Tutorial Creating Vector Graphics

This tutorial will guide you through the creation of your own vector
graphic and show you how best to meet the specific criteria for our print
process.
We recommend designing your graphic in the following two programs two
programmes: Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. There are differences with
both programs, but the basics are always the same.
Well ta!e you through the process using Corel Draw "" and Adobe
Illustrator C#$.

Table of Contents:
#ection %age
A"
A"."
A".$
A$
A$."
A$.$
A&
A&."
A&.$
A'
A'."
A'.$
A(
Simple Lines
in Corel Draw ""
in Adobe Illustrator C#$
Empty Spaces
in Corel Draw ""
in Adobe Illustrator C#$
Letters
in Corel Draw ""
in Adobe Illustrator C#$
Points and Lines
in CorelDraw""
in Adobe Illustrator C#$
An eample !ith Adobe "llustrator CS#
) Creating a form
) #etting te*t in an ob+ect
) ,mpty spaces
) -utlines
$
'
(
.
/
"0
""
"&

"'
"(
"1
".
%age "
Section $: Simple Lines
A $%$: Corel &ra! $$
". -pen a new document: 2ile 3 4ew
$. Create a line:
a5 select the 2reehand Tool
b5 Clic! and release to ma!e a point in the
wor!space, drag the mouse to create a line
in any direction and set the end point by, once
again, clic!ing and releasing.
&. The length of the line is set by the end points.
6ou can change the width under ob+ect properties
7Window 3 Doc!ers ) %roperties5
'. The line is represented by an outlined curve 3
however, for printing, it is important to convert
this line into a filled curve without an outline.
To do this: clic! on arrange ) Con'ert (utline to
(b)ect or +ust use ctrl8shift89 .
6ou will see the difference in another view 7:iew
3 -utline5 or in the ob+ect manager 7Window 3
Doc!ers ) -b+ect ;anager5
Curve: outline, no filling < Curve: filling, no outline
:iew:4ormal
:iew:Wireframe

To ensure that your design stays intact during
production, all elements must be at least ".( mm
thic!.
2or a design thats about &0*&0 cm, the width of
the outline would be about (.0 points.
The ma*imum design si=e at #preadshirt
is &0*&0 cm 3 in order to ma!e sure that
the design fits on all t)shirts, we recommend
a ma*imum design si=e of $$.(*$$.( cm.
%age $

(. There are two ways to chec! if your line is thic!
enough, so that your design will be ready for
printing:
a5 #elect the line and chec! if it is bigger than
".( mm thic! using the -b+ect #i=e Tool
7only possible for straight lines>5
b5 ?se the ,llipse Tool to ma!e a circle thats
".( mm across and chec! that the line is
thic!er than the circle.
You can set the particulars (mm, pt, etc.) under
'Layout' - 'Page Setup' in case the settings are
different.
1. If the line is too thin, you can create an outline
around the selected line: under ob+ect properties
you can add an outline then convert outline to
ob+ect using ctrl*shift*+. @y the way 3 this step
wor!s better in Adobe Illustrator when wor!ing
with ;ore comple* designs.
The si=e of the design changes the width of the
outline. With a large design, for e*ample, an
outline of about $0 pt. is hardly visible. 2or a
small design, an outline of " pt. can be too thic!.
In general, the design si=ed A' can have an
outline of ( points and it wor!s with #preadshirts
reAuirements 7the outline is thic!er than ".( mm5.
Note: ur!es in orel "ra# are Paths in $do%e
&llustrator. 'utlines are called Stro(es in $do%e.
%age &
A $%#: Adobe "llustrator CS#

". -pen a new document: 2ile 3 4ew
$. 6ou can create a line with a Bine #egment Tool 3
use it li!e in Corel Draw.
&. #et a startpoint by clic!ing the mouse and
dragging in any direction. The end point will be
made when you release the mouse. The stro!e
weight 7width of the line5 can be edited under
#tro!e in the menu or under Window 3 #tro!e 7you
can also align the stro!e: centre, outer, inner5.
'. Converting to outlines wor!s much more easily
than in Corel Draw. ,specially for more comple*
designs> In order to convert lines, first mar! the
line 7or select all: ctrl8A5 and go to -b+ect 3 %ath
3 -utline #tro!e
(. The difference will also be clearer in another
view 7:iew 3 -utline5
%ath with outline %ath without outline

)ie#: Pre!ie#
:iew: 'utline
1. In order to chec! if a line is thic! enough,
you can draw a circle thats ".( mm thic!.
If the circle is always smaller than the line,
the design is fine. If the lines too thin, then
add another outline to the line, or ma!e
the entire design larger.
You can edit the particulars under
*ile + "ocument Setup
%age '
Section #: Empty Spaces
A #%$: Corel &ra! $$
". Coles, or empty spaces are essential for vector
graphics. These are spaces where another colour
or the colour of the t)shirt should show through.
$. The width 7or height5 of these spaces cannot be
less than " mm. 6ou can chec! for this by creating
a circle thats "mm across. The circle should not
be larger than the space at any point.
,% -o! do " create these empty spaces.
2irst, create a negative by creating an ob+ect you
will use to cut out a shape in the design. This can
either be a rectangle, circle or another shape
using the 2reehand Tool.
a/ 0ectangles and circles
?se the Dectangle Tool 7or the Circle Tool5
to create the shape you want. Eust select
the tool, and left)clic! on the place on the
wor!space where you want the ob+ect to start.
#till holding down, move the shape into the
si=e that you want, and let the mouse go>
%ay attention that in the ob+ect properties
that you select none for the outline width
to ma!e sure that the ob+ect you create
is only made out of one colour 7filling5>
b/ 1reehand tool
6ou can use the freehand tool to Auic!ly combine
many lines into comple* forms. #elect the
freehand tool, clic! to set a start point, without
releasing drag to create a line and set an end
point by double)clic!ing 7this ma!es sure that the
last point isnt set as a new start point5. Drag
again to continue the shape with a new line, set
the end point and so on...;a!e sure to chec! that
the form is closed 7that the end point of the last
line connects to the start point of the first line5.

