andrew's vector plugin's volume 1 manual

Plug-ins notes

file:///C|/...Andrew/Products/Documentation%20NOT%20FOR%20RELEASE/Illustrator%20plugins/Volume%201/GX01_Documentation.htm[30/10/2008 19:24:18]

Creation (Andrew's Vector Plugins Volume 01)

Introduction

Plug-in set includes plug-ins for creation of paths: duplications (circular or grid) and abstract line / stained glass plugineffects. Hope you find the plug-ins of interest and use.

Andrew

Installation of plug-ins

Please place the

GX01_Abstract.aip

GX01_Duplication.aip

GX01_RoundDuplication.aip

GX01_Circled.aip

GX01_Duplicator.aip

into the c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins folder [pc Illustrator ® CS] or c:\program files\adobe\illustrator10\plug-ins [pc illustrator 10] or CS1 or CS2 or CS3 equivalent

For the mac, please place the

GX01_Abstract

GX01_Duplication

GX001_RoundDuplication

GX01_Circled

GX01_Duplicator files

in HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:plug-ins [mac Illustrator ®CS] or HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:plug-ins [macIllustrator 10] or CS1 or CS2 or CS3 equivalent

For CS2 on OS X, please place the entire folder 'GX01_...' etc into the plug-in path, all the items in the 'plug-in' are required

Plug-ins notes


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)

*** NOTE: Please be very careful with some of the functionality if you suffer from light sensitive problems /issues as using certainly functionality and rapidly changing settings and random fill colors or path strokes, cancreate an intense set of color changes. This might be same for many different path combinations. This is mainlyconnected with the interactive drag buttons. Basically, be careful of rapid changes of settings!

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)

Initial use of plug-ins

Please access the plug-ins via the object > filters menu (CS4)

Please access via the filters menu of Illustrator ® via the <AVP Paths> menu (CS3 CS2 CS 10)

The plugins appear in the path's menu as they require paths to create, without a path selected, the menu items will be faded.The plugins use a path or selected paths or images or symbols or other items.

Plug-ins notes


Path requirements

The abstract plugin requires no path but perhaps some initial setup of fill or stroke or both as required and appears in the AVPCreate. Duplication etc all require a path (or symbol or image)

Presets

The plugins all comes with a selection of presets, select one of these to change the settings to a pre-defined set of values(though the actual result might vary depending on the current fill etc or the level of randomization in the preset)

Shuffle button

Shuffle button randomizes the value used based on the current setting (if randomization has been set such as random curveor distance), not all fields have randomization and so will be ignored by the shuffle button

Tumble button

Click the tumble button to randomization many of the settings to their extreme (though not all and not all to their extreme asduplications etc can be processor intensive and 100s of duplications can cause serious response slowdown). Hopefully most ofthe settings will be reasonable and the tumble button is a great way to experiment.

View

View field changes the navigator zoom level within the plugin, this changes the bounds of the document view and this is usedin some of the plugins (such as abstract)

Drag buttons

Drag buttons are connected with some of the key fields. Click and then hold down the shift key and drop across (in mostcases) or if the field is a vertical related field then drag up and down, the related field will be updated interactively (as fast aspossible). As mentioned, be careful with the use of this and random fill / stroke etc as the response can be fairly rapid andintense in many cases. Release the shift key when you wish to stop the field being updated.

Applications support

MAC OS X 10.2 .3 .4 . 5 98 ME NT XP Vista Adobe ® Illustrator ® 10 CS 1 (11) CS 2 (12) CS3 CS4

Questions

Please contact me on [email protected]. Other plugins are available on the site http://www.graphicxtras.comUpgrades are generally available, either as free updates or inexpensive updates/upgrades. Please store the reference serialnumber or details of order

Copyright

The plugins are copyright of 1999-2008, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle). 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.

Plug-ins

Abstract Plug-in

Plugin to create cris crossing lines. The result can be just a set of lines, great for a background, or perhaps a stained glasswindow, or a very abstract effect. Split into two dialogs

'Abstract' dialog


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.graphicxtras.com/

Plug-ins notes


'Number of lines': Creates a certain number of lines. The first point is created at a random position within the document andthe end point is created up to the jitter distance entered (or less) and limited to the document (if set) and the next line iscreated from this position and so on. The lines cross over previously created lines (or not, randomly)

'Number of line sets': Instead of creating one set of lines, multiple line sets can be created. The start position for each setis created randomly within the document. The lines can be individually colored (though the individual lines within the setcannot) as well as random fills, etc. Combined with opacity and other settings, many unusual abstract designs can be created(if you wish, you can also release to layers via the layers palette) each path set, and created an animated random abstractline design.

