Learn how to use vector tools in Illustrator and trace over a graphic with 3 colors in 3 different layers.
Go to: https://assets.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:5ca2af81-2795-4eb1-b152-0081e7f4c75e?view=difile
If you aren't already signed in to Adobe, click "Sign in" in the top right corner.
Click "Copy to Files"
Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
Right-click on the template and click "Open"
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Container"
Double-click on the fill swatch (top left square) to open the Color Picker
Choose a color for your plant container by adjusting the hue and saturation/value.
Click "OK"
Click the stroke/outline swatch (bottom right square)
Click the white square with the red line through it to turn off the stroke color.
Automatically creates straight lines and corners. You can also:
Create on 90-degree or 45-degree angle: Hold down shift while clicking
Delete a point: Go back and click on the point
Edit Points/Paths: Use the "Direct Selection Tool" (white pointer)
Stop drawing: press the “esc” key
Select the "Pen Tool" (3rd icon down)
Click along the edges of the container to trace.
Start in the top left corner under the edge and go left to right.
When you get to the edge hold down "shift on your
Go to your "Layers" panel
Click the blank space next to the eyeball to lock your "Container" layer
To zoom in and out of your artboard:
Zoom in: hold down "cmd" and click "+"
Zoom out: hold down "cmd" and click "-"
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Plant"
Double-click on the fill swatch (top left square) to open the Color Picker
Choose a color for your plant by adjusting the hue and saturation/value.
Click "OK"
The curvature tool creates curves with one click and points/straight lines with two clicks. You can also:
Adjust path: click and drag (adds a point and adjusts path)
Corner > smooth > corner: double-click the point
Delete a point: click a point and press the “delete” key
Stop drawing: press the “esc” key
Select your "Curvature Tool" (4th icon down)
Start on the left side stem.
Click along the edges to trace. Click once to create a curve and double-click to make the corners at the bottom.
In the "Layers" panel, click the arrown next to the "Plant" layer
Click the blank space next to the eyeball to lock your "<Path>" that you just made.
Repeat for each plant stem.
Trace each stem as one shape.
It's ok if your shapes overlap.
Continue using your "Curvature Tool" (4th icon down)
Click along the edges of a leaf to trace it (remember on the point, you can double click so it doesn't curve)
It's ok for your shape to overlap with your stem.
READ THE NEXT INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE TRACING ANOTHER LEAF :)
Select your "Selection Tool" (1st icon)
Hold down the "option" key on your keyboard.
Click and drag your traced leaf to duplicate it.
Adjust each of them so they are relatively similar to the reference image.
To adjust the size, click and drag on a corner while holding "Shift" on your keyboard to constrain the proportions
To rotate, hover over a corner and when you see the curvy arrow appear, click and rotate.
To move, select and then click and drag.
Duplicate, move, resize, rotate until all the leaves are done.
Go to your "Layers" panel
Click the empty space next to the eyeball to lock your "Plant" layer.
Click the down arrow to close the layer as well.
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Background"
Double-click on the fill swatch (top left square) to open the Color Picker
Choose a color for your background shape by adjusting the hue and saturation/value.
Click "OK"
Illustrator has 4 pre-made shape tools: rectangle, ellipse, polygon, and star.
Select a shape then click and drag on your artboard to make the shape
If you hold down "shift" on your keyboard while you do this, you can create shape with equal proportions (square, circle, etc.)
Right-click on the "Rectangle Tool" (5th icon down)
Choose Ellipse, Plygon or Star.
Click and drag to create a shape behind your plant and container.
"Cmd" + "Z" will undo
To move your shape, select the "Selection Tool" (first/top icon on your toolbar) then click and drag your shape.
Go to your "Layers" panel
Click the eyeball on the "Reference Image" layer to hide it.
Because your file is saved on Creative Cloud, it will be a ".aic" file - this means Illustrator saves your file every 5 minutes.
If you see an asterisk (*), that means there are unsaved changes.
If "Save" is grayed out, it means your file has already been automatically saved.
To save, in the top menu, click "File" > "Save"
Go to "File" > "Save As..."
Click "Save on your computer"
Click the down arrow to the right of "Where"
Choose "My Drive" > "Graphic Design" >
Click "New Folder"
Title the new folder: "5 - Principles"
Then click "New Folder" again and name it "Formatives"
Change the Format to "Adobe PDF (pdf)"
Click "Save"
Click "Save PDF"
In Finder:
Right-click on "Graphic Design" and click "Copy link to clipboard"
Paste the link in Canvas.