From the course: Deke's Techniques (2018-2021)
974 Tracing a specific letterform with a shape tool
From the course: Deke's Techniques (2018-2021)
974 Tracing a specific letterform with a shape tool
- Hey gang. This is Deek McClellan. Welcome to Deek's Techniques. Now over the last couple of weeks, I've been showing you how you can snap a graphic object to the contours of a character of live editable type in the most recent version of Adobe illustrator. Well, this week it gets even better. As I show you how to trace a letter form with precision accuracy using a shape tool such as well, the ellipse tool. Plus, you can trace that character without first converting it to a path outline, as was your only option in the past. Here, let me show you exactly how it works. All right, so all we want to do is fill in these negative spaces here inside the letter O's as well as these two stars, would have been hard to do in the past, much easier to pull off inside the most recent version of illustrator. Now, in case you're working along with me, I want you to know that these stars are characters of type. From a font called HWT, that is Hamilton Wood Type star ornaments. And this is a font that's currently available from Adobe fonts. So, if you don't have it, you can go ahead and activate it. All right, so I'll go ahead and switch back to illustrator. We're going to start with this letter O right here. And so I'll go ahead and zoom in on it. And I'm going to switch to the layers panel. Notice that I've created an empty layer called "draw", that's just going to make this project a little bit easier to pull off. Now, what you want to do is go to the view menu and confirm that your smart guys are turned on as well as the snap to Glyph Command. And then you want to right click on this O and choose snap to Glyph O. All right, next, go ahead and select the ellipse tool from the shape tool fly out menu. And we're just going to go ahead and trace the entire O, that is the big outside portion of the letter O. All right, now, assuming that you're working on that draw layer, you can go up to the control panel here and click release glyph. We do not want to stroke, so I'll go ahead and change that guy to none. And then I'll change the fill to this dark shade of blue that begins R=46. All right, now this guy is a little bit too big, could end up showing through over here in the top right region. And so the easiest way to scale it, is to switch to the scale tool right here, which you can get by pressing the S key. And then press the enter key or the return key on the Mac to bring up the scale dialog box. And I came up with a uniform value of 96%, which go ahead and touch that blue circle behind the white O. And then, click okay. And if you get this shape expanded message, don't worry about it. It's a lie. The shape has not been expanded at all. All right, I'm just going to go ahead and space bar drag the document so I can see the other O right here. And then, I'll right click on it, so you don't have to switch tools, and choose snap to Glypho from the shortcut menu. All right, now I'll switch back to the ellipse tool and I'll just go ahead and drag inside that highlighted rectangle right there. All right, now I'll click release glyph on the far left side of the horizontal control panel, and I'll change the fill to this dark shade of red. All right, this time around, we need to switch from the scale tool to the shear tool, which allows you to slant objects. And I'll just go ahead and press the enter key, or the return key on the Mac to bring up the sheer dialog box. And I set the access to horizontal, and I came up with an angle value of 14 degrees, at which point I'll click okay. All right, now switch back to the scale tool and then I'll press the enter key or the return key on the Mac. And I'll click inside this horizontal value right here and I'll take it down to 93%, or even 92% might work better. I'll leave the vertical value set to 96%, which tucks that red shape behind the white O, at which point I'll click okay to accept that change. And I'll de-select my artwork by pressing control shift A, or command shift A on the Mac and I'll press control zero or command zero in order to center my zoom. And that's how you precisely trace a letter form using a basic geometric shape tool by stamping to its glyph here inside the most recent version of Adobe illustrator. If you're a member of LinkedIn Learning, I have a follow-up movie in which I show you how to trace the exact boundary of a character of live, editable type using the pen tool. Deeks Techniques, each and every week. Keep watching.
Practice while you learn with exercise files
Download the files the instructor uses to teach the course. Follow along and learn by watching, listening and practicing.
