Plug-ins notes
GXLatticeConnect (Andrew's Vector Plug-ins Volume 24) Plug-in Introduction A plug-in to create lattice, connection, grids and more. The plug-in comes with many options to create stunning and unique designs in 1000s of ways. The plugin set is for Illustrator 速 Hope you find the plug-in set of use and interest Andrew
Installation of plug-in Please place the GX24_LatticeConnect plug-in into the plug-in folder of Illustrator. This varies from version to version of Illustrator as well as OS. PC: Please take the GX24_LatticeConnect file and place in the plug-ins folder of Illustrator i.e. c:\program files\adobe\adobe illustrator CS3\plug-ins MAC OS X: Slightly more difficult because of the multiple versions. Please select the correct version for the correct Illustrator. You will find the plug-in stored in a folder marked 'Plugin for CS 10' or 'Plugin for CS2' or ''Plug-in for CS3'. The plugin, ostensibly, is the same but CS2 requires a slightly different installation in that all the items in the plugin folder must be added to the plug-in path of Illustrator and not individual bits such as the resource file etc (nor can items be renamed). I would suggest that the plug-in set is placed into a sub folder 'graphicxtras' or 'third party plugins' i.e. HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS3:plug-ins The plugin requires no additional serial etc to run, the plug-in will appear in the menu category AVP <Create>. You might wish to set the fill / stroke to a setting beforehand (some of the functionality of the plugin sets the fill to no fill, so you might occasionally have to re-set this to a color if the no fill is suddenly set)
Above shows an example of the plug-in placed in the plug-ins folder of CS3.
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Plug-ins notes
You may wish to set the fill / stroke before you use the plugin.
The plug-in appears in the AVP <Create> category (mainly as it is a creation plugin and doesn't require a pre selected path to work) (CS3 CS2 CS 10) The plug-in appears in the object > filters menu (CS4)
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Plug-ins notes
Select the GX24_LatticeConnect plugin from the menu
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 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)
Tumble / presets / drag buttons The plugin comes with a few buttons to help in the creation of the lattice designs. To reset the plugin to the default values, select the first item in the presets dropdown (far right of the dialog, displayed at all times). On selecting this, all the items are set back to the basic 100 / 100 .. etc point lattice grid.
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Plug-ins notes
To tryout some of the options of the plug-in, select an item from the dropdown (far right), this is a useful way to explore some of the settings of the plug-in. To randomize most of the settings (not all, things like pattern options can only be set by you), click the tumble button. The tumble button randomizes most of the settings between extremes of values (though not to the limits of settings, but hopefully something useful)
The shuffle button doesn't randomize the displayed settings but only randomizes the calculation if there is a random element involved. If all the settings preclude randomization then clicking the shuffle button will have no effect on the displayed lattice result Drag buttons are besides most of the settings. To use, click on the button and hold the shift key down. Then drag across (or up and down if the setting is a 'height' option) the document from the left to right and this will interactively update the setting and display. Release the shift before releasing the mouse for a more controlled response. View button controls the zoom / view of the display within the plugin (far right, bottom)
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Plug-ins notes
Symbols The symbols files (*.ai files) should be placed in the c:\program files\Adobe\Illustrator...\presets\symbols folder (or mac equivalent). Access the symbols files via the windows\symbols menu (please consult the Illustrator documentation)
Important - rapid visual change (drag buttons) Please note: this plugin can be used to create some seriously intense illustrations and designs as well as rapid movement and creation of paths. If you have problems with flashing lights or intense imagery, please be careful with this plugin especially with the use of the shift button / drag feature (the small box beside a number of the key settings)
Initial use of plugin Plugin appears in the filters menu (not the effects menu) under AVP <Create> GX24_LatticeConnect The plug-in set is split over 4 panels. The main settings are in the first panel. The shapes / circles etc are modified via the third panel.
Lines dialog Points: Modifies the number of points in the lattice. The first column is the minimum setting, the second column is the maximum number of lattice points to create. If set to 2 to 200 then the number of lattice points might be 2, 5, 20, 70, etc up to 200. If set to 200 200 then the number of lattice points will be 200. If the link is set then points are the same (the second column is disabled). To create a small lattice grid, set the values to 10 10 etc
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Plug-ins notes
Step Distance: The first column is for the horizontal distance between lattice points, the second column for the vertical. To link the two, click on the [L] checkbox. The actual distance depends on the dropdown at the bottom of the dialog, such as randomizing the distance, changing the angle etc. To create a narrow tall structure set the first column to a low value, the second column to a high value. The distance is in points. Combination of distance / dropdown can be used to create a wide range of different lattice structures.
