Page 17 - CS6_AI_Look_Inside.pdf

Stage 1 Setting up the Workspace

There are two primary types of digital artwork: raster images and vector graphics. (Line art,
sometimes categorized as a third type of image, is actually a type of raster image.)
Raster images are pixel-based, made up of a grid of individual pixels (rasters or bits) in
rows and columns (called a bitmap). Raster files are resolution dependent; their resolution is
determined when you scan, photograph, or create the file. As a professional graphic designer,
you should have a basic understanding of the following terms and concepts:
• Pixels per inch (ppi) is the number of pixels in one horizontal or vertical inch
of a digital raster file.
• Lines per inch (lpi) is the number of halftone dots produced in a linear inch by a
high-resolution imagesetter, which simulates the appearance of continuous-tone color.
• Dots per inch (dpi) or spots per inch (spi) is the number of dots produced by
an output device in a single line of output.

Drawing objects that you create in Illustrator are vector graphics, which are composed
of mathematical descrip tions of a series of lines and points. Vector graphics are resolution
independent; they can be freely scaled and are output at the resolution of the output device.

create a new document
In this project, you work with the basics of creating vector graphics in Illustrator using
a number of different drawing tools, adding color, and managing various aspects of
your artwork. The first step is to create a new document for building your artwork.

1. Download AI6_RF_Project1.zip from the Student Files Web page.

2. Expand the ZIP archive in your WIP folder (Macintosh) or copy the archive Note:
contents into your WIP folder (Windows).
If necessary, refer to Page
This results in a folder named Symbols, which contains all of the files you need for this
project. You should also use this folder to save the files you create in this project. 1 of the Interface chapter
for specific information
3. In Illustrator, choose File>New. on expanding or accessing
the required resource files.
4. In the resulting New Document dialog box, type icons in the Name field.
The New Document dialog box defaults to the last-used settings.
Note:
5. Choose Print in the New Document Profile menu, and make sure the To begin this project,
Number of Artboards field is set to 1. we reset the built-in
Illustrator CS6 includes the ability to create multiple artboards (basically, Illustrator’s Essentials workspace.
version of “pages”). You will work with multiple artboards in Project 3: Identity Package Feel free to work with
and Project 5: Letterfold Brochure. whatever settings you are
most comfortable using.
6. Choose Letter in the Size menu, choose Points in the Units menu, and
choose the Portrait Orientation option.
The point is a standard unit of measurement for graphic designers. There are 72
points in an inch. As you complete this project, you will work with other units of
measurement; you will convert the units later. Note:
You learn more about
7. Set all four bleed values to 0. bleeds in Project 3:
Bleed is the amount an object needs to extend past the edge of the artboard or page to Identity Package.
meet the mechanical requirements of commercial printing.

Project 1: International Symbols 25