Andrew's Vector Plugin's Volume 24 Manual for Illustrator

Plug-ins notes

file:///C|/...ndrew/Products/Documentation%20NOT%20FOR%20RELEASE/Illustrator%20plugins/Volume%2024/GX24_Documentation.htm[30/10/2008 19:35:37]

GXLatticeConnect (Andrew's Vector Plug-ins Volume 24) Plug-in

Introduction

A plug-in to create lattice, connection, grids and more. The plug-in comes with many options to create stunning and uniquedesigns in 1000s of ways. The plugin set is for Illustrator ® Hope you find the plug-in set of use and interest

Andrew

Installation of plug-in

Please place the GX24_LatticeConnect plug-in into the plug-in folder of Illustrator. This varies from version to version ofIllustrator as well as OS.

PC: Please take the GX24_LatticeConnect file and place in the plug-ins folder of Illustrator i.e. c:\program files\adobe\adobeillustrator CS3\plug-ins

MAC OS X: Slightly more difficult because of the multiple versions. Please select the correct version for the correct Illustrator.You will find the plug-in stored in a folder marked 'Plugin for CS 10' or 'Plugin for CS2' or ''Plug-in for CS3'. The plugin,ostensibly, is the same but CS2 requires a slightly different installation in that all the items in the plugin folder must be addedto the plug-in path of Illustrator and not individual bits such as the resource file etc (nor can items be renamed). I wouldsuggest that the plug-in set is placed into a sub folder 'graphicxtras' or 'third party plugins'

i.e. HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS3:plug-ins

The plugin requires no additional serial etc to run, the plug-in will appear in the menu category AVP <Create>. You mightwish to set the fill / stroke to a setting beforehand (some of the functionality of the plugin sets the fill to no fill, so you mightoccasionally have to re-set this to a color if the no fill is suddenly set)

Above shows an example of the plug-in placed in the plug-ins folder of CS3.

Plug-ins notes


You may wish to set the fill / stroke before you use the plugin.

The plug-in appears in the AVP <Create> category (mainly as it is a creation plugin and doesn't require a pre selected path towork) (CS3 CS2 CS 10)

The plug-in appears in the object > filters menu (CS4)

Plug-ins notes


Select the GX24_LatticeConnect plugin from the menu

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)

Tumble / presets / drag buttons

The plugin comes with a few buttons to help in the creation of the lattice designs.

To reset the plugin to the default values, select the first item in the presets dropdown (far right of the dialog, displayed at alltimes). On selecting this, all the items are set back to the basic 100 / 100 .. etc point lattice grid.

Plug-ins notes


To tryout some of the options of the plug-in, select an item from the dropdown (far right), this is a useful way to exploresome of the settings of the plug-in.

To randomize most of the settings (not all, things like pattern options can only be set by you), click the tumble button. Thetumble button randomizes most of the settings between extremes of values (though not to the limits of settings, but hopefullysomething useful)

The shuffle button doesn't randomize the displayed settings but only randomizes the calculation if there is a random elementinvolved. If all the settings preclude randomization then clicking the shuffle button will have no effect on the displayed latticeresult

Drag buttons are besides most of the settings. To use, click on the button and hold the shift key down. Then drag across (orup and down if the setting is a 'height' option) the document from the left to right and this will interactively update thesetting and display. Release the shift before releasing the mouse for a more controlled response.

View button controls the zoom / view of the display within the plugin (far right, bottom)

Plug-ins notes


Symbols

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)

Important - rapid visual change (drag buttons)

Please note: this plugin can be used to create some seriously intense illustrations and designs as well as rapid movement andcreation of paths. If you have problems with flashing lights or intense imagery, please be careful with this plugin especiallywith the use of the shift button / drag feature (the small box beside a number of the key settings)

Initial use of plugin

Plugin appears in the filters menu (not the effects menu) under AVP <Create> GX24_LatticeConnect

The plug-in set is split over 4 panels. The main settings are in the first panel. The shapes / circles etc are modified via thethird panel.

