This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Working with drawing modes
Illustrator has three drawing modes that allow you to draw shapes in different ways. They are found near the bottom of the toolbar: Draw Normal, Draw Behind, and Draw Inside.
Draw Normal mode: Every document starts by drawing in Normal mode, which stacks shapes on top of each other.
Draw Behind mode: This allows you to draw behind all artwork on a layer if no artwork is selected. If artwork is selected, the new object is placed beneath the selected object.
Draw Inside mode: This mode lets you draw objects or place images inside other objects, automatically creating a clipping mask of the selected object.
Using Draw Inside mode
Now you’ll add some depth to the shoe by drawing inside of a shape using the Draw Inside mode. This can be useful if you want to hide (mask) part of the artwork. You can draw, place, or paste content into a shape with Draw Inside mode active.
Select the Selection tool (
), and click to select the larger blue shoe shape.Choose Draw Inside from the Drawing Modes menu (
), near the bottom of the toolbar.
)
Select the Rectangle tool (
) in the toolbar. It’s under the Star tool (
).Draw a tall rectangle that covers the right side of the shoe shape. See the figure.
Notice after drawing, that parts of the shape are hidden.
Change the fill color to orange.
)
With the Selection tool selected, drag the rectangle into the position you see in the figure.
Now you’ll change the opacity of the shape and make it so you can see through it.
)
In the Properties panel, change the Opacity to 40%.
)
Click the word Opacity in the Properties panel, and choose Darken from the Blend mode menu.
)
Choose Draw Normal from the Drawing Modes menu (
) toward the bottom of the toolbar.
)
When you’re finished adding content inside a shape, choose Draw Normal so that any new content will be added normally (stacked rather than drawn inside).
Choose Select > Deselect.
Editing content drawn inside
Next, you’ll make adjustments to the shape you just made to see how you can edit an object inside another object after you create it.
With the Selection tool (
), select the star and the heel shape.Choose Edit > Cut.
Click the darker shape inside the blue shape.
You’ll wind up selecting the blue shape. The blue shoe shape is now a mask (called a clipping path). That shape and the rectangle you drew inside make a clip group. Looking at the top of the Properties panel, you will see “Clip Group.”
)
With the clip group selected, click the Isolate Mask button in the Properties panel to enter Isolation mode. Now you can select either the clipping path (the blue shoe shape) or the orange rectangle you drew within.
)
Choose Edit > Paste In Place to paste the star and heel shape inside of the blue shape.
Choose Object > Arrange > Send To Back.
)
Select the orange shape, and change the fill color to black.
Double-click in an empty area of the artboard to exit Isolation mode.
)
