Plug-ins notes
Contour Plug-in - Andrew's (vector) Plug-ins Volume 18 Introduction The plug-in works on a selected object, creating multiple copies of the selected object. The effect can be likened to a contour but it can be used for dynamic zoom effects, blurring and other effects. The plug-in can be used with a single path or multiple paths or a selected symbol or symbols as well as images and many other types of objects in Illustrator 速 The plug-in works by repeating paths or in points mode, it works on the path's points (though this has no effect on images / symbols etc). The points mode can be used to create more unusual contour designs than the basic contour effect Any questions or suggestions about the plug-in, please let me know. Andrew
Installation of plug-in If you have previously installed the contour plug-in, please remove earlier copies, though you should be able to use more than one copy, it might be confusing see two or more entries of the plug-in name in the filter menu. Please place the GX18_Contour.aip file in the c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins folder [pc Illustrator 速 CS] or c:\program files\adobe\illustrator 10\plug-ins [pc illustrator 10] or CS2 or CS3 or CS4 For the mac, please place the GX18_Contour file in HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator CS:plug-ins [mac Illustrator 速CS] or HD:Applications:Adobe Illustrator 10:plug-ins [mac Illustrator 10] or CS2 or CS3 or CS4 ** note: for OS X and CS2, please install the entire package 'GX18_Contour' (found in the plugin for Illustrator CS2), please don't change the name or remove any of the contents as the entire files set is required for the plug-in to work.
Possible installation paths PC PC PC PC PC
CS4 C:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS4\plug-ins\graphicxtras CS3 C:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS3\plug-ins\graphicxtras CS2/12 c:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS2\plug-ins\graphicxtras CS/11 c:\program files\adobe\illustrator CS\plug-ins\graphicxtras 10 c:\program files\adobe\illustrator 10\plug-ins\graphicxtras
OS OS OS OS OS
X X X X X
CS4 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS4:plug-ins:graphicxtras CS3 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS3:plug-ins:graphicxtras CS2 HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS2:plug-ins:graphicxtras CS HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS:plug-ins:graphicxtras 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. You
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Plug-ins notes can 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 a later date)
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 user account and not the default plug-in folder. If you are using a basic level account and one without admin features, you might not be able to save the AIP plug-in files to the usual folder. Set up an alternate or secondary plug-in folder in your user account and then copy the files there.
To specify an alternate plug-in for Illustrator 速 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-in Please access via the filters menu of Illustrator 速 via the <AVP Paths> menu (CS3 CS2 CS 10) Please access the plug-in via the object > filters menu (CS4) The plugin is split into multiple screens such as contour dialog, rotate, shift, points, style, settings. Most of the core functionality is in the first panel.
Start point / first use I would suggest 1) Select a basic shape such as a square 2) Go to filter menu and select the contour plugin 3) Modify the contours setting, say set the contours to 4 or 5 (few paths created) or 20 (larger number of paths created) 4) Modify the scale setting, set to 1, the contour lines will be closer, set to 10, the contour will be wider and may 'go beneath' the original selected path Another approach to check out a range of possible effects, select the square and then select a number of the presets (right of the dialog). Another approach would be to click the 'tumble' button, repeat click the tumble button to randomize the settings. Many of the settings on the other panels will also be modified as well as the main panel settings. The settings might result in nothing or a subtle effect or an extreme design. The tumble button has no knowledge of the settings or the combination so literally anything could happen from a rubbish effect to a sublime one.
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Plug-ins notes The plugin was originally in volume 1 set as part of the mixed plugins. As the Inset plugin, it was one of the earliest plugins in my Illustrator plug-ins sets. It was originally created for Illustrator 8. The plug-in set was removed from the volume 1 and is now volume 18. The plugin has been greatly extended (you may argue it has been improved or not...)
Shuffle button / tumble button The plug-in has two randomization buttons. The first is the shuffle button. The shuffle button randomizes on the basis of the current setting and doesn't change any of the values in the panels but changes the internal settings only if there is an element of randomization associated with that setting. Most of the randomization settings are in the settings panel. If there are no randomization checkboxes or dropdowns set, the shuffle button is just ignored. The second (latest) button is the tumble button and this randomizes the actual settings and will set the panels randomly. The randomization is not to the extremes, though combinations of settings might result in extreme settings, but a reasonable range of settings (though this can vary from document to document, machine to machine, use to use). If you would like any changes to the range, please let me know. Use the tumble button to tryout a range of settings without a single modification of a slider or dropdown. Not all the fields are modified, so some such opacity can be set by the you and will not be altered by the tumble.
