symbolpaint plugin 8

SymbolPaint plugin

file:///C|/...7G141P17T23027951D7ADC88/Andrew.Plugins.Volume.8.v8.1.2.for.Adobe.Illustrator/Documentation/GX08 Documentation.htm[6/5/2011 5:35:17 PM]

SymbolPaint (Andrew's Vector Plugins Vol 8)

Paint tool using symbols

Installation of Plugin / symbols

Please place the GX08_SymbolPaint.aip file in the c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins folder [pc Illustrator ® CS] orc:\program files\adobe\illustrator 10\plug-ins [pc illustrator 10] or CS1 CS2 equivalent

for the mac, please place the GX08_SymbolPaint file in HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:plug-ins [mac Illustrator ®CS]or HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:plug-ins [mac Illustrator 10]

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)

Initial Use of plugin

The plugin appears in the Illustrator plugin toolbox.

To use, please first select a symbol from the current symbol palette. Without a symbol selected, the plugin will displaynothing. You can modify this behaviour, by selecting the 'dab random symbols' or 'palette order' option and the plugin willthen use all the symbols in the current document symbols palette.

Symbols can be anything (well nearly anything.. graphs are one item exclude from being a symbol). Symbols can be createdfrom text and images as well as gradients and patterns as well as standard paths. Brushes can be converted into symbols.Illustrator, especially CS, comes with a huge range of different symbols (and brushes) for possible use in the plugin. You cancreate your own. Or use the royalty-free set included with this plugin

To use the plugin, just apply and hold down the mouse (or pen) and release. The plugin comes with a wide range of optionsto decrease the size or change the angle of the symbol brush dab (as well as the additional 'bristles'). The plugin can beapplied just using the dab settings, but you can extend the brush stroke to include additional symbol bristles and this in turnis controlled by the brush settings.

'Dab' Screen

This is the basic screen to control the paint tool 'main' brush dab.

'Initial size (%)': Symbols have an initial size (at the time of creation of the symbol) and this may or may not be the requiredsize for a brush stroke. Use this to shrink the size of over large symbols or increase the size of the start point of smallsymbols.

'Initial angle (o)': As with size, a symbol comes with an initial angle (at the time of creation of the symbol) and you mightprefer to have the initial angle to be at 45 degrees to the original. Another way around this, as with the initial size, is to dragthe symbol to the document and modify the symbol and then drag to the symbol palette.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Dab shrink/per dab': Each symbol will be reduced in size by the setting (if 98%) then each symbol created will be 98% thesize of the previous. The symbol can also grow in size, though this can be dramatic if set to a large value and can fill a screenin seconds.

'Dab resize (R) (%)': Random resizing of the symbols between the entered minimum and maximum. The symbol resize canalso be negative and this will flip the symbol. The first row is for the horizontal / width, the second row is for the vertical /height of the symbol (this is indicated as v and h on some screens to reduce size of the text entry. The resizing isproportional to the original proportions of the symbol by default, though this can be set to off via the link setting to createthin or thick symbols. No change if set to 100 100

SymbolPaint plugin


'Dab angle (o)': The symbol is rotated between the minimum and maximum angle settings. If set to 0 and 0 then no randomrotation will be applied with this setting (there are also other additional rotation settings and these are added to the rotation,whether relevent or not)

'Dab jitter (R) (p)': The symbol is moved from its default position (the brush stroke path) by this jitter setting. The first rowis the horizontal direction jitter, the second row, the vertical jitter. The jitter is applied between the minimum and maximumsettings set and these can be negative as well as positive. Paths might overlap depending on the jitter settings. No jitterapplied if 0 0

SymbolPaint plugin


'Presets': A selection of brush presets (this appears on all the screens)

'Apply' Screen

This screen controls the application of the brush dabs, apply rate, paint on symbols, etc

'Paint on symbols': This is ignored if the 'paint anywhere' is set on. The brush can be used to paint only on an anchor point ora end point or a centre point or a fill. This can be used to create a traced image using the symbols; or as a fill. Some of theoptions may be a little obscure and I would suggest checking out the Illustrator manual to understand direction line endpoints and anchor points of paths.

