1. Illustrator dùng để làm gì?
Illustrator chuyên về vẽ
dựa trên việc tạo và chỉnh sửa các vector (các điểm tọa độ trên mặt phẳng thiết kế) ⇒ kết nối tạo thành các path (với đặc tính màu sắc, hình dạng, độ dày)
Vector là gì?
Vector là hình ảnh được tạo bởi các đường thẳng, đường cong toán học. Khác với ảnh raster (như JPEG hay PNG), vector có thể phóng to vô hạn mà không bị vỡ.
2. Thanh công cụ (Toolbars)
chứa các công cụ cơ bản.
2.1. Selection tools (phím tắt V)
Selection Tool (V)
The Selection Tool (V) in Illustrator is the primary selection tool, used for selecting entire objects, moving them, resizing, and rotating.
Direct Selection Tool (A)
The Direct Selection Tool (A) is for fine-grained editing, letting you select and adjust individual anchor points (điểm neo) and segments within a shape or path.
Where the regular selection tool would select the entire shape, the Direct Selection Tool enables you to edit one angle, side, point or curve at a time.
Lasso Tool (Q)
The lasso tool works similarly to the Direct Selection Tool in that it allows you to select individual anchor points within a shape or object.
However, the Lasso Tool allows you to draw around an area of points you want selected so that you’re able to easily select several at a time.
Magic Wand Tool (Y) - Group Selection Tool
The Magic Wand Tool (Y) selects objects with similar attributes like fill colour, stroke colour, or stroke weight.
2.2. Drawing tools
Pen Tool (P)
It's used for creating and editing complex paths and shapes by placing anchor points.
- Click to create straight line segments.
- Click and drag to create curved paths.
- Click down on the Alt key (or the Option key on Mac) to adjust a single side of a path independently.
- Double-click to close a path or shape.
Pen Tool được sử dụng để vẽ một cái gì đó bằng cách tạo các đường dẫn. Đường dẫn (path) là các đường có hai điểm cuối được gọi là neo, và neo có hai handle hữu ích trong việc định hình lại đối tượng.
Khi bạn nhấp chuột phải vào công cụ Pen trong bảng công cụ, bạn cũng sẽ thấy các công cụ khác:
– Add Anchor Point Tool (+): Để thêm các điểm neo vào đường dẫn, chọn đường dẫn rồi click vào Pen Tool rồi di chuyển con trỏ đến đường dẫn, bên cạnh con trỏ sẽ xuất hiện dấu cộng (+), click để thiết lập một điểm (point) trên đường dẫn.
– Delete Anchor Point Tool (-): Để xóa bất kỳ điểm neo hiện có nào trên đường dẫn, hãy làm theo quy trình tương tự như thêm một điểm neo. Nhưng điểm khác biệt ở đây là một dấu trừ sẽ xuất hiện bên cạnh con trỏ khi bạn di chuyển con trỏ đến một điểm neo hiện có, nhấp để xóa điểm neo.
– Anchor Point Tool (Shift C): Dùng để điều chỉnh điểm neo.
Curvature Tool (Shift+)
The curvature tool is another great way to create vector shapes, especially if your shape has mostly curved edges.
It's harder to have perfect control over your curves using this tool than is with the pen tool, BUT the curves of this tool are also more perfectly round than the curves you would create using the pen tool. I suggest using this tool in combination with the pen tool to create the perfect shape – best of both worlds!
Pencil Tool (N)
The Pencil Tool (N) offers a free-hand drawing experience, allowing you to draw freeform paths with a hand-drawn feel.
1) Select the tool and start drawing with your mouse or tablet.
2) Adjust the smoothing setting in the Control panel for cleaner or more organic lines.
Paint Brush Tool (B)
The paint brush tool makes thicker, paint-like strokes that you can change the width, shape and texture of.
This tool creates brush strokes that are made up of actual lines, so after you’ve “painted” them, you can use the direct select tool to can move around the points and smooth out any curves that aren’t quite perfect. You can also change the width of the stroke after it’s already been drawn by changing the line weight.