Objects contoured The plugin can be applied to normal paths multiple paths images multiple images text converted (in CS/2/3/4 but text and text converted in 10) to paths with patterns and gradients paths with styles symbols and many more types of path A vast range of different illustration effects can be applied to each type. Some types such as the placed image are not modified by style settings or points settings (likewise the symbols). Gradients and patterns also are not modified by fill and stroke. Symbols are the best approach for animation and SWF export (use the layer palette to spread across layers followed by the export command)
Applications support mac OS X 10.2 .3 .4 .5 98 ME NT XP Vista Adobe 速 Illustrator 速 10 CS CS 2 CS3 CS4
Questions Please contact me on support@graphicxtras.com Other plugins are available on the site http://www.graphicxtras.com Upgrades are generally available, either as free updates or inexpensive updates/upgrades. Please store the reference serial number or details of order. the serial number is found in the zip or hqx supplied and is not the order number or any other code supplied with order. You should find it in a file marked GX18_Serialno.txt
Copyright The plugins are copyright of 1999-2008, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle). This product was released by Abneil Software ltd (UK based company
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Plug-ins notes
Trademarks Illustrator and Adobe and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. We have no connection whatsoever with Adobe. Adobe product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Plugin use Dialog - 'Contour' screen The basic plugin screen to manipulate the scaling of the basic path 'Contours': Number of contours to generate, though this doesn't take into account the random create options and other settings, so you might end up with no contours being generated. If there are 'too many contours', the contours will be created beneath the shape and will not, perhaps, be visible.
'Contour scaling options': The plugin scales the paths by default proportionally but the contour scaling options give a little more flexibility, scaling accumulated, scaling using the shift settings and more.
'Contour scale (%)': The scaling percentage to apply to the newly created path, depends on the contour scaling options. The checkbox beside the scaling locks the horizontal and vertical. If set to OFF, the vertical can be manipulated independently to that of the horizontal (creating thinner contour effects)
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Plug-ins notes
'Skip/Create': Instead of creating all the paths, the plugin skips a path, creates a path and so on (depending on the pattern set). If the skip is set to 2 and create is set to 2, then the plugin will create two paths, internally apply scaling etc for two 'non created paths', and then create two more paths, and so on. Different skip/create settings can create unusual pattern contour effects (plateaus etc)
'Link contour scale': The scale setting are linked, so the horizontal and vertical scaling are the same
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Plug-ins notes
'Place above': By default, paths are created on top of the original path and previous paths. This is useful if the contour generates paths that are smaller than the original but if the paths are bigger than the original or previous paths, the top path is all you will see (unless some shift of paths or rotation is applied), the place below (or OFF) state then is more preferable. Visually, you might like to have the paths beneath the original paths anyway.
'Scale lines' : If on, the line width is scaled according the scaling of the path
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Plug-ins notes
Dialog - 'Rotate' screen Path / object rotation dialog. Adds rotation to the contour paths, and rotates about the path's original center (default) or the document center or a particular selected path center or the center you decide to select 'Rotation (/10)': Rotates the path (accumulative) about the current rotation option center. By default, the center is the path center.
'Rotation options': Rotate the path about the current center or about a path center or user defined center or the current shift position. Depending on the setting, some of the fields below will be enabled or not
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Plug-ins notes
'Use path': Rotates the path around the selected path's defined first, second etc path. Depends on the order of creation of the paths. Setting a path number from 1 to 2 can radically change the displayed rotation of paths. This feature is a little trial and error but you should be able to quickly determine which path is 1 and 2 or 3 etc, simply run through the numbers until the paths rotate about the required object 'User defined center (p)': Define your own rotation center for the paths (depends on the dropdown being set to user defined rotation).
Dialog - 'Shift' screen Path shift dialog. This screen works on the whole path, not points. 'Shift (p)': Shifts the path (using the current shift option) horizontal and / or vertical
'Shift options': Shifts the path adding to each path, accumulating the shift, applying jitter, applying the shift as a frame and more.