Lines dialog

Points: Modifies the number of points in the lattice. The first column is the minimum setting, the second column is themaximum number of lattice points to create. If set to 2 to 200 then the number of lattice points might be 2, 5, 20, 70, etc upto 200. If set to 200 200 then the number of lattice points will be 200. If the link is set then points are the same (the secondcolumn is disabled). To create a small lattice grid, set the values to 10 10 etc

Plug-ins notes


Step Distance: The first column is for the horizontal distance between lattice points, the second column for the vertical. Tolink the two, click on the [L] checkbox. The actual distance depends on the dropdown at the bottom of the dialog, such asrandomizing the distance, changing the angle etc. To create a narrow tall structure set the first column to a low value, thesecond column to a high value. The distance is in points. Combination of distance / dropdown can be used to create a widerange of different lattice structures.

Plug-ins notes


Width: The stroke width / weight of the lattice. The first column is the minimum stroke value, the second column, themaximum. If the value is set to 2 and 20 then the stroke width used (if available) to 2, 3, 4, 4.5 etc up to 20, randomly set.If set to the same value, the value used will be exact with no randomization. You can link the second column to the first bychecking the [L checkbox. The randomization is more effective if you have multiple sets of lattice grids.

Plug-ins notes


Line Sets: By default, only 1 set is created but you can create multiple sets of grids (all starting from the same place unlessthe random start is set) created at the bottom of the document. The grid will have the same color etc as the original unlessrandomized stroke etc is set. The randomization of lines, stroke width can be seen more clearly if multiple sets of lines arecreated. If the points is set to a random value (minimum and maximum are different) then each set will have a different(possibly) set of points.

Plug-ins notes


Minimum distance: Limits any randomization etc to this value. If the line distance is set to 200 and randomization is set viathe dropdown at the bottom of the screen, the minimum distance setting will limit the lowest step distance to the requiredvalue (say 10pts) so all the values will be between 10 and 200. Only for non-distance factor settings

Angle: Rotates the lattice grid by the supplied angle about the initial create point (which is generally 0 0 at the bottom of thedocument) This value can be randomized by checking the [R] setting and the angle will be randomized between 0 and thevalue set. To set total randomization, set the angle to 360

Distance factor: As each 'step' of the lattice is created the size between the step is reduced and reduced or increased bythis percentage. Works best between 99% and 101%, otherwise, fairly rapid, especially when the grid has a lot of points.Ignored by the minimum distance so the distance can be set to less than the minimum. Use to create very small vanishingdesigns or intense wildly varying sized designs

Plug-ins notes


Curvature: Curves the line

Plug-ins notes


Line options: Applies the creation of the line and the step distance and angle of line in a variety of ways such as creating anangled design or random distance or very abstract or uniform grids.

Plug-ins notes


Styles dialog

Stroke options: Applies different color settings to the lines of the lattice such as randomized. Depends on the number of setsbeing created, not so useful with a single set or not split lines. If the spilt lines option is set the lines are discrete and thelines will be colored randomly or faded to black or alternate colors etc. The first entry field is available only when swatchesare used in the dropdown (the swatch settings depends on the position of the color swatches in the swatches palette) and thesecond entry depends on the 'to target' and the midpoint between the current and the target

Plug-ins notes


Patterns: Not available if the split lines option is set. The pattern option creates a tile using the lattice grid and the pointshapes and repeats these in three additional positions. The center of the pattern / tile depends on the dropdown i.e. startposition or the center of the document

Plug-ins notes


Shapes dialog

Shape: If set to 0 then no shapes will be displayed. Set to 20 20 then each point of the lattice grid will have a shape createdat the start point of the grid. There may be or may not be multiple overlaps as the grid is randomly created with some linespassing over the same point multiple times.

