Illustrator Vector Trace
Project Brief
Learn how to use vector tools in Illustrator and trace over a graphic with 3 colors in 3 different layers.
Copy Illustrator Template
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"
Container
Go to the "Container" Layer
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Container"
Choose a Fill Color
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"
Turn off Stroke/Outline
Click the stroke/outline swatch (bottom right square)
Click the white square with the red line through it to turn off the stroke color.
Pen Tool
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
Use the Pen Tool to Trace the Container
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
Lock the "Container" Layer
Go to your "Layers" panel
Click the blank space next to the eyeball to lock your "Container" layer
How to Zoom
To zoom in and out of your artboard:
Zoom in: hold down "cmd" and click "+"
Zoom out: hold down "cmd" and click "-"
Stems
Go to the "Plant" Layer
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Plant"
Choose a New Fill Color
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"
Curvature Tool
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
Use the Curvature Tool to Trace a Stem
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.
Lock Your Stem
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 Stem
Repeat for each plant stem.
Trace each stem as one shape.
It's ok if your shapes overlap.
Leaves
Trace Only 1 Leaf
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 :)
Duplicate with "Option" key
Select your "Selection Tool" (1st icon)
Hold down the "option" key on your keyboard.
Click and drag your traced leaf to duplicate it.
Adjust with the Selection Tool
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.
Repeat for all Leaves
Duplicate, move, resize, rotate until all the leaves are done.
Lock & Close your "Plant" Layer
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.
Background Shape
Select the "Background" Layer
Go to your "Layers" panel
Select "Background"
Choose a Fill Color
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"
Shape Tools
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.)
Use a Shape Tool
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.
Hide "Reference Image" Layer
Go to your "Layers" panel
Click the eyeball on the "Reference Image" layer to hide it.
Save
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"
Save as a PDF File in new folder
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: "4 - Production"
Then click "New Folder" again and name it "Formatives"
Change the Format to "Adobe PDF (pdf)"
Click "Save"
Click "Save PDF"
Submit Google Drive Link to Canvas
In Finder:
Right-click on "Graphic Design" and click "Copy link to clipboard"
Paste the link in Canvas.
