Live Typography in Patterns
Artlandia LivePresets simultaneous editing of multiple objects in Adobe Illustrator
Our good friends over at Artlandia have released Artlandia LivePresets, a new plug-in for simultaneous interactive editing of multiple objects in Adobe Illustrator. By introducing a live, editable variety of formerly "static" Illustrator presets, such as symbols and pattern swatches, LivePresets increases productivity and opens new possibilities for the efficient use of repeating design elements in a wide range of applications, from fashion design and modeling of garments and web pages to interactive editing of non-periodic patterns, borders, 3D objects, and other arrangements. Let's take a look...
LivePresets updates patterns automatically
As a brief intro, the idea of LivePresets is very simple: the plug-in lets you edit pattern swatches and symbols without jumping through hoops. You simply edit a "live" swatch and the plug-in automatically updates all the artwork painted with that swatch. Same for symbols.
As an extra bonus, LivePresets lets you edit complex art objects in a pattern swatch--without expanding the objects! Meshes, symbols, blends--and type--can be edited live. This is how LivePresets_SwatchType.jpg was made.
It uses a swatch that consists of a mesh object, masked with a type, all editable live.
LivePresets Symbol uses the same idea applied to a symbol set.
In Illustrator, you would normally go to an isolation layer to edit a symbol and the
artwork updates when you exit the isolation mode.
With LivePresets, you edit the symbol and the symbol set updates as you edit.
Given how easy it is to edit a pattern swatch with LivePresets,
you can now customize pattern fills on the fly.
In this example: you edit the type in a swatch and the pattern fill automatically updates.
With its live editing of Illustrator symbols, LivePresets caters to essentially all Illustrator users. Symbols encapsulate any object that can be used more than once, in simple compositions that involve only a few identical (or transformed) copies of an object in an artwork or more complex arrangements, including borders, 3D objects, or hundreds randomly scattered copies of the same object. LivePresets allows the designer to interact with a single editable copy of the symbol and apply edits simultaneously to all instances of the symbol in the artwork, increasing productivity and developing previously impossible ideas based on symbol interactions. Live pattern swatches supplied by LivePresets similarly allow for efficient editing and interactive modifications of repeat patterns.
The plug-in is very easy to learn and it comes with features that make
your work quick and fun:
Instantly create live, interactive pattern swatches and symbols
Save unlimited snapshots
Insert new art objects on the fly
Interactively change the repeat size in patterns
Use brushes, blends, mesh objects, and even symbols in your pattern swatches
Link and unlink from the artwork
Artlandia LivePresets for Macintosh and Windows runs on all major operating systems and is available immediately. The plug-in requires Illustrator 10 or later version (Illustrator CS2 or later recommended).
Artlandia LivePresets for Macintosh and Windows
We'll be back again to show you some of the fantastic things you can do with Artlandia Plugins for Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop... in the mean time, check out their site if you ever need to make patterns in Photoshop!
Return to: Photoshop Tips & Tricks, or the Design Center Front Page
Participate in your Design Center
Lots of fun and information for all... don't forget, any community is only as good as the participation of its members. We invite your tips, tricks, comments, suggestions and camaraderie.- Ask for the DT&G Monthly: to receive DT&G newsletter each month, happenings in the Design Center and regular columns like the "Mail Bag" and "Cool Sites"
- SUBSCRIBE to DTG Magazine : to the Designers' CAFE discussion forums
- Link to this site, and then show us the link. We'll send you any of our current door prizes, just for your trouble.
- Help Support The Design Center: with your donation, we say thank you with free books, listings, and even links on the front page!
- SUBMIT: a news link, new font, or product review
- SUBMIT: a link to a Photoshop web site