Illustrator tips?

[lava]

Hey guys, I'm trying to find advanced Illustrator tips. The sites that are listed under useful sites totally don't work. I know there are many advanced photoshop techniques tutorials, and I'm wondering if something like that exists for illustrator.

Thanks
Raf

[RussianBeer]

can u spell .............design forum?

[asphaltcowboy]

lava m8, was there anything specific you wanted to cover?
and yes, must agree with the design forum point :sure:

[lava]

Eh... what I'm looking for is for ideas on the kinds of things that I can do in illustrator. I guess my main frustration with illustrator is that it doesnt have the drawing ease that flash does for some things, but that's another story...

Check out this page http://www.cahsee.org/ - you know the faded effect in the picture? it fades into the blue background. I did that with flash. Basically, I want to be able to do that in illustrator, and I don't want to have to import a raster image from photoshop... know what I mean?
Raf

[asphaltcowboy]

You should be able to just create a standard vector box and use a transparent to blue gradient fill? Illustrators not too difficult to use - though I think I prefer Fireworks :)

[lava]

I'm not sure how to do that though... I did the gradient, but it won't let me make any of the stop colors transparent.

[asphaltcowboy]

sorry m8, i ran aaaaaaall the way upstairs for you to test.. but I just can't figure it out.. I'm sure it should be simpler than this... sorry, methinks you'll have to ask someone with a bit more Illustrator experience.. :(

[lava]

I think it can be done with a combination of the blur effect, cause that will get you a faded transparency like that... but that's just stupid.

[mariofan]

to the trick your after -

draw a gradient box over the top of the object you want to fade (black & white transparency) - select both objects and click the small arrow on the transparency> then click 'make opacity mask' . you can then edit either the original shape or the gradient by clicking either in the transparency pallete.....

try it out you will see what i mean!

:mario:

[morse]

I don't like illustrator... its mean!

[lava]

sweet! that worked!

[mariofan]

glad i could be of help! - im going to start some tutorials for this site - ill keep you posted - and bring everybody up to speed with illustrator!

:mario:

[.soulty]

if your intrested a tutorial i found for gradient mesh creating a photo look , short tutorial, but sorta helpful.

http://www.somethingleet.com/forum/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=45

Here another place you can find some illustrator help

http://www.illustratorworld.com/tips/

[.soulty]

And Mariofan, if you need any hand with some illustrator tutorials and tips i would be glad to help.