andrew's vector plugin's volume 10 manual

Plug-ins notes

file:///C|/...ndrew/Products/Documentation%20NOT%20FOR%20RELEASE/Illustrator%20plugins/Volume%2010/GX10_Documentation.html[30/10/2008 19:30:24]

Symbol Toolbox (Andrew's Vector Plug-ins Volume 10)A single plugin with multiple plug-ins tools (16 different tools) - uses symbols from the symbols palette. Hope you find theplugin set of use and interest

Andrew

Installation of plug-in (s) + symbols

Please place the GX10_SymbolToolbox.aip file in the c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins folder [pc Illustrator ® CS]or c:\program files\adobe\illustrator 10\plug-ins [pc illustrator 10] or CS2 or CS3 or CS4 (generally Adobe\Adobe IllustratorCS3\plug-ins) equivalent folder

for the mac, please place the GX10_SymbolToolbox file in HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:plug-ins [mac Illustrator®CS] or HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:plug-ins [mac Illustrator 10] or CS2 or CS3 or CS4 equivalent

The symbols files (*.ai files) should be placed in the c:\program files\Adobe\Illustrator...\presets\symbols folder (or macequivalent). Access the symbols files via the windows\symbols menu (please consult the Illustrator documentation)

The mac side is now split over multiple versions, CS1 and 10 as well as a version for CS2 and now CS3 and CS4

Possible installation paths

PC CS4 C:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS4\plug-ins\graphicxtrasPC CS3 C:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS3\plug-ins\graphicxtrasPC CS2/12 c:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS2\plug-ins\graphicxtrasPC CS/11 c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins\graphicxtrasPC 10 c:\program files\adobe\illustrator 10\plug-ins\graphicxtras

OS X CS4 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS4:plug-ins:graphicxtras OS X CS3 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS3:plug-ins:graphicxtras OS X CS2 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS2:plug-ins:graphicxtras OS X CS HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS:plug-ins:graphicxtras OS X 10 HD:applications:adobe illustrator 10:plug-ins:graphicxtras

(if the 'graphicxtras' folder does not exist, simply create it in the plug-ins folder or use another folder name if you wish. Youcan also just place the file in the top level plug-ins folder if you wish but putting it in a sub folder makes it easier to find at alater date)

Alternate plug-in installation location

Because of recent improvements in security, you may wish to install the plug-in sets in an alternate location such as an useraccount and not the default plug-in folder. If you are using a basic level account and one without admin features, you mightnot be able to save the AIP plug-in files to the usual folder. Set up an alternate or secondary plug-in folder in your useraccount and then copy the files there.

To specify an alternate plug-in for Illustrator ®

1) Go to the edit > preferences > plug-ins

2) Check the additional plug-ins folder option

3) Specify / browse for your required file in your user account (such as 'third party plug-ins' etc)

Initial use of plug-in

Please access the toolbox via the standard Illustrator ® toolbox.

The plugin toolbox is made up of 16 sub-plugins, these can be accessed by expanding the toolset (as with the native tools..click and hold to expand the other tools. The first 11 tools have options associated with them, and the toolbox options can bereached by double clicking the icon or pressing <enter> while selecting the icon. Some of the plugins tools have no optionsand are applied as is (CS3 CS2 CS 10)

The plug-in toolbox is made up of 17 plug-ins. Selecting the tool will make the symbols dialog appear. If you delete thedialog then you can make the dialog re-appear by double clicking it. To change between the plug-ins, select the plug-in viathe dropdown at the bottom of the dialog. There is only a single main plug-in and no sub plug-ins. (CS4)

Plug-ins notes


The plugins themselves use symbols. If there are no symbols in the current document symbols palette, the plugins will notwork at all.

In the initial state, to use a plugin you must select a symbol from the symbol palette (CS3 CS2 CS1 10) (any.. say the'purple sardine' symbol or 'highway' or 'green apple' symbol. You can, of course, load in additional symbols from the wideselection of symbols supplied with Illustrator, or use your own symbols (create a path etc and drag into the symbol palette)or use some of the supplied symbols. Once selected, apply the plugin by holding down the mouse or pen and dragging andreleasing the mouse / pen to 'create' the symbol instances (note: in the demo the symbol instances are deleted)

To use the plug-in in its basic state, select the symbol via the first entry field (marked 'symbol') The first symbol in thesymbol palette is the '0' symbol, the second is symbol 1 and so on up to the number of symbols included in the palette (CS4)

Duplication creates a row/column grid of symbols; drag creates a row of symbols.. each plugin has its own functionality anduse and unique set of options.

