when I used Illustrator, I was taught by someone who had no clue how to use it. The more complcaited my designs got, the more I had to try to resolve how it might be cuttable. I also got a lot of graphic designer files for print, so when I went into production mode, resolving strokes and masks were major tasks. With time I almost always use keyboard shortcuts and can bang out complicated type tricks pretty fast...more than one way to skin a cat.
Thanks Bob
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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