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Plug-ins notes
Dialog - 'Points' screen Manipulate the individual points of the path for additional inset effects 'Points contour (p)': Instead of scaling based on paths, the points are moved towards the center of the path, this distorts the shape (especially as it gets closer to the center and further from the original path). The points scaling is separate from the general contour scaling (unless the add scale setting is ON). The initial state will have the paths and points (if set to 0) overlapping the original. To see the points scaling, set the points contour to something other than 0. If the value is set to 0, the contour options field is not enabled.
'Points contour options': There are many application methods of point contour. Each option modifies the contour point in different ways, such as only applying the points value to alternate points or four points and a skip of a point etc. Use this to create different contour point designs
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Plug-ins notes
'Variance (p)': An additional value added to the points and applied depending on the variance options dropdown (such as accumulate or alternate add to the contour setting). Useful for creating many different contour designs
'Points variance options': Modifies the application of the variance value to the contour 'Interpolate(%)': Interpolates the points contour between the set and the center, creating many variant contour designs. The second box modifies the direction point / contour based on interpolation with the calculated and the center
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Plug-ins notes
Dialog - 'Style' screen Manipulate the fill and stroke and stroke width of the path across generated paths 'Fill': By default the fill remains as the original path. There are a number of options such as modify all new paths towards white / black / swatch color / inverted color; or randomize the colors; randomize the colors based on the swatches palette; as well as alternate original color with black and white and swatch color and others. The entry next to the fill dropdown controls the swatch (this is based on the position in the swatches palette), the second entry controls the 'midpoint' for the fill and by default is ignored (set to 0)
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Plug-ins notes
'Stroke': As with the fill but for the stroke
'Width': Modifies the stroke width such as adding additional value to the stroke width for each generated path. The value is further modified by the scaling lines option (if scaling and not using the points inset feature)
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Plug-ins notes
'Pattern': Generates additional copies based on a particular center such as the document center. Useful for creating contour tile designs.
Interpolate style': Interpolates between the generated fill and original fill (and stroke)
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Plug-ins notes
Dialog - 'Settings' screen Additional settings check boxes 'Path - alternate flip': Each alternate path in the contour is flipped by 90 degrees
'Path - opacity (R)': The contour created paths are varied in opacity / transparency. 'Path - delete (visible in preview)': By default, the original path is left but this might or might not be as required. You will see it in the preview, but after clicking OK, it will be deleted. Sorry about the preview visibility, just the way the plugin works in combo with the application. 'Path - create(R)': By default, the contour is made up the number of contours requested. If ON, the path will be created or not, randomly, leaving gaps in the contour.
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Plug-ins notes
'Points - ignore direction': The direction points manipulate the curve of the path. The direction points are left in place as if the points contour is not applied. If both are set to ON, nothing will change. All the points settings are not enabled until you set a points value in the points dialog (they have no meaning otherwise)
'Points - ignore anchor': Paths are made up of points, anchor points being one part of the path formation (please check out the Illustrator manual for more details about beziers, anchor, direction points, and others, and also each application calls the term slightly different) If you set this to ON, the path's anchor points are not moved during a points contour inset (the direction points / curves are). If both anchor and direction are set, there will be no change.
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Plug-ins notes
'Points - rotate center': Instead of applying the contour to the points using the path center, the current rotate options center is used. If this is set to the path center, then no change, but the rotation center can also be the shift position or user defined center. Useful for creating unusual shape formations.
'Points - add scale': The plugin by default doesn't join the contour and the points scaling together. If ON, the contour scaling is applied to the points scaling (vica versa.. as well).
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Plug-ins notes
'Points - apply (R)': Instead of applying the points contour to all the points, the plugin randomly modifies or applies the contour to the points. This can create some really unusual contour point inset effects, especially if there are a lot of points. Even a simple square with a number of points can be inset and create jarred hi-impact tattered ragged path effects.
Examples of contour plug-in Example 1. Shift settings
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Plug-ins notes
Example 2. Contour scaling dropdown
Example 3. Scaling no longer linked
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Plug-ins notes
Example 4. Rotation applied
Example 5. Multiple paths and rotation center set to the third path
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Plug-ins notes
Example 6. Random create for points
Example 7. Interpolation and fill set to alternate black
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Plug-ins notes
Example 8.Converted text and inset
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