illustrating

[lee_wilson@adobeforums.com]

Hi people, just wondering if anyone could tell me how to position layers etc. when tracing a figure in Illustrator, I mean at the moment having problem with over lapping paths:

At the minute I am illustrating a model and illustrating the models shorts I can never get the stroke to line up perfectly with the stroke/outline of the body of the figure.

Hope this makes sense, let me know if not...

Thanks

[lee_wilson@adobeforums.com]

I have just tried creating a clipping mask by placing the shorts above the outline then adding the clipping mask but then the outline stroke goes missing.

Help

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Lee:

I like to create a new layer for each new area I trace.

The image I am tracing goes on the bottom. I usually double-click on that layer and choose template.

Then I begin to build layer by layer (trace with the pen tool & sample colors from image for my fill), using my judgement as to what might be the farthest area in the back and working forward... or visa versa. After completing an area I might Command-Click one the Eye to temporarily disable the fill but show the frame. Then I choose another area and build another layer, etc.

I am always looking for a better way to do this but for now this is my method.

[Scott_Weichert@adobeforums.com]

I tend to hide objects. After an object is drawn and I know it's there I hide it then go about drawing anything that may be on top of that object. I also use layers quite a bit, placing each section of a piece on it's own layer. I do this for a couple reasons... to speed screen redraw by turning visibility off on sections that are complete and to turn visibility off in order to see other parts of an image.

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

It never ceases to amaze me how powerful Illustrator is. I'm also amazed at how much I still have to learn. I look at the artwork of others and am blown away. It seems the Gradient Mesh Tool is an animal that one must learn how to tame and there's more skill involved than I first thought. I'm still learning. I guess the fact that there is so much skill involved in certain types of artwork, that makes the artist more valuable. How far I get is yet to be seen, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the journey. :)

[Gary_Newman@adobeforums.com]

Me, too, Linda. If you get a chance, check out the just-released Illustrator CS Wow! Book. Lots of gradient mesh examples there.

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Gary: Thanks for the tip on the new Wow book. I'll be sure to check it out.