Using the Pathfinder in Adobe Illustrator

To make new shapes from overlapping objects.

1. Select the objects you want to affect with the Select Tool, black arrow (v)

Original shapes

2. In the Pathfinder palette click on each button to either: Unite, Minus Front, Intersect or Exclude.

The top row of buttons effect the whole shape and the bottom row of buttons effect the paths that make up the shape.

Unite

Minus Front

Intersect

Exclude

3. Some actions will be different depending on which shape is above the other.

4. Summary of the Pathfinder types 
http://bit.ly/giGTpg

5. Explanation and examples of each 
http://bit.ly/9BmrIO

Making Pattern Brushes in Adobe Illustrator

To create a pattern brush to apply different stitch styles and build a library.

“Pattern brushes Paint a pattern—made of individual tiles—that repeats along the path. Pattern brushes can include up to five tiles, for the sides, inner corner, outer corner, beginning, and end of the pattern”
Explanation of the different types of brushes: http://bit.ly/h469EC


1. Create square with no fill and black stroke to contain the pattern.

2. Draw the stroke element within the square. To have a smooth repeat the left and right parts should align.

3. Remove the stroke for the guide square.

4. Select all the elements. The guide square and inside lines.
5. Drag to the Brushes palette to make a new brush. Select Pattern Brush.

6. Under Colourisation Method, select Tints to be able to change the colour of the stitches.

7. To make a basic brush with no corner elements, accept the default settings.

8. If you want to have inside and outside corner parts add the elements to the Swatch palette. Double click the brush you want to change in the Brushes palette and add corner elements from the Swatch palette in the list that appears.

9. Test with a curved path.

Make a dashed line in Adobe Illustrator

Make a dashed line that will represent a stitch on a flat drawing for the collar, cuff and hem.

1. Select the collar line with the Direct Selection tool. White arrow (a).

2. Copy, Paste in Front.
3. Increase the width of the stroke.

4. Outline the stroke with Object, Path, Outline Stroke.

5. Select No Fill and Black Stroke.

6. Using the Direct Selection tool (a) delete the unwanted parts of the line.

7. Select the line you want to make dashed with the Selection tool, black arrow (v).

8. Using the Stroke palette make the line dashed.

9. With the Scissors tool (c) cut any unwanted parts of the line and delete.

10. Repeat steps 1-9 for the cuff and the hem.

11. To apply the same dash detail to the other parts of the drawing select the Eyedropper tool (i)

12. Click on the dashed line to copy the line style.

13. Alt-Click on the cuff and hem lines to paste the line style.

Joining Anchor points in Adobe Illustrator

1. Select both anchor points using the Direct Selection tool (a), click and drag a marquee around both to select both at once.

2. Select Object, Path, Average... and pick both in the following dialogue box. This will move both anchor points on top of each other.

3. Select Object, Path, Join and pick either Corner or Smooth depending on the type of line you want.

Delicious Bookmarks

All things Photoshop, Illustrator, design, drawing, handy, fonts, resource....just click it.

Here's a nifty link to all my handy...links.
And here if you like them Tag flavoured.

Adobe Illustrator workshop for Fashion Students

Follow this link to yet another blog site to get access to my lesson plan for the workshops.

http://wp.me/p1b20N-4

These workshops are for the first year fashion students at who are starting to venture into Adobe Illustrator for the first time to create garment flats. This will be a workshop of 3 sessions.