- 669_custom_QR.zip
- 670_more_QR.zip
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- 673_shade_panels.zip
- 672_more_rectangles.zip
- 674_cafe_wall.zip
- 675_skewed_walls.zip
- 676_magic_checkers.zip
- 677_magic_dots.zip
- 678_reverse_illusion.zip
- 679_illusion_decor.zip
- 680_more_gizmos.zip
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- 682_wifi_symbol.zip
- 683_bluetooth_logo.zip
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- 688_grad_molecules.zip
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- 690_smart_cules.zip
- 691_explore_cules.zip
- 692_blend_cules.zip
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- 694_cell_pattern.zip
- 695_hemoglobin.zip
- 696_edgy_cells.zip
- 697_springy_cells.zip
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- 699_skew_blends.zip
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- 701_slice_blend.zip
- 702_blend_distort.zip
- 703_dynamic_roughen.zip
- 704_fish_twist.zip
- 705_dynam_bgnd_1.zip
- 706_dynam_bgnd_2.zip
- 707_quieter_art.zip
- 708_disintegration.zip
- 709_more_flakes.zip
- 710_mask_ashes.zip
- 711_flakes_to_ash.zip
- 712_note_tool.zip
- 713_contour_map.zip
- 714_contour_grad.zip
- 715_contour_arb.zip
- 716_contour_riff.zip
- 717_smooth_contour.zip
- 718_contour_cash.zip
- 719_color_of_money.zip
- 720_AI_adjust.zip
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- 722_key_type.zip
- 723_faux_hedcut.zip
- 724_hedcut_lines.zip
- 725_color_hedcut.zip
- 726_ET_moon.zip
- 727_ET_trees.zip
- 728_ET_TRex.zip
- 729_global_glow.zip
- 730_content_aware.zip
- 731_space_portal.zip
- 732_enhance_portal.zip
- 733_rushing_stars.zip
- 734_AIcc_puppet.zip
- 735_puppet_tricks.zip
- 736_complex_puppet.zip
- 737_puppet_shortcut.zip
- 738_pentagons.zip
- 739_reinhardt.zip
- 740_kershner.zip
- 741_james_pentagon.zip
- 742_rice_pentagons.zip
- 743_stein_pentagon.zip
- 744_15th_pentagon.zip
- 745_tessellate_15.zip
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- 747_mod_pattern.zip
- 748_complement_tiles.zip
- 749_image_pattern.zip
- 750_pattern_fit.zip
- 751_candy_keeper.zip
- 752_keeper_text.zip
- 753_monster_movie.zip
- 754_mono_halftone.zip
- 755_word_haunted.zip
- 756_cheat_letters.zip
- 757_alt_adjust.zip
- 758_scuba_mono.zip
- 759_backscatter.zip
- 760_sample_outside.zip
- 761_Ps_vector_logo.zip
- 762_trans_shapes.zip
- 763_photo_logo.zip
- 764_high_res_snow.zip
- 765_enhance_snow.zip
- 766_snowflake_bokeh.zip
- 767_mandala_ps.zip
- 768_mandala_pattern.zip
- 769_mandala_dots.zip
- 770_mandala_color.zip
- 771_mandala_final.zip
- 772_AI_trim_view.zip
- 773_AI_presentation.zip
- 774_global_edits.zip
- 775_global_control.zip
- 776_freeform_grads.zip
- 777_freeform_lines.zip
- 778_freeform_gotcha.zip
- 779_great_white.zip
- 780_sharper_shark.zip
- 781_vibrance_sat.zip
- 782_vib_sat_sharp.zip
- 783_hedcut_action.zip
- 784_action_actions.zip
- 785_color_lines.zip
- 786_combine_lines.zip
- 787_clip_to_group.zip
- 788_color_outside.zip
- 789_flip_horizontal.zip
- 790_white_walker.zip
- 791_walker_begins.zip
- 792_digital_shave.zip
- 793_deep_wrinkles.zip
- 794_deep_brows.zip
- 795_pale_lips.zip
- 796_glowing_blue.zip
- 797_lifeless_pupils.zip
- 798_cold_gloomy.zip
- 799_brittle_flakes.zip
- 800_trans_shapes.zip
- 801_range_mask.zip
- 802_flip_photo.zip
- 803_actual_dream.zip
- 804_augment_dream.zip
- 805_smart_distortions.zip
- 806_blend_distortions.zip
- 807_star_negative.zip
- 808_star_pattern.zip
- 809_shaded_stars.zip
- 810_grad_pattern.zip
- 811_pattern_fade.zip
- 813_gobstopper.zip
- 814_gobpattern.zip
- 815_galignment.zip
- 816_etched_lines.zip
- 817_blend_pattern.zip
- 818_cubical_holes.zip
- 819_grad_pattern.zip
- 820_iso_arrows.zip
- 821_position_tips.zip
- 822_fill_gaps.zip
- 823_cartoon_teeth.zip
- 824_triangle_eye.zip
- 825_add_windows.zip
- 826_perfect_tessellate.zip
- 827_triangle_tunnels.zip
- 828_triangles_pattern.zip
- 829_colorful_triangles.zip
- 830_recolor_triangles.zip
- 831_rainbow_blends.zip
- 832_pattern_blends.zip
- 833_imposs_trident.zip
- 834_shade_trident.zip
- 835_opposing_grads.zip
- 836_trident_shadows.zip
- 837_impossible_hex.zip
- 838_impossible_lattice.zip
- 839_Joan_Miro.zip
- 840_watercolor_wash.zip
