One of those "Duh" tips for using guides

[Jarrod]

I'm a huge fan of guides and recently discovered a useful tip for guides.

This might be blatantly obvious to some, but when creating guides, create a separate layer for the guides. That way, you can just click the eye icon to hide the guides. I also like having my guides, by default, unlocked. The beauty of putting the guides on their own layer, you can click the lock icon to lock them.

I know what you're thinking, "there's keyboard shortcuts for those commands!" Well, yes, there are. However, I have never had the greatest memory when it comes to keyboard shortcuts.

In case you're curious, the shortcuts:

Cmd (Ctrl on PC) + ; to hide/view guides
Cmd (Ctrl on PC) + Option (Alt on PC) + ; to lock/unlock guides

I know, not exactly rocket science, but a handy tip I use frequently, especially if I have different guide layers for different guide groups (one set for trim, one set for bleed, one set for live, etc.)

[FreeTransform]

Good one! That's the beauty of these apps--there are many different ways to do the same thing, and finding the one that best suits you is rewarding.

[lilypad]

Jarrod,

Another benefit of using a "guide" layer...

If you have several layers of art that include your guides, and decide to turn some layers off to work on other layers, your guides disappear with the art you just turned off. With the "guide" layer the guides are always there as you turn on/off art layers to work with.

I think that many people will find your observation helpful.

- jon

[warking@mac.com]

At first I thought this was another way of doing the same thing, but after thinking about it I realized it has one great advantage.

You can place guides on more than one layer. Turning or locking the ones that you don't currently need off or on.

At times I have so many guides I find it hard to work and the only option the short cut way is to turn All off or on.

I think this simple tip has more to it than meets the eye.

Thanks
ToddF

[jctremblay]

Jarrod tips, remind me of something I have wish to do for a long time. When working with client files that contain a lot of guides placed in all layer position instead of deleting them all, I wish I could move them all to a new layer call "Guides".

So I create a small applescript (Sorry, Windows user!) that is doing just that. It take all your guides in the current document and move them to a new layer call "Guides".

Copy/Paste theses line in Script Editor than save it as a script in your Script folder
here: Adobe illustrator CS2 > Presets > Script
It will be available in the File > Script Submenu

--
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
try
move (path items of every layer of document 1 whose guides is true) to end of layer "Guides" of document 1
on error
tell document 1 to make layer with properties {name:"Guides"}
move (path items of every layer of document 1 whose guides is true) to end of layer "Guides" of document 1
end try
end tell
--

Or if you prefere download it here:
http://www.quadriscan.com/files/MoveAllGuides.sit

[jessrenee]

That's a great idea! I've been working on something where that would help a lot. Sometimes it's hard to come up with the obvious. :)

[solomonshop]

What exactly are you refering to when you say 'guides'?

[TORCH511]

Guides are reference lines (or other shapes via the Make Gides command) that are non-printing and always appear on top, regardless of where they fall in the layer stack. They take the place of the old non-repro blue pencil of the old days.

Easy way of creating a guide... upen up the ruler bars, click and drag from either ruler. Guides are locked by default. You can unlock and move them if you so desire.

[micke]

Torch,

"Guides are locked by default." Not in CS3! In a thread on AIProfessional under Creative Office last Oct. 18-19 there was a discussion of this issue. Scott W showed a way to fix it if you want to. Jarrod's tip (using a guides layer) also easily takes care of the problem, and is something I do when I am working on a carefully planned job.

Sol >> Torch is talking about ruler guides -- the kind we mostly use. But they are always horizontal or vertical straight lines. You can make any open or closed path into a guide by selecting it and typing Command-5.

In Preferences>Guides and Grid you can change the color and change the look to dots, which I prefer because in Outline Mode guides appear black and solid guides look the same as paths. I toggle back and forth between Preview and Outline constantly.

micke

[Hataish]

Hi, This post is very informative, however there are some queries to ask about some specific topic. If someone can help me then please send me a private message. Thanks,