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Plug-ins notes
Width: The stroke width / weight of the lattice. The first column is the minimum stroke value, the second column, the maximum. If the value is set to 2 and 20 then the stroke width used (if available) to 2, 3, 4, 4.5 etc up to 20, randomly set. If set to the same value, the value used will be exact with no randomization. You can link the second column to the first by checking the [L checkbox. The randomization is more effective if you have multiple sets of lattice grids.
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Plug-ins notes
Line Sets: By default, only 1 set is created but you can create multiple sets of grids (all starting from the same place unless the random start is set) created at the bottom of the document. The grid will have the same color etc as the original unless randomized stroke etc is set. The randomization of lines, stroke width can be seen more clearly if multiple sets of lines are created. If the points is set to a random value (minimum and maximum are different) then each set will have a different (possibly) set of points.
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Plug-ins notes
Minimum distance: Limits any randomization etc to this value. If the line distance is set to 200 and randomization is set via the dropdown at the bottom of the screen, the minimum distance setting will limit the lowest step distance to the required value (say 10pts) so all the values will be between 10 and 200. Only for non-distance factor settings
Angle: Rotates the lattice grid by the supplied angle about the initial create point (which is generally 0 0 at the bottom of the document) This value can be randomized by checking the [R] setting and the angle will be randomized between 0 and the value set. To set total randomization, set the angle to 360 Distance factor: As each 'step' of the lattice is created the size between the step is reduced and reduced or increased by this percentage. Works best between 99% and 101%, otherwise, fairly rapid, especially when the grid has a lot of points. Ignored by the minimum distance so the distance can be set to less than the minimum. Use to create very small vanishing designs or intense wildly varying sized designs
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Plug-ins notes
Curvature: Curves the line
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Plug-ins notes
Line options: Applies the creation of the line and the step distance and angle of line in a variety of ways such as creating an angled design or random distance or very abstract or uniform grids.
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Plug-ins notes
Styles dialog Stroke options: Applies different color settings to the lines of the lattice such as randomized. Depends on the number of sets being created, not so useful with a single set or not split lines. If the spilt lines option is set the lines are discrete and the lines will be colored randomly or faded to black or alternate colors etc. The first entry field is available only when swatches are used in the dropdown (the swatch settings depends on the position of the color swatches in the swatches palette) and the second entry depends on the 'to target' and the midpoint between the current and the target
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Plug-ins notes
Patterns: Not available if the split lines option is set. The pattern option creates a tile using the lattice grid and the point shapes and repeats these in three additional positions. The center of the pattern / tile depends on the dropdown i.e. start position or the center of the document
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Plug-ins notes
Shapes dialog Shape: If set to 0 then no shapes will be displayed. Set to 20 20 then each point of the lattice grid will have a shape created at the start point of the grid. There may be or may not be multiple overlaps as the grid is randomly created with some lines passing over the same point multiple times. The type of shape created depends on the dropdown at the bottom of the panel If the shape setting is 20 60 then the shape will be created with a random size between 20 and 60 points. If you wish to link the two values, set the [L] checkbox To create huge shapes, set the value to 200 200 etc or if you want very small particles, set the value to 10 10
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Plug-ins notes
Fill options: If set, the fill is randomly filled, alternate filled with black / color, faded to the target color etc set to swatch values and more. This is for each point / shape combo in turn. Sometimes the plug-in will fill the fill with 'no fill' and you will have to manually reset the fill color via the toolbar.
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Plug-ins notes
Stroke options: As with the fill, this is for the stroke of the shapes (if the shape has a stroke). Again, the stroke could be randomly filled, targeted to white, black, inverted or alternated. Ignored if there is no stroke set
Stroke: Sets the stroke width for the paths (if available) between the minimum and maximum. If set to 2 20 then the stroke width of each shape in turn could be 2 3 4 5.5 etc up to 20. To set to all the same value, set the minimum and maximum to the same value. Link the value by checking the [L] checkbox.
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Plug-ins notes
Shape position jitter: Shifts the position of the created shape in the horizontal and vertical off the default position (on the grid lattice point). Depends on the grid, ,multiple underlying shapes may be visible.
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Plug-ins notes Radius factor: Reduces or increases the size of the created paths
Angle: Angles the created path, depends on the shape. Only useful for stars, rectangles, ovals etc
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Plug-ins notes
Scale: Re-scales the generated paths, a quick and easy way of increasing the size / decreasing the size uniformly. Perhaps more useful for the 'selected' paths such as symbols
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Plug-ins notes Create shapes: Randomly creates or not shapes, leaving gaps in the shapes (not the grid)
Shapes options: Creates by default, a circle. Other shapes such as squares etc are created depending on the dropdown. Also, the shapes can be alternated or totally random as well as different types of stars. The selected option at the bottom can be used to display images or symbols or a single path (only works with a single non compound path). Select a shape / symbol and then run the plugin and the shape created at each grid point will be the selected item (still needs a size to be set for the functionality to work). Use the scale value to re-size the symbol, image etc as required.