- 841_Miro_signature.zip
- 842_Photoshop_Miro.zip
- 843_enlarge_Miro.zip
- 844_Miro_Peele.zip
- 845_color_Us.zip
- 846_red_rorschach.zip
- 847_finish_Us.zip
- 848_CAF_fails.zip
- 849_turkey_2019.zip
- 850_trace_hand.zip
- 851_articulated_hand.zip
- 852_colorful_hand.zip
- 853_paint_fingernails.zip
- 854_paint_turkey.zip
- 855_turkey_feathers.zip
- 856_drop_shadow.zip
- 857_Ps_iPad_1.zip
- 858_Ps_iPad_2.zip
- 859_Ps_iPad_3.zip
- 860_iPad_Sidecar.zip
- 861_Adobe_Fresco.zip
- 862_Fresco_halftones.zip
- 863_live_brushes.zip
- 864_oil_paint.zip
- 865_Fresco_masks.zip
- 866_repurpose_mask.zip
- 867_vector_brush.zip
- 868_fresco_ps.zip
- 869_auto_color.zip
- 870_ACR_pano.zip
- 871_correct_pano.zip
- 872_diffusion.zip
- 873_simplify_2020.zip
- 874_fill_gaps.zip
- 875_posterize.zip
- 876_paint_bucket.zip
- 877_nonD_poster.zip
- 878_dynamic_poster.zip
- 879_filmstrip.zip
- 880_awful_awesome.zip
- 881_rembrandt.zip
- 882_recolor_freeform.zip
- 883_recolor_group.zip
- 884_over_under.zip
- 885_dev_over_under.zip
- 886_3D_metal_star.zip
- 887_heavy_metal.zip
- 888_wonder_poster.zip
- 889_wonder_displace.zip
- 890_wonder_woman.zip
- 891_metadata_template.zip
- 892_edit_metadata.zip
- 893_quilt_warp.zip
- 894_warp_object.zip
- 895_gopro_images.zip
- 896_content_aware.zip
- 897_gopro_combo.zip
- 898_blend_vignette.zip
- 899_photo_painting.zip
- 900_cue_ball.zip
- 901_pool_ball.zip
- 902_stripe_ball.zip
- 903_transform_each.zip
- 904_recolor_pool.zip
- 905_pool_cues.zip
- 906_rotate_cues.zip
- 907_repeat_face.zip
- 908_rainbow_faces.zip
- 909_mask_lips.zip
- 910_single_many.zip
- 911_symmetrical_mask.zip
- 912_colorize_grads.zip
- 913_mask_grads.zip
- 914_lantern_type1.zip
- 915_lantern_type2.zip
- 916_lantern_type3.zip
- 917_blend_steps.zip
- 918_blended_blends.zip
- 919_reverse_order.zip
- 920_pattern_colors.zip
- 921_blend_pattern.zip
- 922_polygons.zip
- 923_equil_triangle.zip
- 924_mercedes.zip
- 925_star_ring.zip
- 926_perfect_star.zip
- 927_lets_review.zip
- 928_basic_shapes.zip
- 929_triangle_man.zip
- 930_paint_grads.zip
- 931_adv_grads.zip
- 932_trans_vectors.zip
- 933_free_distort.zip
- 934_dynamic_fx.zip
- 935_cats_eye.zip
- 936_cat_iris.zip
- 937_primitives.zip
- 938_zig_zag.zip
- 939_dynamic_hilight.zip
- 940_reptile_scales.zip
- 941_shade_eye.zip
- 942_variable_shade.zip
- 943_dragon_eye.zip
- 945_single_thumbnail.zip
- 946_ai_home.zip
- 947_unlock_object.zip
- 948_unlock_icon.zip
- 949_line_tool.zip
- 950_broken_candy.zip
- 951_candy_rhino.zip
- 952_wrap_pattern.zip
- 953_ice_shadows.zip
- 954_illustrator_ipad.zip
- 955_pencil_points.zip
- 956_ipad_blob.zip
- 957_ipad_pen.zip
- 958_grads_repeats.zip
- 959_color_grading.zip
- 960_grading_tricks.zip
- 961_blend_balance.zip
- 962_font_height.zip
- 963_camera_profile.zip
- 964_JPEG_raw.zip
- 965_match_detail.zip
- 966_Ps_line_tool.zip
- 967_troubleshoot_line.zip
- 968_blend_vectors.zip
- 969_curve_line.zip
- 970_point_glyphs.zip
- 971_area_glyphs.zip
- 972_snap_glyphs.zip
- 973_snap_letterform.zip
- 974_glyph_shape.zip
- 975_glyph_pen.zip
- 976_playing_cards.zip
- 977_scale_shape.zip
- 978_card_suits.zip
- 979_enhance_path.zip
- 980_power_symbol.zip
- 981_huge_artboard.zip
- 982_new_artboard.zip
- 983_triceratops.zip
- 984_pen_tricks.zip
- 985_round_corner.zip
- 986_draw_round.zip
- 987_reshape_round.zip
- 988_AI_brushed.zip
- 989_AI_rivets.zip
- 990_blend_grad.zip
- 991_binoculars.zip
- 992_blue_halo.zip
- 993_bi_aberrations.zip
- 994_hide_shapes.zip
- 995_subwoofer.zip
- 996_deep_cone.zip
- 997_gradient_frame.zip
- 998_hex_screws.zip
- 999_thats_all.zip
Contents
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954 Introducing Illustrator on the iPad9m 57s
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955 Illustrator on the iPad: The drawing tools13m 7s
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956 Ilustrator on the iPad: The Blob Brush5m 57s
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957 Illustrator on the iPad: The Pen6m 58s
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958 Illustrator on the iPad: Gradients and repeats10m 29s
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959 Color grading in Camera Raw8m 23s