You can also apply the symbol tools using the [x] select symbols randomly OR [x] select symbols in palette order. These arenot on or set by default. If selected, the single symbol approach is ignored and you can apply symbols at random from thesymbols palette or in the current order of the symbols palette.

Symbols palette

As with the single symbol approach, the key is to set the palette as required.

Say you wish to apply a spray or row of the letter 'A' then just place the 'A' in the symbol palette and select and apply asrequired.

If you wish to spray a selection of random letters (say 'A' 'B' 'C') then add only those to the palette (delete all others) andthen apply with the random [X] set.

If you wish to apply the symbols in order

1) say you have a name or a number sequence, so adding '0' '1' '2' '3' '4' etc (as below) to the symbol palette

2) Go to the symbol dialog and check ordered [x] option

3) The symbols will be applied 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 and so on.

4) If you wish to have 345 turned into 543, you can always just select the 5 and drag before the 3 (in the palette) and dragthe 4 after the 5 and before the 3. Repeat apply the plugin and the sequence will then be 0 1 2 5 4 3 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 5 4 3 6 7

Plug-ins notes


8 ...

Symbols can be virtually anything in Illustrator ® (some things cannot be symbols.. such as graphs as well as symbols orsymbols of symbols ...things get a little messy) Symbols can be text (and this can be a good workaround of problems withgraphicxtras.com plugins and text) or images (say of a favorite actor) or gradients or patterns.

Symbols can be altered at any stage, replaced with a different symbol via the replace command

Symbols can also be further modified by the native symbols tools such as the 'symbol scruncher' and 'resizer' (see the symboltools below) They are native to Illustrator ®

Plug-ins notes


Applications support

MAC OSX .2 .3 .4 .5 98 ME NT XP Vista Adobe ® Illustrator ®10 CS1 CS2 CS3 CS4

Questions

Please contact me on [email protected]

Other plugins are available on the site http://www.graphicxtras.com

Copyright

The plug-in set is copyright (c) 1997-2008, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle). The symbols are royalty-free, feel free touse as required. Symbols are (c) 2004-2007 Andrew Buckle / Abneil Software ltd. This product was released by AbneilSoftware Ltd (UK based company).

Trademarks

Illustrator and Adobe and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. We have no connectionwhatsoever with Adobe. Adobe product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Plugin use - tool screen

This is the entry screen. The plugin is split into number entry and a screen of on/off options. Most of the entry fields arebased around transformations such as rotation or re-size (though each plugin has a slight variation of use for each) as well asnumber of copies to generate. Most of the references below appear on all dialogs, some are unique to a plugin

'Symbol' (CS4)

Change this to select different symbols in the symbol palette. If the symbols [R] or ordered has been checked then this will bejust ignored.

To select the 3rd symbol in the palette

1) Go to the symbol palette to determine the order in the current palette.. you wish to select the third element

2) Go to the symbol toolbox plug-in

3) Go to the symbol field

4) Set the symbol field by clicking the up down control or just entering '2' into the symbol field

5) Mouse down and apply the plug-in by dragging the cursor across the document

Please note that this feature is not in place with CS3 CS2 CS 10 and instead just select the symbol in the palette

'Copies'

In most plug-ins this refers to the number of copies to create, either left or right or during a drag or zoom or in a spiral. Thepainter plugin uses the copies as a limit on number of symbols to generate during a brush stroke. The limit is set to a 1000,which is perhaps too generous or not.. depending on the use. Please note, creating a duplication using 1000 x 1000 symbolsperhaps is not a good idea (printing them would be even more fun).

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.graphicxtras.com/

Plug-ins notes


'Angle (o)'

The angle of the symbol relative to the original symbol. The symbol is applied as is, without any tweaking of size or angle soyou might prefer to pre-prepare the symbols to the 'right' size and angle before using any of the symbol tools. The angledoes not refer to any angle of application, which in the case of drag or spiral etc depends on the movement of the mouse.

'Jitter (p)'

Apply a jitter or randomness to the position (linear or radial depending on the plugin in use)

Plug-ins notes


'Scale (%)'

This depends on the plugin and its functionality. Many of the plugins just use the scale as a way to re-size the symbol andapply. Some of the plugins such as the scale down and bounce use the scale to re-size the symbol for each symbol create,shrinking or increasing the size of the symbol. I would suggest increasing the size of the symbol with care, as the symbolsizes can grow dramatically and a symbol can fill the entire screen (easily)

'Initial gap'

This is for the circular function and creates only symbols when the radius (from the start point of the drag) is greater than theinitial gap. More useful when used with 'trail cursor' option. As with all settings such as jitter, the value is in points.