Blob Brush Tool (Shift + B)
The Blob Brush Tool (Shift + B) combines the simplicity of a brush with the vector capabilities of Illustrator. It's perfect for creating organic and painterly shapes.
1) Draw freely like with the Pencil Tool.
2) The Blob Brush Tool automatically merges overlapping paths into a single shape.
The blob brush tool is the same as the paint brush tool, but instead of creating lines down the middle of your brushstrokes, it creates a vector shape AROUND the brushstroke. So instead of creating a single path, it creates an entire an area instead.
2.3. Shape Tools
Rectangle Tool (M)
If you want a perfect square you can hold down the shift key as you click and drag. Otherwise just click and drag normally to make a rectangle. If you need your shape to be an exact size, just click one time and specify the size you want your shape to be in the box that will pop up.
Rounded Rectangle Tool
This tool works exactly the same as the rectangle tool, but the corners are rounded instead of squared.
If you want to adjust the roundness of the corners, use the direct selection tool and click and drag on the little circular points that show up on the insides part of the corners and adjust them accordingly.
Ellipse Tool (L)
Fun fact: an ellipse is a circle. So any time you want a circle or an oval, this is the tool you’ll need.
To create a circle, hold down the shift key. If you want an oval, just click and drag. Like the rectangle tool(s), if you want a specific sized circle, just click once on the artboard and adjust your settings accordingly.
Polygon Tool
The polygon tool makes any number of sided shapes – from triangles to hexagons to octagons and beyond.
With the tool selected, all you need to do is click once on your artboard and define how many sides you want your shape to have.
Star Tool
This tool obviously makes stars. With this tool, you can choose how many points you want your star to have, as well as how far in the inner points go towards the center.
The star tool is super fun to play around with, given how many different variations you can come up with. Again, just click in your workspace with the tool selected to define the number of points you want your star to have, as well as the distance you want between them.
Flare Tool
This is another random tool that I have never actually used and I don’t totally understand who does. It makes this weird multi-circular shape with some weird gradient flares. Play around with it because I don’t even really know how to describe what this tool does. You’ll see how weird it is for yourself.
Line Segment Tool (\)
The Line Segment Tool (\) is designed for drawing straight lines or paths. Hold Shift to constrain the angle to 45-degree increments.
1) Click and drag to draw a line.
2) Hold Shift for precise horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines.
3) Adjust the line's length and angle in the Control panel.
This tool does exactly what you think it does – draws lines! Unlike the pen tool however, you cannot make connected lines, only individual ones.
For this tool and the ones nested under it, you can either click and drag to create your lines, or you can click one single time on the artboard and specify it's dimensions first. If you hold down the shift key you can create a line at a 0, 45, or 90 degree angles.
Arch Tool
This tool makes arches – imagine that! However, I personally don’t find it the easiest to control and would recommend using the curvature tool instead – but try them both out and see which you prefer!
Spiral Tool
Another obvious one – this tool makes spirals! This is actually a super fun tool, however I don’t know that I’ve actually ever used it for a real project before. But if you can find a practical use for this – kudos!
Rectangular Grid Tool
This tool is actually be super helpful because it allows you to create create tables or anything else you’d need a grid with rows and columns for.
Once the tool is selected, you can click one time on your artboard, which will bring up a window where you can specify the size and amount of rows and columns you want. Hit okay and your grid will appear!
Polar Grid Tool
This tool makes a polar grid, which apparently is a circular target looking thing, with perpendicular lines that meet in the middle. I have no idea what you would ever use this for, but it’s there if you need it I guess?!
2.4. Type Tools
Type Tool (T)
The Type Tool (T) is the gateway to adding text to your illustrations. You can create both point text and area text using this versatile tool.
1) Select the Type Tool from the toolbar.
2) Click on your canvas to create point text, which is text in a single line.
3) Click and drag to define a text area for area text, which flows within the boundaries.
4) Type your text, and you can adjust the font, size, and other text attributes in the Control panel.
