Thursday, March 20, 2008

Quick gradient changes in Illustrator

There are several ways to change the colour of a gradient. You can select the colour in the swatch palette and drag and drop it on the gradient stop. Easier yet is to select the stop and while holding down the option key click on the colour in the swatches palette.  

You can also pick up the colour from an object in your document

1. click on the gradient stop
2. select the eyedropper in the tools palette
3. hold down the shift key and click with the eyedropper in the object containing the colour you want to use. Clicking on the stroke will apply the strokes colour.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Altering the pattern, but not the object in illustrator

Have you ever filled an object with a pattern but then wanted to change the size or angle or shape of the pattern without altering the object? Here's how to do it.

1. Select the object
2. Select the desired tool from the toolbox (scale tool, rotate tool, selection tool if you want to move the pattern)
3. Click and drag holding down the (`) accent grave key

Holding down the (`) and the shift keys makes sure your pattern is enlarged proportionately, or rotated at fixed angles. Using the section tool (black arrow) the pattern can be positioned where you want it within the object.

However be aware. If you have changed the attributes of the pattern the next object made will contain the altered pattern! The selected object will once again have to be filled with the original pattern

Friday, March 7, 2008

Dictionary

I had read it somewhere but had forgotten the key commands (which, by the way were not the same as those below ) In text edit, stickies and internet, those I know of so far, you can select a word and find the dictionary definition of it using a key command.


1. Select a word

2. keep the cursor over the word

3. Hold down the control key and click


Up comes a menu with alot of cool options including a dictionary. This is an Apple feature and I have no idea if it works on anything other than a Mac.