Expanding and Separating Artwork

Where pirate flags (and perhaps, pirates themselves) are concerned, we are now deep into Vector Territory. Which is that portion of the map where even the hardiest of computer-graphics buccaneers disappear, and eventually return as ghosts. Which is where you come in. In this video, I unghost you. Which is to say, I expand the Live Trace object from the previous movie into a collection of static path outlines, and then divide the various colors (black, white, and red) across three layers. If that’s not plain-and-simple skin and bones, I don’t know what is.

Here’s the official description:


In this exclusive preview of his upcoming Illustrator CS5 One-on-One: Advanced, Deke McClelland shares six phases in the creation of an authentic five-by-three-foot pirate flag. Deke uses Illustrator to expand, separate, and prepare a piece of artwork for output to any medium. Look for the full course to be released in its entirety later this year.

Topics include:

  • Expanding a Live Trace object into path outlines
  • Separating commonly colored paths to a layer
  • Resizing the artboard and creating a full bleed

Don’t forget, members of dekeOnline can download the pirate flag artwork files by going to this link.

Next entry:Martini Hour 089, in Which Deke Gets to Legitimately Use the Word Palette Again

Previous entry:Live Trace and Resolution

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