Blog 2.2

1. What is a bezier curve?

A bezier curve are two lines on either side of an anchor point that controls and creates a smooth continuous curve in a line/shape.

How can layers be used to keep your illustration organized?

Layers can be used to move shapes in front or behind other shapes. They can be used to select a multitude of different shapes and move or delete them at the same time. Layers can also be used to group shapes together and be used to move the arrangement of shapes (what is in front or behind). Using layers shows you what is on your artboard, and in what order allowing you to understand the entirety of the work that you've done.

2. Explain the process of organizing shapes as if they were cardboard cutouts.

To make creating graphics on illustrator simpler and more efficient, you can make the shapes you need for your graphic and then (by using layers and stacking order), stack them on top of each other to make the image that you want. For example, if you want to create a graphic of a circle inside of a rectangle, you can create a rectangle and then create a circle, arrange the circle to be on top of the rectangle, and place the circle where you want it to be.

3. What does it mean to close shapes in Illustrator?

To close a shapes means to have a path that starts and ends on the same vertex, this signals to illustrator that there is a real shape as opposed to an open shape/path that starts and ends on different vertices.

4. What does 'arranging' the 'stacking order' mean?

Arranging the stacking order means arranging how the shapes in your artwork are being "stacked" on top of each other, which shapes are at the top layer of your piece, which shapes are on the lower layers, using stacking order is how "arranging shapes like cardboard cutouts" is possible and effective/efficient.

5. What is the difference between aligning to artboard/stage and aligning to selected?

Aligning to artboard aligns a shape in reference to the artboard you're working with, aligning to selected aligns a shape in reference to what you selected.

6. What are the two types of gradients we have worked with in class?

So far we have worked with Liner and Radio gradients.

7. What is opacity?

Opacity is how transparent, translucent, or opaque a shape is.