In this chapter, we will be focusing on working with layers. Next, we will work with different tools and panels to color the fill and stroke of an object. Then we will look at the Type tools and various brush tools and work with symbols. Some of the tools in this chapter may be familiar to you already, but we will also look at some new and updated panels as well. Later in Chapter 9, based on the knowledge you have gained in this chapter, you will create and review a few project ideas that can be created with basic shapes, custom shapes, and text.
Note This chapter contains projects that can be found in the Volume 1 Chapter 8 folder. Some of the text in this chapter related to type tools has been adapted and updated from my earlier books Accurate Layer Selections Using Photoshop’s Selection Tools and Perspective Warps and Distorts with Adobe Tools: Volume 2.
In this chapter, we are now going to cover some of the tools that can be found in the Toolbars panel, as well as some of the main panels that we can use to assist us in infographic creation. I will only be focusing on the basic features of each of these tools, but I will also provide an Adobe help link if you would like more details on that tool. For now, if you would like to practice along, create a new document as you did in Chapter 4 so that you have an artboard to practice with the following tools and panels.
© Jennifer Harder 2023
J. Harder, Creating Infographics with Adobe Illustrator: Volume 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/979-8-8688-0005-4_8
Working withLayers
The Layers panel with its recent updates is now more useful with its search and filter options, and you can now find your layers and sublayers much faster. However, when organizing items from layer to layer for better layer order, the Object ➤ Arrange options from the menu don’t allow you to move to a new layer only within the sublayers of a single layer.
In those situations, you have to use Edit ➤ Copy and Edit ➤ Paste when a new layer is selected or select a new layer and choose Object ➤ Arrange ➤ Send to Current Layer while that item is selected. Or you can work with the Layers panel itself to move items to another layer as I will point out here. Refer to Figure 8-1.
Figure 8-1. Layers panel and its menu options
Here are a few tips to help you get started when working with multiple layers using the Layers panel.
In the Layers panel, by default, you will start with Layer 1; to add another layer, you can then click the Create New Layer icon. Refer to Figure 8-2.
Figure 8-2. Create a New Layer in the Layers panel
As you add paths or shapes to each layer, sublayers are created. These are indicated by an arrow that can be collapsed and expanded so that you can view the sublayers which may have a name based on the type of shape. Refer to Figure 8-3.
Figure 8-3. Art on the artboard and how it appears in the Layers panel