Page 39 - CS6_AI_Look_Inside.pdf

imPort temPlate images
Many Illustrator projects require you to start with something that has already been
captured — a sketch, photograph, or low-resolution image (which is the case in this
project). Illustrator makes it easy to place existing digital files to use as templates for
your new artwork. You will use this feature in this exercise.

1. With icons.ai open, choose File>Place. Navigate to your WIP>Symbols
folder and click cold.tif to select that file.

2. At the bottom of the Place dialog box, check the Template option.
If you check the Link option, the placed file does not become a part of the actual file
where you’re working; for the file to output properly, Illustrator must be able to locate
the linked file in the same location (hard drive, CD, etc.) as when you placed it. If the
Link option is not checked, the placed file is embedded — it becomes part of the file
where it’s placed; the original external file is not necessary for the artwork to output
properly. We will explore the details of placed files in later projects.

In the case of this project, you are going to delete the template images after you create
the artwork; it is not necessary to embed the template images.

When you place an object as a template, it’s added to the file on a separate, non-printing
layer that is partially grayed, making it easier to work with.

Make sure this
option is checked.

If this option is checked,
the placed file is not
stored (embedded) as a
part of your Illustrator file.
3. Click Place.

When you place an object into Illustrator, it is automatically centered in the current
document window.

The Control panel shows
information about the
placed image, including
the resolution and the
embedded status.
The placed image is partially
hidden by the background
shapes. You will correct this
problem in the next exercise.

Placed images are
automatically located
in the exact center of
the document window.

Project 1: International Symbols 47