'Jitter distance': This is the maximum distance in points from point to point. If set to 100,100 then the next point will beany distance in either direction up to 100 points in the horizontal and 100 points in the vertical. If you wish to create a thin orflattened line set, set the jitter distance of one direction to a low value

Plug-ins notes


'Curve': Adds curvature to the generated lines, great for more scribble like designs

'Interpolation dropdown': Ignored if the interpolation is 0, sets different centers such as the document view center (this isthe actual frame of the screen and depends on the navigator) or the actual document center

'Interpolation': This moves the points closer or further from the original calculated point towards the interpolation center /dropdown. Great for zoom / frame designs and more.

Plug-ins notes


'Settings' dialog

'Limit to document': By default, the points are created only within the current defined document width and height (so if youcreate 500 points, all 500 points will be either inside the document space and more likely all around the edge of thedocument). If not set, the lines can sprawl outwards randomly to fill the entire work space.

'Fill [R]': If there is no fill, this will not work (also the document color space has to match the actual fill color mode). If thereis a fill, then the fill for a created set will be randomly generated based on the current color space (RGB etc). Please be awarethat the fill color option can cause rapid changes of color (especially in combo with the interactive sliders)

Plug-ins notes


'Fill swatch [R]': This supersedes the basic fill. If set, and there is a fill, the fills are taken from the current swatch palette.If you want to create a design filled with gradients only, remove all the swatches such as patterns or basic color fills, andleave only gradients; or if you want a design filled with blues, fill the swatches palette with only blue swatches

'Stroke [R]': The basic functionality of the plugin is design based around a stroke (though if no stroke is set, randomizationwill be ignored). This creates random stroked colored lines. Works best, probably, without a fill set.

Plug-ins notes


'Stroke swatch [R]': Supersedes the stroke setting. Randomly selects swatches from the swatches palette. To fill the lineswith reddish lines, add red swatches to the swatches palette and remove all non-red swatches. Gradient swatches cannot beused (sadly) as a swatch for strokes.

'Opacity [R]': Set the lines to variable opacity

Plug-ins notes


'Width [R]': Vary the line width (or weight) from 0 to the pre-plugin line width (randomly). If you wish to have a widervariation of line widths, set the line width before starting the plugin to a large value (20 points or so)

'Curve [R]': Randomizes the curve setting for the individual segments between 0 and current setting. If the current curvesetting is 0, this is ignored.

Plug-ins notes


'Viewbounds': Based the range of lines on the current view border. Apply the abstract and then change the view via thenavigator or scroll and then re-apply, creates the abstract lines in a different region of the document, creating a patchwork ofabstract lines

'Layers': Places the lines of new layers, great or animations etc, export to SWF format

Circled

Plugin to create a basic ring of a selected path or paths or images or symbols (basic version of round duplication)


'Circle' dialog

'Number of circles': The number of circles (or rings of items) to create. For a basic circular design, set to 1.

Plug-ins notes


'Items per circle': Number of items or copies of the original selected path to create per circle.

'Gap between circles': Gap between the circles (radial)

Plug-ins notes


'Rotation applied': Angle / rotation applied to the path. This is useful for different designs from the same basic shape.

'Variance' dialog

'Gap between circles' options: Instead of just applying a basic gap between circles, the circle can be randomly placed,accumulated, and more.

Plug-ins notes


'Settings dialog'

'Fill [R]: The paths are filled with random colors (this odes depend on the path color type / mode as well as document colormode and there being a fill in the first place)

'Stroke [R]': Random stroke color. More useful, probably, with no fill

'Weight [R]': Line width randomly set between the zero and the original line width / weight.

Plug-ins notes


'Opacity [R]': The generated paths are set with a transparency between 0 and 100%

'Blend [R]': The paths are given a random blend mode, such as difference or multiply (for odd color combinations)

'Delete original': The plugin, sadly, leaves the original path displayed during the preview (it needs the path). The path canbe deleted on exit (the default), if required.

'Warp [R]': The newly created paths are warped using a variety of random envelopes and envelope settings.

'Alternate': Alternate paths are doubled in size. Creates unusual and interesting path designs.

