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Graphic styles for Illustrator ®: how to use, install, tutorials etc

 

 

 

Graphic styles

 

Graphic styles are stored effects for Illustrator. Simply click and apply to paths or text. They are a useful toolkit for countless effects

 

 

Graphic styles format

Graphic styles are all stored in native format AI files for ease of use. The graphic styles can be used in Illustrator from 10 upwards. Most of the graphicxtras styles are in 10 format for maximum compatibility but some are stored in CS1 (such as scribbles as that was introduced with CS1) and the aspect ratio styles CS4 format (aspect ratio in gradients was added with CS4)

 

 

Access styles

Styles are easy to access, simply access via the styles palette in Illustrator, select a path and apply

 

 

Styles libraries

The styles files contain multiple styles. Opening the source styles file normally will not show the styles, they are not visible via the document. To see the styles, open the graphic styles palette.

 

 

RGB format

The graphic styles are stored in the RGB color model, in most cases, can be easily turned into CMYK or used in CMYK documents. Graphic styles are designed for a particular color format. In many cases, the styles will work happily in either color model (such as RGB etc.) but some styles might just display as black and might require some modification

 

 

Document styles

Once the styles have been stored in the current project / document, the style can be further manipulated and added to or elements removed and the style can then be saved to a new project library graphic styles file

 

 

Borders

The styles can be used to apply to paths and can be used to create stunning border or frame designs

 

 

Applied to paths

The graphic styles can be applied to paths in 1000s of different ways, use to create a background designs, use to create fashion prints, use to create book covers.

 

 

Create symbols

Use the graphic style and apply to a path and then save as a symbol (via the symbols palette), use the graphic style then in the symbol sprayer etc.

 

 

Text

Graphic styles can be applied to expanded text. The actual result depends on the color style and the text

 

 

Resolution free

The Illustrator graphic styles are vector designs and are resolution-free

 

 

Patterns scaling

If a pattern is included then you can always re-scale the pattern design via the edit > transform > scale command. Just de-select the OBJECT option and leave the PATTERN on

 

 

Modify styles

You can modify styles best via the appearance palette. You will then see all the different elements such as multiple fills and multiple strokes. You can then remove the style elements and 'create' a new style or you can tweak the gradient or color settings or add transparency to a particular element or add an effect to the style

 

 

Combine / blend

You can also combine graphic styles, apply different blending modes etc. to different overlapping paths containing the same or different graphic styles and create even more stunning and unique designs (these can then be added to the symbols palette for future use)

 

 

Graphic styles plug-ins

The vectorwand plug-in toolkit comes with a tool to manipulate the style factor, an internal style sizing setting. This is volume 7 of the Andrew's (vector) plugin series. Volume 3 gradient set for creating new graphic styles based on gradients, likewise the volume 17 create styles based on patterns. Styles are also applied as a random element in many of the plug-ins, generally via a single setting check on and off.

 

 

Patterns / fills / gradients

Illustrator Styles can be made up of many different elements, modified and tweaked. The individual elements can be modified via the gradients tool

 

 

Rasterize styles

The graphic style and applied path can be rasterized and then re-used perhaps via live trace

 

Combine with other styles

Use the color styles as a starting point. Combine these styles with scribbles and other live effects such as blurs and pixel plugins

 

 

Illustrator graphic styles Installation

Graphic styles or styles are in native Illustrator format. The styles files are placed in the presets styles or graphic styles folder, though they can be located in other folders. Access the styles via the graphic styles menu / palette. As soon as a graphic style is used it is added to the current document's graphic styles palette

 

Illustrator graphic styles location - CS4 VISTA

Please place the Illustrator styles files in your user folder [user] \ appData  \roaming \ Adobe \ Adobe Illustrator CS4 settings \ en_US \ graphic styles changing the en_US to en_GB etc as required and the [user] to your username. You will then see the styles files appear in the preset browser dropdown for the styles panel.

 

 

Illustrator graphic styles location - CS4 OS X

Please place the Illustrator styles files in the <user>: library : ApplicationSupport : Adobe : Adobe Illustrator CS4 : en_US : graphic styles folder. Again, depends on the username (Andrew, Maggie, Steve or whatever your current username is) and the en_US depends on the language so it could be en_GB etc en_JP etc

 

 

General location for presets

All versions of Illustrator can use the presets if they are placed in the presets 'preset type' (swatches, graphic styles etc) sub folder of the application. If they are not in any of the accepted locations, you can still access the swatches (or styles or brushes etc) via the panel's preset browser via the window menu (other libraries) or the preset's panel preset browser.

 

 

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