'Hits': Ignored if the 'paint anywhere is on'. This option allows you to specify you only paint on a brush path or a text objector a selected object or locked objects etc or objects with or without fills. As with the previous option, I woudl suggest readingthe Illustrator documentation to understand some of the issues of bezier and selected and locked objects.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Paint anywhere': If set to on, the plugin ignores any of the hit request or hit type option settings and applies the brushanywhere and everywhere the cursor passes, depending on the jitter etc settings. The tool will not apply a symbol on top of asymbol though so to apply 100s of symbols to a small area or to a line etc you will need to set the overlap option.

'Overlap paint': More useful when used with 'paint anywhere' set to off. The plugin will generally generate more symbols in asmall area and can be used to fill areas or lines with more symbols (useful for creating a complete frame instead of a framewith gaps)

SymbolPaint plugin


'Dabs per layer': The number of brush dabs to add to a layer before creating a new layer. The bristles are added to the samelayer as the dab. If set to 0 then the layers option is ignored. Useful for animation effects and possible export to SWF format.

'Dabs apply rate': The plugin (depending on the machine) can generate a lot of symbols per second. If set to 0, the plugin willgenerate symbols as fast as possible. If set to 20 or so, less symbols will be generated per 'brush stroke pass'. Useful formore controlled brush strokes as well as reducing the number of symbols generated.

SymbolPaint plugin


'+ Alternating angle (o)': If set to 0, ignored. The plugin will modify the angle of the symbol of the second symbol, fourthsymbol, ... and so on by this amount. Useful for unusual patterned effects

'+ Twist angle (o)': The plugin rotates the symbol by this amount and this is accumulative.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Shrink factor / ordered': Only applied if the symbols in palette order is set. This creates a pulse effect of symbols re-sizedthrough the cycle of symbols in the current symbols palette.

'Bristles' Screen

This screen controls the addition of bristles to the main dab

'Number of bristles per dab': The plugin can be used without any additional 'bristles' (or symbols). If set to 0, ignored, andmost the bristle related entries are set to ignored

'Edge resize (%)': The bristles are applied as is but can be re-sized proportionally from the centre ('dab') to the edge of thebristle range (defined by the brush width) This creates small (or larger symbols at the edge of the brush stroke.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Core resize (%)': The bristles can be re-sized in the middle as well (or core), so instead of using 100% sized symbols, thesymbols can be shrunk or increased in size at the middle (the size is interpolated from the middle to the edge and depends onthe brush width)

'Bristles resize (%)': The bristles are applied at 50% the original size by default but this can be modified to create very smallbristle symbols or large chunkier symbol bristles. The size reflects this setting as well as the edge and core resize.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Number of bristles (R)': If the bristles are set to 0, ignored. The bristles generated per dab are the same for each dab unlessthis option is set. The number of bristles will be randomized between 0 to the current number of bristles

'Bristles random symbols': The bristles are applied as the dab. If this option is set, the bristles are randomly selected from thecurrent symbols palette

SymbolPaint plugin


'Brush' Screen

This screen controls the overall brush size and angle

'Brush width (p)': The width of the brush region for the bristles distribution (the dab ignores the width)

'Brush height (p)': The 'height' of a bristles and dab section (this is repeatedly continiously as you apply a brush stroke), notthe most controllable of features but can modify the density of brush strokes

SymbolPaint plugin


'Brush slant (o)': The slant of the bristles distribution (height/width)

'Brush resize': Resize the brush width and height, shrinking or increasing the brush size. If there are no bristles, this isignored

SymbolPaint plugin


'Brush width (R)': Randomizes the width of the brush stroke per distribution region of the brush stroke (which depending onthe size and number of the bristles) may contain a lot or very few symbols. The randomization of the width shrinks thedistance from the dab from 0 to the entered value

'Brush height (R)': randomizes the height of the brush stroke distribution, to get bunched or sparsely distrbuted symbols.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Brush type': The default brush is a square brush but you can set the tool to work as a ring brush or a diagonal or crossbrush or arrowhead and other types of brush. This is ignored if no bristles are set. Depends on the size of the brush width andheight (the ring brush becomes more like an oval if the width is less or greater than the height). You might like to remove the'dab' by setting the dab AND bristles to off.

'Settings' Screen

General checkbox settings.

'Dab link v/h resize': The brush re-size entry randomizes the vertical and the horizontal scaling of a symbol and this canresult in thin or squashed symbols, the dab link option keeps the original proportions

'Dab align to direction': Aligns (if on) the symbol to the direction of the brush stroke. Here is an example of ON and OFF

SymbolPaint plugin


'Dab random symbols': Instead of using a single symbol, the plugin randomly selects from the symbol palette. Thissometimes requires some initial setup, to remove all the symbols no longer required. Fill the symbols palette with letters or3D blocks or images.

