One of my projects is in illustrator and I wasnt in my Urban Planning classes for the first week and a half and wasn't there in my planning graphic communications class when everything was explained. All I've ever done is basic things in photoshop such as applying filters and resizing. What I have to do in illustrator is create nodes and paths in a simple abstract design (2-D) that is assymetric yet balanced. It has to be printed on a 15x20 inch piece of paper and the nodes and paths have to be specific sizes. I am not sure how to set the size of the nodes and paths, or the document itself. Starting the class two weeks into the quarter unprepared has me really frustrated! Anyone know how to do this?

Are you familiar with the pen tool in Photoshop? Not the brush or pencil, but the PEN (the tool you use to make a path). If so, it's very similar to how the pen tool works in Illustrator.

Not I am not familiar.

Start here:

http://studio.adobe.com/us/search/sort?sort=date&product=8&topic=0&type=all&level=all

What do you mean by the size of the nodes? (I don't know if I'm asking a stupid question here.)

 

If you happen to be drawing straight lines, you can use the line tool and just click once, whereupon you'll get a dialog box with options to set the length and angle of a new line segment.  Maybe that's a start...

 

As for the size of the document, you can set its size when you create a new one, or by going to File->Document Setup.

I see now. What confused me was the pt measurement being standard. I needed inches. I got it now;thanks! I may have more questions though as I attempt to learn this program.

 

Comments? Suggestions? Ridicule?

 

I'm thinking the nodes should be more clustered together; as districts. Maybe it would add to the aesthetics. I'm also not sure what I want to do as far as the colors of the nodes and paths.

Tinker Toytastic.

Looks like the plats for most subdivisions, except there are not enough cul de sacs.

Find a neighborhood or area that you feel is well-planned on Google maps (Satellite view). Squint at it, and that should be your inspiration for the nodes and paths for this exercise.

 

Also, in Illustrator - select the white bars - reduce their stroke to 0.

No no no, you're thinking too hard. This is completely abstract. That doesn't mean that the space inbetween won't be utilized. These are just major concentrations of activity and major paths leading into them. I really want to network the nodes better but I'd be compromising the quality of the design...(the little bit of quality it does have)

I really think the paths need to circulate, rather than "lead into", if that makes sense.

What is your hierchy for this project....you have different sized nodes represented with the same colors.  That hurts the clarity of the size/importance of your nodes.  As for the use of AI...it would be best for you to sit down with someone and be shown what it is you're wanting to know.  Its hard to translate this kind of knowledge over the internet/a blog.

 

When is this project due by!??!!?!?

Comments? Suggestions? Ridicule?

I'm thinking the nodes should be more clustered together; as districts. Maybe it would add to the aesthetics. I'm also not sure what I want to do as far as the colors of the nodes and paths.

 

Looks like Electrical Engineering to me.

No no no, you're thinking too hard. This is completely abstract. That doesn't mean that the space inbetween won't be utilized. These are just major concentrations of activity and major paths leading into them. I really want to network the nodes better but I'd be compromising the quality of the design...(the little bit of quality it does have)

 

Maybe you should look at some (academic journal) articles by Morton O'Kelly then.

http://www.geography.ohio-state.edu/faculty/okelly/

your nodes should be at the intersections, the largest at the most significant intersection(s).  as for the sizes, it's purely diagrammatical, it shouldn't necessarily have specific dimensions.

So this is how David is going to get through DAAP.

What is your hierchy for this project....you have different sized nodes represented with the same colors.  That hurts the clarity of the size/importance of your nodes.  As for the use of AI...it would be best for you to sit down with someone and be shown what it is you're wanting to know.  Its hard to translate this kind of knowledge over the internet/a blog.

 

When is this project due by!??!!?!?

 

I hadn't fooled around with colors yet; at that point I was just concerned with the layout, although I know color can make a huge difference. My professor and a classmate have shown me everything necessary to do the project. The problem is I came into the studio class a week and a half into it and he hadn't explained anything and I assumed it would be easy to figure out on my own.

 

your nodes should be at the intersections

 

Not necessarily..we've already went over a bunch of them and he never criticized anyone for that, but I am going to just because it feels right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Im redoing the whole thing so that it's more functional...Stay tuned

More at 11...

This is what I'm turning in...

 

Looks much nicer at 15x20 in. off of the plotter.