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960 Color grading tips and tricks4m 32s
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961 Color grading: Blending and balance6m 50s
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962 New ways to scale type in Illustrator5m 57s
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963 Camera Matching profiles in Camera Raw/Lightroom7m 46s
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964 Combining the best of JPEG and raw10m 30s
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965 Smoothing out raw detail to match JPEG3m 24s
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966 Drawing arrows in Photoshop 20217m 23s
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967 Troubleshooting Photoshop’s Line tool5m 46s
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968 Blending vectors with a pixel-based photograph10m 29s
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969 Curving a vector-based line segment in Photoshop4m 42s
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970 Aligning to point type in Illustrator6m 27s
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971 Aligning to area type in Illustrator7m 17s
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972 Snapping to letterforms in Illustrator7m 7s
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973 Snapping to a specific letterform in Illustrator6m 7s
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974 Tracing a specific letterform with a shape tool4m 27s
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975 Snapping to a glyph with the Pen tool5m 46s
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976 Rendering your name in playing cards10m 49s
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977 Precisely sizing a vector-based shape layer7m 10s
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978 Tracing an object with the Photoshop Pen tool10m 2s
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979 Enhancing a Photoshop path in Illustrator9m 25s
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980 Drawing a universal power symbol in Illustrator7m 7s
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981 Very large artboards in Adobe Illustrator6m 8s
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982 Creating a new very large artboard5m 18s
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983 Designing an animal logo in Illustrator2m 56s
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984 Illustrator Pen tool tricks11m 8s
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985 Dynamic round corners in Illustrator8m 12s
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986 Drawing organic curves with round corners9m 28s
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987 Reshaping paths that include round corners7m 52s
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988 Creating brushed metal in Illustrator11m 43s
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989 Creating rivets in Illustrator10m 25s
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990 Rotating a gradient inside an object blend5m 3s
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991 Peering thru binoculars in Photoshop8m 39s
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992 Adding colorful halos “inside” your binoculars5m 47s
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993 More extreme binocular aberrations7m 51s
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994 Hiding paths and shape handles in Photoshop6m 44s
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995 Drawing a subwoofer in Illustrator10m 52s
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996 Deep inside the subwoofer with Illustrator10m 37s
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997 Compound shapes vs. compound paths in Illustrator14m 25s
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998 Drawing a whole bunch of hex screws in Illustrator10m 30s
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999 "That’s all Folks!" in Photoshop15m 18s
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