1
A short guide for production of line-drawings with Adobe Illustrator®
Jason D. Williams
Biology Department
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
Email: biojdw@hofstra.edu
Use of computer illustration programs in the production of line-drawings from
drawing tube sketches or digital images is ultimately a time-saving alternative for inking
drawings with technical pens. Brief methods for producing plates (from original sketches
to final touches) with Adobe Illustrator are described below. While illustrations can be
created with a mouse, the use of a graphics tablet and stylus (e.g., 9 x 12 Wacom®
tablet)
greatly aid in the process. Examples of plates produced with the techniques described
below can be found in Williams (2001, 2004, 2007). Other papers demonstrating
techniques for creating illustrations from drawing tube sketches or from digital pictures
can be found in Coleman (2003, 2006). Those without experience with Adobe Illustrator
will most likely need to consult additional manuals or texts (e.g., Illustrator 10 for
Dummies) to learn the basics of the program. Anyone with questions, comments, or
suggestions are encouraged to contact me.
The technique in 20 steps
1. Scan original drawing tube sketch (150-300 dpi, grayscale; Fig. 1A).
2. Open the above file with Adobe Illustrator (version 10 or latest “Creative
Suites” (CS) version). Immediately save the file with a new name.
3. Under the LAYERS pallet double-click on the scanned image layer and label as
ORIGINAL or TEMPLATE, change the opacity to 50%, and turn off the print option.
Click on OK and then lock the template layer so that it cannot be modified.
4. Create a new layer in the LAYERS pallet and label as TRACE.
5. Set line width at 0.5-1.0 pt (0.5 pt is usually best) in the STROKE pallet
options. Line width can later be changed. In the TOOLs pallet make sure STROKE is set
to black and FILL is set to none (i.e., shows red cross).
6. In the TRACE layer, begin tracing the original sketch using the Pen tool and
stylus with drawing tablet (Fig. 1B). The best results are achieved when traced at a high
magnification of the original image (~400X; use command+/- to zoom in or out). Set
anchor points as appropriate. Always click on the previous anchor point with the pen tool
in order to set curves correctly. Undo [command+Z(Mac), option+Z(PC)] when anchor
points are not set correctly. During tracing, it is helpful to keep one hand on the
command+Z buttons to quickly undo the last point if not positioned correctly. Hold down
the space-bar to get the hand tool and reposition the layer as needed. Save the file
repeatedly while working.
7. After tracing the sketch you can add stippling using the Brush tool. Create a
new layer in the LAYERS pallet and label as Stipple. Go to the Brushes pallet and create
New Calligraphic Brush and in the pop-up menu give it a title (e.g., stipple 1). Set the
2
Angle and Roundness as fixed and then change the Diameter to 0.5-0.75 pt and set to
fixed. If a drawing tablet is available, stippling can be added with the stylus as if you
were using a regular pen; otherwise the mouse is used to create stippling.
8. Pigmentation of specimens can be added in the same manner as stippling.
Typically a larger diameter after brush as needed.
9. Internal structures can be created as a separate layer and indicated in dashed
lines by choosing a dashed line under the STROKE pallet (set dash and gap at 0.5-1 pt).
Features that need to be shaded can be selected with the Selection tool (arrow) and then
under the TOOLs pallet the FILL can be set to various shades of gray.
10. To add in chaetae that taper to a fine point, you must create a new Art Brush.
First, use the Pen tool to trace a chaeta (taper from two points at base of chaeta to one
point at top). If the chaeta is at an angle, use the rotate tool to make it vertical. While the
trace of the chaeta is selected, go to Brushes pallet and create a New Art Brush and in the
pop-up menu give it a title (e.g., chaeta 1). In the pop-up menu make sure that the
direction of the brush is parallel with the chaeta (keep other options as listed). With the
brush or pen tool you can now create chaetae. In the original trace of the chaeta, your pen
STROKE should be set to black and FILL should be set to white. However, when using
the brush tool to make chaetae with your new Art Brush you need the STROKE set to
black and FILL set to none (i.e., shows red cross). With these settings, overlapping
chaetae will appear opaque and can be layered.