Plug-ins notes


Duplication plug-in

Plug-in to create a grid of selected paths or path or images or symbols.


'Rows' dialog

'Rows / gap': Number of rows followed by the gap between the rows and the gap variant setting + gap variant options(such as accumulate or random between 0 and entered value)

Plug-ins notes


'Scale': Re-sizing or scaling applied to the paths from row to row, shrinking or growing the duplicated paths

'Slant': Slant or angle applied to the overall duplication row by row.

Plug-ins notes


'Columns' dialog

'Columns / gap': Number of columns, gap between columns, an additional gap distance (variant) and options relating to thegap variant value (such as applying as an accumulation)

'Scale': Scaling applied to duplicated paths on a column by column basis, shrinking or growing the paths.

Plug-ins notes


'Slant': Slant applied on a column by column basis

'Apply' dialog

'Rows skip/create': Skip or create rows

Plug-ins notes


'Columns skip/create': Skip or create columns

'Rotate' dialog

'Columns rotation': Rotate paths followed by a rotation variant setting (which can be modified by the rotation dropdown toapply the variant setting as an accumulation or randomization)

'Jitter': Jitter applied to the angle, so instead of applying an angle of 20 degrees, the angle can be anything between -20 and20 degrees.

Plug-ins notes


'Center': The center of rotation by default is the path itself but by setting the rotation dropdown to user defined setting, thecenter can be modified to any point required (this is applied to each path)

'Style' dialog

'Fill': By default, the fill and color settings are off. The values will not be accessible until you set a type of fill such as anaccumulation or randomization via the dropdown. Use the fill setting (it requires the paths to have a fill, so fill will not workwith images or symbols). The fill can be used to create colorful blends from left to right.

Plug-ins notes


'Stroke': As with fill but applied to the stroke.

'Weight': Or line width. If there is no width, this will have no effect. Set the dropdown to access the width value. The widthunit is /10th of a point. The width can be accumulated, randomized, and more

Plug-ins notes


'Settings' dialog

'Flip 180': Flip the path on alternate paths

'Opacity [R]': Randomization of the transparency of the generated paths

Plug-ins notes


'Scaling [R]': The scaling is randomized between 0 and the current value

'Selected center': The scaling for the plugin is applied to the center of all the selected paths instead of individual paths.Depends on the path setup, especially if you are applying to a row of text say

'Delete original': The original path is deleted by default, it can be kept by setting the checkbox to off

'Place above': All the paths are created above the previous paths. You can reverse this and place all the new paths beneaththe previous path (which might or might not be useful for your design)

'Link': By default, the link is ON and all the rows and columns data is linked. Turn it to off, if you wish to have more rows orcolumns than the other

Duplicator Plug-in

Plugin to create a basic grid of paths (basic version of duplication - though with its own set of unique features)

'Grid' dialog

'Rows/gap': Number of rows and gap between rows

Plug-ins notes


'Columns/gap': Number of columns and gap between columns

'Rotation applied': Angle / rotation applied to the paths

'Variance' dialog

'Resize': Scaling applied to the paths

Plug-ins notes


'Midpoint': The midpoint of the grid for scaling purposes (after the midpoint, the path changes growth direction)

'Midpoint options': Different type of midpoint / scaling options

Plug-ins notes


'Interpolate style': Interpolates the style (fill etc) of the original path and the currently created path. Useful for creating anaveraging of values (such as a fill)

'Settings' dialog

'Fill [R]': Randomly fill the paths

'Stroke [R]': Random stroke colors (requires a path stroke)

'Weight [R]': Width / weight randomly set between 0 and path line width

'Opacity [R]': Path's opacity is set randomly between 0 and 100

Plug-ins notes


'Blend [R]': The path's blending mode is randomly set to difference, multiply, lighten, etc

'Delete original': Deletes the original path (default) on clicking OK. During the preview, the path will be visible

'Warp [R]': Warps the generated paths using random envelopes and envelope settings

'Doubled': Doubles the size of alternate paths

Plug-ins notes


'Link': Links the rows and columns

'Flip 90': Flips alternate paths by 90 degrees

'Fill / Stroke [S]': Fills the path and stroke depending on the angle

Round Duplication plug-in

Plugin to create a set of path rings.

