Day 6
Objectives
General Objectives
- Students will be able to effectively use text and its various settings
- Students will be able to apply and edit the appearance of objects
- Students will understand the basics of creating blends
Specific Objectives
- Text
- Students will be able to add, edit, and warp text
- Appearance and effects
- Students will be able to use multiple strokes and fills on objects
- Students will be able to apply and edit object effects
- Blend Tool
- Students will understand the basics of creating a blend with shapes
- Students will understand how to adjust blend tool options
Practice files: https://files.learnsoftware.org/illustrator/
Outline
Intro/Hook [completed class file, or search google images for Illustrator Text Effects]
Text
- Example Question: When should you design your text in Illustrator (rather than InDesign, Photoshop, or Word)? What interesting/cool text effects have you seen that you might like to recreate?
- Type tools
Appearance
Envelope Distort (optional, if time permits)
- Distort with top object
- Object > Blend > Blend Options
- Specified Steps vs Smooth Color
- Object > Blend > Make
- Replace Spine
Conclusion
- Recap
- Text
- Appearance Panel
- Blend Tool
- Envelope Distort (if taught)
- Badges!
Example Activities
Text and Effects.ai
In this file, have students create text using the type tool, and distort it using preset warps or drawing and using a top shape (created with a shape tool or the pen tool). These warping options can be found under Edit > Envelope distort > Make with warp OR Make with top object.
Then, students can experiment with using the appearance panel to apply effects and multiple fills or strokes to objects. These tools are useful for all sorts of objects, but text works great as an example. The text in the middle of this file is useful as a demonstration of how multiple fills and strokes can be combined with a few effects to create complex appearance without losing the editability of the text.
Quick-learning students, or those who have extra time, may wish to combine all these skills to create a stylized version of their own name.
Blending.ai
In this file, have students practice using the Blend command in the Object Menu. The first art-board can be used to demonstrate the Blend command using specified steps (Object>Blend>Blend Options>Specified Steps>8)(Object>Blend>Make). The second art-board can be used to demonstrate the Blend command using smooth color (Object>Blend>Blend Options>Smooth Color)(Object>Blend>Make).
The third art-board can be used to demonstrate replacing a spine. Instruct the students to choose one of the shapes provided, and applying a simple gradient to it. It works best with one dark color and one light color. Duplicate the shape 15-20 times and blend all of those shapes using Object>Blend>Specified Steps>200, Object>Blend>Make. Select the blended shape and the J written with the Brush tool then: Object>Blend>Replace Spine. Repeat that for the rest of the word written with the brush tool. Students can replicate this on the empty art-board, creating their own word or shape with the brush tool.