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The Iso Pach
04-03-2008, 10:12 PM
Hey everyone. New guy here.

My history with vector work is about 3 years designing websites using Macromedia (now Adobe) Fireworks. I'm approaching the limits of the capabilities of this program, and I need to expand my skill base by diving into Illustrator. This is especially important now because my job requirements involve label and brochure design now. Fireworks is rather limited in these areas.

So, to start with, I would appreciate some advice on 2 things I've wanted to do with Fireworks but couldn't:

1. How do I define a stroke to be dots, or dashes, or stars, or whatever I want, and control the size of said dots/dashes/whatever, the spacing between each dot, gradual increasing or decreasing of dot size along the path...?

2. How do I define the fill of an object to be a linear gradient that follows the shape of the object, rather than remaining a true linear?

I've wanted to get into Illustrator for a year now; every time I start playing with it I end up going back to Fireworks because of the super user friendly interface, object selection/handling/transforming... its great. However, it lacks the power and versatility of Illustrator. Also, being made for web design, it really doesn't like working in 300 dpi for print projects.

Any super illustrators here that have some wisdom to share, I'm listening.

~Anthony

aesthie
04-04-2008, 01:50 PM
Hi - I'm no super illustrator user - though I have years of using FreeHand and am beginning to get this thing sussed. That in mind, my suggestions may not be 100% hot.

Answer to 2. I beleive you need to play with blends. Now in my dabbling with Fireworks I can't remember whether it used blends so how alien the concept will be to you and therefore the struggle you might have. The help is quite good as a step by step - so would suggest you work through that. Then am sure you'll get blends. You may have to think about the two keys shapes you draw in order to achieve what you're looking for.

As for No 1 ... hum, I've figured out how to add dots (expand the stroke panel and you'll see it's obvious.) Fancy things though...

Hope this is helpful

meganchi
04-10-2008, 05:30 PM
Answer to Question 1: Draw a small circle, dash, star or whatever shape you want. Next, duplicate it and drag it around 4 inches over or more. Now select all, go to your Object menu, select 'blend', then 'make'. There are also blend options you can play around with to change the number of steps it blends to as well as the spacing.

Answer 2: I agree with Aesthie. Play with the blends.