Area Type Tool
The Area Type Tool is an extension of the Type Tool that allows you to create text containers within shapes. This is ideal for fitting text into specific areas or shapes.
1) Select the Type Tool (T) from the toolbar.
2) Click on the edge of a shape to create an area text container.
3) Type your text, and it will automatically wrap within the shape's boundaries.
Type on a Path Tool
The Type on a Path Tool is designed for adding text along a path, giving your text a curved or custom shape.
1) Select the Type on a Path Tool from the Type Tool submenu.
2) Click on an existing path or create a new one.
3) Type your text, and it will follow the shape of the path.
Vertical Type Tool
The vertical type tool allows you to type your text vertically instead of horizontally.
Vertical Area Type Tool
This is exactly like the area type tool, but this tool allows you to type vertically instead of horizontally.
Vertical Type on a Path Tool
This tool is exactly like the type on a path tool, but allows you to type vertically instead of horizontally.
Touch Type Tool
This it allows you to select individual letters of existing text and move them around.
2.5. Transformation Tools
Scale Tool (S)
The Scale Tool (S) is dedicated to resizing objects, allowing you to make adjustments both proportionally and non-proportionally.
1) Select an object.
2) Activate the Scale Tool.
3) Click to set a reference point for scaling.
4) Click and drag to resize the object. Holding Shift ensures proportional scaling.
Rotate Tool (R)
The Rotate Tool (R) is your tool for rotating objects around a specific point, giving you control over the angle of rotation.
1) Select an object.
2) Activate the Rotate Tool.
3) Click to set the rotation point (the center of rotation).
4) Click and drag to rotate the object.
2.6. Other Tools
Artboard Tool (Shift + O)
The Artboard Tool (Shift + O) allows you to create and manipulate artboards, which serve as the canvas for your illustrations.
Hand Tool (H)
The Hand Tool (H) lets you navigate your document quickly by dragging it to view different areas.
Zoom Tool (Z)
The Zoom Tool (Z) allows you to zoom in and out on your artwork for precise editing.
Eyedropper Tool (I)
The Eyedropper Tool (I) samples colours and attributes from one object and applies them to another.
Gradient Tool (G)
The Gradient Tool (G) helps you create and edit gradients, adding depth and dimension to your artwork.
Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M)
The Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M) lets you combine and divide shapes easily to create complex forms.
FILL VÀ STROKE COLOR (Tô màu toàn bộ và tô màu đường viền)
Ở dưới cùng của thanh công cụ, bạn sẽ thấy hai biểu tượng hình vuông - một hình vuông đầy đủ và một đường viền hình vuông. Ô vuông cho biết màu tô cho toàn bộ đối tượng (Fill) và ô có đường viền biểu thị màu viền xung quanh đối tượng (Stroke).
Lưu ý:
Chữ không hút được màu
nên phải click chuột phải chọn Create outlines để đổi thành dạng vector rồi mới dùng eyedrop được
Danh sách các phím tắt quan trọng cho các công cụ phổ biến.
Công cụ | Phím tắt | Gợi ý cải thiện tốc độ làm việc |
Selection Tool | V | Dùng để chọn, di chuyển đối tượng nhanh chóng |
Direct Selection | A | Điều chỉnh điểm và đường nét của đối tượng |
Pen Tool | P | Tạo và chỉnh sửa các đường cong với độ chính xác cao |
Type Tool | T | Thêm và chỉnh sửa văn bản trực tiếp trên thiết kế |
Rectangle Tool | M | Nhanh chóng tạo hình chữ nhật, cơ bản cho bố cục |
Zoom Tool | Z | Phóng to hoặc thu nhỏ để xem chi tiết hoặc toàn cảnh |
Hand Tool | H | Di chuyển khung nhìn mà không thay đổi đối tượng |
Eyedropper Tool | I | Lấy màu sắc từ đối tượng khác để đồng bộ hóa thiết kế |
Brush Tool | B | Tạo nét vẽ tay tự nhiên và các đường nét nghệ thuật |