'Dab in palette order': Instead of using a single symbol or randomly selected symbols, the plugin uses the symbols in thepalette order, from 1 to the last symbol and back again. The symbols can be re-ordered in the symbols palette as required

SymbolPaint plugin


'Align angle / endpoint': Align the bristles to the direction of the brush stroke's end point

'Apply bristles and dab': Apply the bristles and dab. If set to OFF, the dab is removed

'Align bristles to dab': Align the bristles to the dab angle, the default is ON. The example below is OFF

SymbolPaint plugin


'Sync brush to dab': Match the width and brush size to the scaling of the bristles and dab

'Expand symbol and delete': Turn the symbol into a path.. though obviously not all types of symbol can be converted.

'Pen pressure for dab': Ignored if using a mouse. Modifies the resize of the dab using pen pressure (pen and tablet). Morepressure, greater the size of the dab. Useful for creating a more realistic brush stroke.

SymbolPaint plugin


'Pen pressure for bristles': Ignored if using a mouse. Pressure applied for the size of the bristles.

'Pen pressure for width..': Ignored if using a mouse. Pressure applied for the width and height of the brush (in addition to anysyncing of the dab and bristles and brush)

'Pen pressure for twist': Ignored if using a mouse. Pressure applied for the twist setting. Works out the twist or turn based onthe pressure, but needs a twist setting to work from (twist angle of 0 will ignore the pressure setting). Works well withsymbols made up of multiple shapes.

Types of symbols

'Paths':

'Gradients':

SymbolPaint plugin


'Multi paths':

'Patterns':

SymbolPaint plugin


'Images':

Place an image and then add to the symbols palette

'Styles':

Apply a graphic style to a path and add to the symbol palette

SymbolPaint plugin


'Effects':

Apply a blur or 3D via the effects menu to a symbol and add to the symbols palette

'Text':

Many varieties of text can be used, normal text, text on a path, text area, ... enveloped text and more

SymbolPaint plugin


Applications support

macOSX .2 .3 98 ME NT XP Ilustrator ®10 CS1 CS2

Questions

Please contact me on [email protected]

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

Copyright

The plugins are copyright of 1997-2005, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle). The symbols are royalty-free, feel free to useas required. Symbols are (c) 2004-2005 Andrew Buckle / Abneil Software ltd. This product was released by Abneil SoftwareLtd (UK based company)

Trademarks

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

Symbols

Installation of Symbols: Please place the symbols in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator 10\Presets\Symbols or mac equivalentsuch as HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS:presets:symbols. The symbols can be accessed from any folder but this isprobably the best location as the file/s can be accessed via the symbols dropdown. Use in conjunction with the documentsymbols 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 documentsymbols palette (in CS) and save all the current symbols or you can always open the original symbols file and copy some newsymbols or delete symbols 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...

Symbols Use: The symbols can be used as is, just use them as a image resource and drag the symbol from the palette anduse 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 allthe effect menu options can be applied to the symbol such as free distort and transform and styles can be applied asrequired. None of the filter menu filters can be used on symbols, though many of the 3rd party plugins such as thegraphicxtras.com Andrew's (vector) plugins can be applied to symbols as well as paths.

http://www.graphicxtras.com/

SymbolPaint plugin


Flash export: Symbols are useful in flash export (for low file size). The symbols can be exported to SWF format and alsomanipulated across 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 thescruncher etc additional tools, the symbols can be re-sized and rotated and stained as required (graphicxtras.com also havesome excellent tools 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, multipleboxes and then select the symbols and then the replacement symbol in the symbol palette and then use 'replace symbol'from the menu to change all the boxes into the more complex art. All the live effects remain as before.

Brush symbols: Symbols can be converted to a brush, simply drag the symbol (and any associated effects) to the brushespalette and you will be asked to store the brush as a scatter / artistic or pattern brush.

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

Photoshop: Symbols can also be copied via the pasteboard to other applications such as Photoshop (so a wonderfulbackground symbol can be used as a wonderful background texture in Photoshop.. along with transparency information foruse with layer effects such 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 theappearance palette, multiple warps can be applied to a single symbol. So create an arc warp effect, duplicate it and modifythe direction (say vertical instead of horizontal). This can create truly weird shapes from even the most basic symbol.

http://www.graphicxtras.com/