The type of shape created depends on the dropdown at the bottom of the panel

If the shape setting is 20 60 then the shape will be created with a random size between 20 and 60 points. If you wish to linkthe two values, set the [L] checkbox

To create huge shapes, set the value to 200 200 etc or if you want very small particles, set the value to 10 10

Plug-ins notes


Fill options: If set, the fill is randomly filled, alternate filled with black / color, faded to the target color etc set to swatchvalues and more. This is for each point / shape combo in turn. Sometimes the plug-in will fill the fill with 'no fill' and you willhave to manually reset the fill color via the toolbar.

Plug-ins notes


Stroke options: As with the fill, this is for the stroke of the shapes (if the shape has a stroke). Again, the stroke could berandomly filled, targeted to white, black, inverted or alternated. Ignored if there is no stroke set

Stroke: Sets the stroke width for the paths (if available) between the minimum and maximum. If set to 2 20 then the strokewidth of each shape in turn could be 2 3 4 5.5 etc up to 20. To set to all the same value, set the minimum and maximum tothe same value. Link the value by checking the [L] checkbox.

Plug-ins notes


Shape position jitter: Shifts the position of the created shape in the horizontal and vertical off the default position (on thegrid lattice point). Depends on the grid, ,multiple underlying shapes may be visible.

Plug-ins notes


Radius factor: Reduces or increases the size of the created paths

Angle: Angles the created path, depends on the shape. Only useful for stars, rectangles, ovals etc

Plug-ins notes


Scale: Re-scales the generated paths, a quick and easy way of increasing the size / decreasing the size uniformly. Perhapsmore useful for the 'selected' paths such as symbols

Plug-ins notes


Create shapes: Randomly creates or not shapes, leaving gaps in the shapes (not the grid)

Shapes options: Creates by default, a circle. Other shapes such as squares etc are created depending on the dropdown.Also, the shapes can be alternated or totally random as well as different types of stars. The selected option at the bottom canbe used to display images or symbols or a single path (only works with a single non compound path). Select a shape /symbol and then run the plugin and the shape created at each grid point will be the selected item (still needs a size to be setfor the functionality to work). Use the scale value to re-size the symbol, image etc as required.

Plug-ins notes


Settings dialog

Split lines: Instead of a single line for the grid, all the lines are created as discreet elements. Useful for random colors etc forthe strokes and size of stroke width. Doesn't work in combo with patterns.

Opacity: Randomizes the opacity of the lattice and shapes

Plug-ins notes


Start: Randomizes the start position of the lattice (away from the default position of 0 0). More useful with multiple sets ofgrids

Plug-ins notes


Lines fill visible: By default, the plugin doesn't display the fill of the grid. To display the color of the grid (sometimes useful,sometimes not), check the lines value

Delete (continuous) line: Remove the lattice grid and just display the shapes

Plug-ins notes


Applications support

MAC OS X 10.2 .3 .4 .5 98 ME NT XP Vista Adobe ® Illustrator ®10 CS1 CS2 (12) CS3 CS4

Questions

Please contact me on support @graphicxtras.com Other plugins are available on the site http://www.graphicxtras.com

Copyright

The plugin is copyright of 1999-2008, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle).

The symbols are royalty-free, feel free to use as required according to the license. Symbols are (c) 2007 Andrew Buckle /Abneil Software ltd.

This product was released by Abneil Software Ltd (UK based company)

Trademarks

Illustrator and Adobe and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

We have no connection whatsoever with Adobe. Adobe product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Adobe SystemsIncorporated.

Symbols

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 or the CS2 or CS3 equivalent

The symbols can be accessed from any folder but this is probably the best location as the file/s can be accessed via thesymbols 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 (in

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.graphicxtras.com/

Plug-ins notes


CS) 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 2007, 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 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

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 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 ®

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 / CS2 (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/

Documents

Andrew's Vector Plugin's Volume 24 Manual for Illustrator