'Main' dialog

'Copies': Number of copies to create in a ring

'Initial distance': Initial distance from the origin point

Plug-ins notes


'Scale': Scaling applied to the paths (horizontal vertical)

'Shift': Shift applied to the path

Plug-ins notes


'Alternate shift': Shift applied to alternate generated paths (radial)

'Accumulate shift': Accumulated shift (radial), resulting in a spiral.

Plug-ins notes


'Angle' dialog

'Center' options: By default, the rotation is applied about the middle bottom of the path, set the path's rotation center to apath or a path center or random or a different part of the path

'Selected path center': Instead of scaling about the individual path center, scaling is applied to the group of selected paths(to keep everything relative)

'User defined center': Ignored if the rotation dropdown is not set to the user defined center option, otherwise set therotation to a different part of the document for varying dramatic path effects

'Angle': Additional rotation applied to the path about its own center, great for creating different pattern designs, even bychanging a path by 10 degrees

Plug-ins notes


'Angular shift': The path's are rotated about the current rotation center and shifted, perfect for alignment

'Use supplied angle': Instead of using the calculated angle to create a set of paths, this angle is used. If 10 paths are to becreated, normally these would be spaced 36 degrees apart. Use this to set the angle to 10 or 20 or greater

'Maximum angle (360)': By default, the entire ring or circle is used in the creation of the paths. Use this value to overridethis and set it to a semi circle or quarter circle.

Plug-ins notes


'Apply' dialog

'Path apply': Instead of creating all the paths, gaps can be created between paths, bunching paths. The first field is thenumber of 'paths' to skip, the second the number of paths to create before before the next skip.

'Pattern factor': Setting applied to a number of different settings throughout the plugin, such as scaling (check the settingsdialog for the checkboxes to set which ones are applied and which ones are not)

Plug-ins notes


'Pattern apply': The pattern factor is applied based on its own skip or 'apply' settings. So if set to 1:1 then one path willhave the pattern applied, the next path won't, and so on

'Rings' dialog

'Rings': Number of rings to create

'Rings radial / angular shift': Radial factor and angular shift modified from ring to ring

'Rings override copies / 360': Angle used and maximum angle factor applied ring to ring

'Rings scale factor': The scale factor ring to ring. So if set to 50, then the scale of the paths in the next 'ring' will be halfthe size of the previous rings

Plug-ins notes


'Rings shift factor': The shift factor modified ring to ring

'Rings pattern factor': Pattern factor modified ring to ring (if set to 50 the pattern factor will be half the size of the previousring)

'Rings fill factor': The fill color factor applied ring to ring. If set to 50, the fill will be darker or lighter in the next ring(depending on the color mode)

'Rings width factor': The width is modified ring to ring by the width factor. If set to 50 then the width of the stroke in thenext ring will be half that of the previous ring

'Fill' dialog

'Fill': The path's fill is modified by the fill settings and fill options. Useful for creating unusual path color blends or filling thepaths with random colors

'Stroke': As with fill, the stroke color is filled with varying color or random colors. Probably more useful if no fill is set

'Width': The path's width is modified by the width settings, either accumulating to create thicker or thinner width lines orrandom thickness lines (for sketch effects)

'Settings' dialog

'Opacity [R]': The path's opacity is randomly set. Great for unusual overlapping effects. The path opacity can be furthermanipulated on exit.

Plug-ins notes


'Patterns apply to rings': Pattern factor is applied to the ring setting

'Patterns apply to ring angular shift': Pattern factor is applied to the ring angular shift

'Pattern apply to horizontal scale': Pattern factor is applied to the horizontal scale setting

'Pattern apply to vertical scale': Pattern factor is applied to the vertical scale setting

'Pattern apply to horizontal shift': Pattern factor is applied to the horizontal shift setting

'Pattern apply to vertical shift': Pattern factor is applied to the vertical shift setting

'Pattern apply to angular shift': Pattern factor is applied to the angular shift setting (first dialog)

'Flip alternate': The paths are flipped alternately (by 90 degrees) for different design patterns

'Delete original [after OK]': The original path is deleted (by default this is on). The path is visible during the preview but itis deleted on OK / exit of the plugin

'Scale using center of all the selected paths': Instead of scaling about the individual path centers, the scaling center isset to all the selected path's group center (this keeps everything relative)

'Place above previous paths': Places all newly generated paths on top of the previous path (if set to off, the paths arecreated beneath the previous paths)

andrew's vector plugin's volume 1 manual

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