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Envelopes

Creating envelopes is another way in which text, objects or images can be warped using Illustrator10. Any path from the simple to the complex can be used as an envelope.

The envelope command is found under Object > Envelope Distort. There are two parts to creating distortions using envelopes. The first is creating the path that is used as the vehicle for the distortion and the second is creating the object, text, or image to be distorted. It is important to select both the path used for distortion and the object that is to be distorted. It is necessary that the path is in front of the object to be distorted.

Then you select Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object.

The result is that the text "BULGING" has been distorted by an envelope in the shape of an ellipse.

The shape can be altered as shown:

And both the type object and shape can be altered as well.

You can also make envelopes using the mesh tool and the warp tools.

Liquify

Illustrator 10 includes seven new liquify tools that can be accessed through a tear off pallette. From left to right the tools are warp, twist, pucker, bloat, scallop, crystallize, and wrinkle. These effects can range from a minor tweak to an exaggerated distortion. In addition the effect will differ depending upon the underlying text, object, or image.

New Drawing Tools

Illustrator has added three new drawing tools in version 10: line, arch grid and polar grid. The inclusion of these new tools will save Illustrator users valuable time.

Flare Tool

Illustrator's new flare tool is found at the end of the drawing tools which include rectangle, circle, and star among others.

To create a flare there are four options that can be changed: center, halo, rays & rings.

New selection options

The Magic Wand has migrated from Photoshop to Illustrator 10 making selecting similar items much easier. The different ways in which object attributes can be selected is found under the Select Menu. When using the Magic Wand tool or other selection tools the selection method must be chosen before you use the Magic Wand. The selection methods include similar fill, a particular blending mode, or identical stroke weight. Thus Illustrator 10 has expanded the capabilities of Photoshop's magic wand.

With all the new tools, new ways of using Illustrator in combination with other Adobe products, the ability to collaborate with other designers and developers, and the ability to use dynamic data-driven graphics for automation, upgrading to version 10 from a previous version of Illustrator is worth the price. If you are using another Adobe product and need the capabilities of Illustrator, this is probably the version to buy as it integrates very well with other Adobe products. If you are new to Illustrator and want the best graphics design product for print as well as the web, buying Illustrator 10 is a good investment.

System Requirements

• Macintosh: Power PC Processor G3, G4, or G4 dual; Mac OS software 9.1, 9.2 or Mac OS X 10.1; 128 MB Ram; 180 MB available disk space; For Postscript printing, printers capable of Adobe PS levels2 or 3.
• Windows: Intel Pentium II and above; Windows 98 and above; 128 MB Ram; 180 MB available disk space; For Postscript printing, printers capable of Adobe PS levels2 or 3.