'Symbol decay (%)'

resizes the symbol on each pass, this is more useful for zoom effects combined with the 'trail cursor' functionality. Can befairly rapid decay.

Plug-ins notes


'Min / Max scale'

Used for the noise/random/brush tool. Scales the symbols randomly between the set values. Scales the horizontal andvertical. To keep the symbols with the original proportions, click keep proportional checkbox.

'Twists'

Used in the scale down tool to rotate the symbol through a number of twists or rotations

Plug-ins notes


'Bounce'

Number of 'bounces' or repeat scaling applied to a symbol during a mouse drag

'Spiral arms'

Number of arms to create for spiral

Plug-ins notes


'Decay'

The decay in the spiral arms (the smaller the figure, the more rapid the spiral, the closer to 100%, the less rapid decay)

'Edge options'

Place the symbols in different ways around the edge (framed plugin)

Plugin use - settings screen

This screen contains all the [x] on and off options. In most cases, off is the default. Some of the settings will disable otherfields, such as the layers/beneath cannot co-exist. Most of the references below appear on all dialogs, some are unique to aplugin

'Select symbols randomly'

Instead of selecting a single symbol, apply any symbol found in the current document symbols palette. This requires some

Plug-ins notes


initial setup of the symbols, such as removing symbols you do not want, as well as adding a range of symbols such as randomimages of celebrities or letters to the symbol palette. Doesn't use symbols in unused symbols files. This takes precedenceover the ordered option.

'Select symbols in palette order'

Instead of using a single symbol or random symbols, the plugin will use the symbols in current symbol order (you can dragthe symbols to different positions in the symbol palette and this will be reflected in the ordered option). If you have symbolsABCDEF then the order of symbol creation will be A and then B and then C ... and then F and then A again. The orderedoption generally requires some initial setup.

'Create or not (R)'

The plugin creates a symbol or not, leaving gaps in the display of symbols.

'Trail cursor / paint'

When off (default), the plugin creates a set of symbols then deletes and then creates until the mouse is released, placing

Plug-ins notes


symbols only in one location. If the trail cursor is set to on, the plugin will not delete the symbols on each pass and you willhave a trail of cursor movement. This creates wonderful paint effects as well as unusual patterns and displays and 3D likeeffects, though it also creates a lot of symbols and takes a little getting used to. Some of the plugins have controls to limitthe number of symbols or the location.

'Place beneath symbols'

Instead of placing symbols on top of existing symbols (or paths), place the symbols behind / beneath the symbols/paths. Willnot work with the layers option (as this adds layers above an existing layer)

'Angle matches cursor'

Modifies the angle of the path based on the cursor position.

'Flip alternate symbols'

Alternate symbols are flipped / turned by 180 degrees.

Plug-ins notes


'Angle (R)'

Rotate the paths by a random amount

'Lock cursor to horizontal'

Instead of allowing free movement, the lock locks the vertical information of the cursor movement to the horizontal, usefulfor straight lines etc.

Plug-ins notes


'Expand symbol and delete'

Expands the symbol (instead of leaving it as a symbol) and delete the original symbol, leaving the path (the path can then becolored, opacity applied etc.) You might prefer just to leave it as a symbol and use the effects menu.

'Place on new layer'

Instead of placing the symbols on a current layer, the symbols are placed on a new layer. If the trail cursor option is on, allthe symbols created until mouse release will be created on that layer. Repeating the actions will generate a new layer and soon. useful for animation. The plugin 'beneath' option will be disabled and set to off if the layer option is set.

'Align symbols'

Additional angle alignment, similar to cursor match. Not all the tools have the align option. The align generally aligns to themiddle or to the direction of movement of the brush.

'Keep proportional'

Some of the plugins apply scaling to the vertical and the horizontal and if the scaling is applied randomly, the symbols will benarrower or wider than the original symbol. The keep proportional option keeps the original proportion.

Plug-ins notes


'Scale to match bounding box'

Re-sizes the symbol bounding box to 'touch' surrounding bounding boxes. The symbol itself might not touch the surroundingsymbols though, depends on the symbol and bounding box.

'Reverse spiral direction'

For use in spiral plugin, reverses the direction of the spiral.

Plugin Tools

'Duplication' plug-in

Creates a grid of symbols + rows and columns

'Drag' plug-in

Plug-ins notes


Creates a line of symbols, the line can be straight (if locked) or at an angle.

