Kinds of Points

Used 3 Kinds of Points with Illustrator Pen Tool.  Select Anchor Points on completed Paths (Vector Shaped Objects) using a Marquee.

1. Straight Lines on both sides (No Direction Handles)

2. Curved Lines on both sides (Two Direction Handles)

3. Connector (One Direction Handle)

Three Kinds of Points Using Pen Tool.

Saving a Workspace

Arranged Illustrator Tool Bar Tearoffs (Pens, Shapes) and Panels (Layers, Appearances, Color, Swatches, Pathfinder, Gradient) in the Window before Saving a Workspace named “Pen”,  to select from Drop-down Menu.

Screenshot of Illustrator Workspace named "Pen"

Hue / Exclusion / Difference

Compared three Blending Modes: Hue / Exclusion / Difference.

Hue

Exclusion

Difference

Pin Light / Vivid Light / Color

Compared three Blending Modes: Pin Light /  Vivid Light /  Color.

Pin Light

Vivid Light

Color

Lighter Color / Lighten / Luminosity

Comparing three Blending Modes: Lighter Color, Lighten, Luminosity

Lighter Color

Lighten

Luminosity

Hue, Difference, Exclusion

Added a Gradient Layer above Image, and compared Blending Modes.  Hue creates a Result Color with Hue of Blend Color, but Luminance and Saturation of Base Color.  Difference subtracts either Blend from Base Color or Base from Blend Color Channels, whichever has the greater Brightness Value. White inverts the Base Color Values, and Black does not change them.  Exclusion is lower in Contrast.

Hue

Difference

Exclusion

Illustrator Selection Tools

Placed a Photoshop Image into an Illustrator Document, and Selected areas using the Rectangle Tool (M).

Used 2 main Illustrator Selection Tools

1. Selection Tool (V = Black Pointer) to globally manipulate a Selected Object (Path) or Group: Regular Black Pointer when not hovering over an Object (Path) or Group;  Black Square beside Pointer when hovering over an unselected Object (Path) or Group;  No Black Pointer Tail when selected Object (Path) or Group with White Bounding Box Handles.

2. Direct Selection Tool ( A = White Pointer) to change Line Segments of an Object (Path) using Anchor Points:  White Pointer with Black Square when hovering over an Unselected Object/Path;  Regular White Pointer when Object/Path is Selected;  White Pointer with White Square when manipulating a Blue  Anchor Point.

Manipulating Paths and Anchor Points Using Selection Tools

Overlay / Soft Light

Added a pale Teal Solid Fill Color Layer to compare Overlay / Soft Light Blending Modes. Overlay Multiplies or Screens the Blend Color Pixels, preserving the lightness or darkness of the Base Colors while mixing them together. Soft Light darkens or lightens the colors, depending on the Blend Color, to create a diffused spotlight effect. If the Blend Color (light source) is lighter than 50% grey, the image is lightened (Dodged). If he Blend Color is darker than 50% grey, the image is darkened (Burned).

Original

Overlay

Soft Light

Viewing Modes

Toggled between Illustrator Viewing Modes: Preview (Full Color) to Outline ( Wire Frames – Individual Components) by  pressing CMD + Y.

Preview Mode

Keyboard Shortcuts

These useful Keyboard Shortcuts are the same in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Fit to Screen = CMD + O  ;   Actual Size = CMD + 1

Zoom In = CMD + Spacebar – Click  ;   Zoom Out = OPT + CMD + Spacebar – Click

Add to Selection = Shift + Drag  ;    Subtract from Selection = OPT + Drag

Shortcuts for Editing Photoshop and Illustrator Images