11. A scale bar should be added. Click on the Rectangle tool and insert an
appropriately sized rectangle (once the rectangle is added the exact dimensions can be set
in the TRANSFORM pallet; ~4 pnt width is appropriate; the length is determined by the
stage micrometer that you use) (Fig. 1C).
12. Print the image and check for accuracy. Make sure all lines are connected and
follow the original sketch or digital picture. Correct any mistakes. Anchor points can be
added, deleted, and curves changed by clicking and holding down on the pen tool and
selecting the appropriate pen tool. If whole sections need to be deleted, select with the
Selection tool (arrow) and delete. The Scissors tool may be required to cut out these
sections if in the middle of a continuous line.
13. Before combining multiple images (such as the one above) into a final plate
you can select all layers and group them to avoid moving only part of the image. Select
all (command+A) and under the OBJECT menu click on group (command+G).
14. To produce a final plate, select new file under the FILE menu. Set the file size
at 8.5 x 11 inches or dimensions required by the journal. Save file with appropriate name
(e.g., PLATE 1).
15. Open first image to be added to the plate. Select the grouped object and then
copy (command+C) and paste (command+V) into PLATE 1. You can paste each object
into a separate layer with an appropriate name (e.g., anterior end). Repeat this with each
object to be combined in PLATE 1.
16. Using the Selection tool (arrow) move images to their approximate final
position (to view a grid, go under the VIEW menu and select show grid).
17. To reduce or enlarge images within the plate, select images with Selection
tool (make sure all parts of the image are selected as well as the scale bar) and then
double-click on the Scale tool. Set the scale percentage at the required amount. After
images are scaled, the scale bars will need to be redrawn in order to make widths constant
3
among images. You can also change the scale of the images by clicking on the bounding
box and reducing the size. However, be careful to hold the shift button down so that the
dimensions of the image are constrained (i.e, they do not become distorted).
18. Add in text by using the Text tool (Times bold, 24 pt font works fine). Once
added, the text can be moved with the Selection tool. In addition, the text and/or images
can be aligned by selecting objects to be aligned (hold Shift key down to select multiple
objects) and then under the ALIGN pallet selecting the appropriate alignment. Objects
can be rotated if needed by selecting and then clicking on the rotation tool.
19. Save plate and print. Check accuracy and alignment, make any necessary
changes.
20. Submit for publication with the rest of your manuscript!
References
Coleman, C.O., 2003. "Digital inking": how to make perfect line drawings on computers.
Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, Electronic Supplement,
http://senckenberg.de/odes/03-14.htm, 1–14.
Coleman, C.O., 2006. Substituting time-consuming pencil drawings in arthropod
taxonomy using stacks of digital photographs. Zootaxa 1360, 61-68.
Williams, J. D. 2001. Polydora and related genera associated with hermit crabs from the
Indo-West Pacific (Polychaeta: Spionidae), with descriptions of two new species
and a second polydorid egg predator of hermit crabs. Pacific Science 55: 429-465.
Williams, J.D., 2004. Reproduction and morphology of Polydorella (Polychaeta:
Spionidae), including the description of a new species from the Philippines.
Journal of Natural History 38, 1339-1358.
Williams, J. D. 2007. New records and description of four new species of spionids
(Annelida: Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the Philippines: the genera Dispio,
Malacoceros, Polydora, and Scolelepis, with notes on the palp ciliation patterns
of the genus Scolelepis. Zootaxa 1459: 1–35.
4
Fig. 1. A-C, Example of line-drawing production with Adobe Illustrator®
based on
Polydorella dawydoffi Radashevsky, 1996 as illustrated in Williams (2004). A, Dorsal
view, scan of original drawing tube sketch. B, Layer one, body outline. C, All layers
(note pigmentation, setae, cells, scale bar; outline of digestive tract is shown by dotted
line). Scale = 100 m.
Original Sketch Layer 1 All layers
A CB