'Sawtooth' plug-in

Creates a saw tooth of symbols

'Framed' plug-in

Creates a frame of symbols

Plug-ins notes


'Random' plug-in

Creates random noise sets of symbols

'Circular' plug-in

Creates a circular set of symbols

Plug-ins notes


'Scaledown/zoom' plug-in

Creates a zoom or shrinking symbol set

'Bounce' plug-in

Creates a 'bounce' or alternating shrinking and increasing symbol set

'Spiral' plug-in

Creates a spiral of symbols

'Checkerboard' plug-in

Creates a checkerboard of symbols

Plug-ins notes


'Paint' plug-in

A basic paint tool using symbols

One-shot plug-ins

'Starburst': Single shot plugin with no options creating a starburst effect

'Singleshot': Single shot and single placement of symbol

'Cross': Single shot and creates a cross of symbols

'Diagonal': Single shot and creates a diagonal set of symbols

'Ring': Single shot and creates a ring of symbols

'Random angle': Single shot, just places the current symbol at a random angle (CS4)

Plug-ins notes


Random angle use (CS4)

1) Go to the symbols tool and go to the dropdown and select the random angle plug-in

2) Go to the symbol palette and select a symbol. Enter the number in the symbol entry field at the top of the dialog

3) Click on the document and the symbol will appear and will jitter between random angles as you hold down the mouse

4) Release the mouse and the current symbol will be dropped

5) Repeat with the same symbol or different symbol and the new angle will be (possibly) different from the previous createdone

Symbols - use of

Installation of symbols

Please place the symbols in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator 10\Presets\Symbols or mac equivalent such asHD:applications:adobe illustrator CS:presets:symbols. The symbols can be accessed from any folder but this is probably thebest location as the file/s can be accessed via the symbols dropdown. Use in conjunction with the document symbols palette.

De-install the symbols

Please remove the AI files from the preset libraries folders

Symbols format

The symbols were created in 10 format symbols.

Saving AI symbols

You can always save the files as CS format if so required, just use the save command on the document symbols palette (inCS) and save all the current symbols or you can always open the original symbols file and copy some new symbols or deletesymbols from the symbols palette there and then save the symbols file.

Copyright

All the symbols are copyright Andrew Buckle 2004-2005, but they are royalty-free for use in commercial and non-commercialwork

Symbol use

The symbols can be used as is, just use them as a image resource and drag the symbol from the palette and use as a path(though you will have to expand the symbol to do this), sometimes it is best to just keep it as a symbol as all the effectmenu options can be applied to the symbol such as free distort and transform and styles can be applied as required. None ofthe filter menu filters can be used on symbols, though many of the 3rd party plugins such as the graphicxtras.com Andrew's(vector) plugins can be applied to symbols as well as paths.

Flash export

Symbols are useful in flash export (for low file size). The symbols can be exported to SWF format and also manipulatedacross layers to create animation effects. Or exported to SVG format.

Sprayer tool

Symbols can be used with the native symbol sprayer tool, the symbols can be applied and then using the scruncher etcadditional tools, the symbols can be re-sized and rotated and stained as required (graphicxtras.com also have some excellenttools that have a vast additional set of options and features to handle symbols from the toolbox).

Replace symbols

Symbols can be replaced at a later point of the creative process, so create an image with a box, multiple boxes and thenselect the symbols and then the replacement symbol in the symbol palette and then use 'replace symbol' from the menu tochange all the boxes into the more complex art. All the live effects remain as before.

Brush symbols

http://www.graphicxtras.com/

Plug-ins notes


Symbols can be converted to a brush, simply drag the symbol (and any associated effects) to the brushes palette and you willbe asked to store the brush as a scatter / artistic or pattern brush.

Copy symbols

Symbols can be copied and repeated as required with minimal file size overhead. Also of great use with transformations, thetransform effect. This tool has a 'copies' feature which can be used to create unusual zoom effects and rotations and can beused in combo with the appearance palette to create multiple transformations for a single symbol.

Photoshop and symbols

Symbols can also be copied via the pasteboard to other applications such as Photoshop (so a wonderful background symbolcan be used as a wonderful background texture in Photoshop.. along with transparency information for use with layer effectssuch as bevels)

Envelopes/3D

Symbols can be warped by the envelope filter

3D symbols

Symbols can be turned into 3D shapes by using the 3D features of AI CS (extrude and bevel...) By using the appearancepalette, multiple warps can be applied to a single symbol. So create an arc warp effect, duplicate it and modify the direction(say vertical instead of horizontal). This can create truly weird shapes from even the most basic symbol.

andrew's vector plugin's volume 10 manual

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