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Plug-ins notes
Settings dialog Split lines: Instead of a single line for the grid, all the lines are created as discreet elements. Useful for random colors etc for the strokes and size of stroke width. Doesn't work in combo with patterns.
Opacity: Randomizes the opacity of the lattice and shapes
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Plug-ins notes
Start: Randomizes the start position of the lattice (away from the default position of 0 0). More useful with multiple sets of grids
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Plug-ins notes Lines fill visible: By default, the plugin doesn't display the fill of the grid. To display the color of the grid (sometimes useful, sometimes not), check the lines value
Delete (continuous) line: Remove the lattice grid and just display the shapes
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Plug-ins notes
Applications support MAC OS X 10.2 .3 .4 .5 98 ME NT XP Vista Adobe 速 Illustrator 速10 CS1 CS2 (12) CS3 CS4
Questions Please contact me on support @graphicxtras.com Other plugins are available on the site http://www.graphicxtras.com
Copyright The plugin is copyright of 1999-2008, Abneil Software Ltd (Andrew Buckle). The symbols are royalty-free, feel free to use as required according to the license. Symbols are (c) 2007 Andrew Buckle / Abneil Software ltd. This product was released by Abneil Software Ltd (UK based company)
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.
Symbols Installation of symbols Please place the symbols in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator 10\Presets\Symbols or mac equivalent such as HD:applications:adobe illustrator CS:presets:symbols or the CS2 or CS3 equivalent The symbols can be accessed from any folder but this is probably the best location as the file/s can be accessed via the symbols dropdown. Use in conjunction with the document symbols palette.
De-install the symbols Please remove the AI files from the preset libraries folders
Symbols format The symbols were created in 10 format symbols.
Saving AI symbols You can always save the files as CS format if so required, just use the save command on the document symbols palette (in
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Plug-ins notes CS) and save all the current symbols or you can always open the original symbols file and copy some new symbols or delete symbols from the symbols palette there and then save the symbols file.
Copyright All the symbols are copyright Andrew Buckle 2007, but they are royalty-free...
Symbols Use The symbols can be used as is, just use them as a image resource and drag the symbol from the palette and use as a path (though you will have to expand the symbol to do this), sometimes it is best to just keep it as a symbol as all the effect menu options can be applied to the symbol such as free distort and transform and styles can be applied as required. None of the filter menu filters can be used on symbols, though many of the 3rd party plugins such as the graphicxtras.com Andrew's (vector) plugins can be applied to symbols as well as paths.
Flash export Symbols are useful in flash export (for low file size). The symbols can be exported to SWF format and also manipulated across layers to create animation effects. Or exported to SVG format.
Sprayer tool Symbols can be used with the native symbol sprayer tool, the symbols can be applied and then using the scruncher etc additional tools, the symbols can be re-sized and rotated and stained as required (graphicxtras.com also have some excellent tools that have a vast additional set of options and features to handle symbols from the toolbox).
Replace symbols Symbols can be replaced at a later point of the creative process, so create an image with a box, multiple boxes and then select the symbols and then the replacement symbol in the symbol palette and then use 'replace symbol' from the menu to change all the boxes into the more complex art. All the live effects remain as before.
Brush symbols Symbols can be converted to a brush, simply drag the symbol (and any associated effects) to the brushes palette and you will be asked to store the brush as a scatter / artistic or pattern brush.
Copy Symbols can be copied and repeated as required with minimal file size overhead. Also of great use with transformations, the transform effect. This tool has a 'copies' feature which can be used to create unusual zoom effects and rotations and can be used in combo with the appearance palette to create multiple transformations for a single symbol.
Photoshop 速 Symbols can also be copied via the pasteboard to other applications such as Photoshop (so a wonderful background symbol can be used as a wonderful background texture in Photoshop.. along with transparency information for use with layer effects such as bevels)
Envelopes/3D Symbols can be warped by the envelope filter
3D symbols Symbols can be turned into 3D shapes by using the 3D features of AI CS / CS2 (extrude and bevel...) By using the appearance palette, multiple warps can be applied to a single symbol. So create an arc warp effect, duplicate it and modify the direction (say vertical instead of horizontal). This can create truly weird shapes from even the most basic symbol.
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