%age (

At the end you can fill in the final form
with a colour and remove the outline.
Chec! in the ob+ect manager if the curve
really has a filling and doesnt have an outline.

'. ;ultiple ob+ects should be welded, so that in the
end youll +ust have a single ob+ect.
6ou can select this option automatically
if you select multiple curves. The difference is
really clear in :iew 3 -utline option.
All overlapping ob+ects will be welded into
one ob+ect.
(. The finished FnegativeF is ready to be applied to
the design. #elect the negative, position it where
you want 7pay attention that the negative lies
over the actual design5 and use the #implify
function.
Afterwards, you can delete the negative,
and see that the form will be completely
cut out of the design below.
,emem%er to chec( the si-e (see Section ..)

%age 1
A #%#: Adobe "llustrator CS#
". Creating GnegativesG to cut out empty spaces in an
ob+ect functions similarly in Adobe Illustrator as in
Corel Draw.
$. There are rectangles, ellipses, stars and many
other forms in the toolbar. With Adobe Illustrator
C#$ and later versions, theres an easy tool 3 the
paintbrush 3 for ma!ing closed vector graphics
7see e*ample in #ection (5.
All layers that are made up of closed lines
are automatically integrated into a path 7a layer5.
&. The function Add to
#hape Area is similar to
the weld function in
Corel and is available
under %athfinder 7;enu:
Window)%athfinder5.
This lets you integrate
selected ob+ects into a
single integrated layer
7clic! on e*pand to let it
do its magic>5. Chec! to
ma!e sure that the
stro!e weight is 0 pt.
'. To cut a shape out of your design using this
negative, simply clic! on G;ergeG 7li!e Corels
#implify5.
%age .
Section ,: Letters
Section,%$: Corel &ra! $$
". 6ou can create te*t in Corel Draw
with the Te*t Tool 72/5.
$. -nce youve selected this youll see a menu fwith
various fonts and si=es. 2ind the font you li!e and
clic! -H. Clic! to set a start point for your te*t
and a cursor will start to blin!. @egin typing your
te*t.
&. To get out of the typing mode, youll have to clic!
again on the #election Tool.
'. The first letter is usually automatically
written in capitals 3 you can change this
function under the menu point Te*t )
Writing Tools 3 9uic! Correct.
(. -nce the te*t has been positioned and
set in the right si=e, you must convert
it to curves for it to be printable. To do so, select
the te*t and under Arrange clic! on Convert to
Curves5 or +ust ctrl89.
1. The ob+ect manager shows you this
more clearly 3 from the graphic te*t, youll
get a plot)printable curve with filling and no
outlines.
.. The rules for ob+ect si=es also applies
for te*t: they must be at least ".( mm wide.
The easiest way to chec! if the te*t is big enough
is to create a circle with a ".(mm diameter 7see
#ection A"."5. ;a!e sure that the circle isnt
larger than the smallest part of the te*t.

2or empty spaces in te*ts 7e.g. with @ or -5, the
empty space rule 7at least "mm wideIhigh5 also
applies. When in doubt, draw another circle>
%age /
/. If the lines in the te*t are too thin, you have two
options:
a/ increase the tet si2e
until the lines are thic! enough. To do so 3 select
the te*t and left)clic! on the blac! corners
and drag the mouse to increase the si=e.
Afterwards, chec! again with the circle to ma!e
sure its now large enough.
b/ Add an outline
Thats easy 3 select the te*t and in the ob+ect
properties select the thic!ness you want for the
outline. Afterwards, youll have to convert the
outline into curves. This function available
under Arrange 3 Convert to Curves.
In Corel Draw "$ 7or lower5, you might run into
problems when converting an outline to
an ob+ect. At best, ma!e your outline in Adobe
Illustrator. Eust copy the design from Corel 7ctrl8C5
and paste it into Adobe 7ctrl8:5 Jsee A&.$, point 1K.
%age L
Section ,%#: Adobe "llustrator CS#
". 6ou can create te*t in Adobe Illustrator
with the Type Tool.
If dont have a document, open a new one,
select the te*t tool, clic! where you
want to write and enter in your te*t.
$. -nce youve done so, the te*t functions
are active. To get out 3 go to the menu
and clic! on the #election Tool.
&. Met bac! in by double)clic!ing on the te*t area.
@y pressing ctrl8A, you can set the
settings 7e.g. font or si=e5 for the
entire te*t.
'. To ma!e the te*t into printable curves
7paths5, select the te*t, and go to the menu
point -b+ect 3 ,*pand and clic! -H to confirm
to convert the ob+ect to layer.
(. To chec! the si=e, do the same as with
Corel Draw 7ma!e a circle ".(mm across
and compare5.
1. If the lines of the te*t are too thin
7following the step above: when the ".( mm
circle is bigger than the thinnest line
in the te*t5, you can either ma!e the
te*t si=e bigger or add a contour.
To add a contour, select the te*t and add a
contour until the width is larger than the ".(mm
test)circle 7for e*ample: a contour thats & points
thic! is enough for the te*t to be thic! enough5.
Afterwards, youll have to convert
the contours to paths 7so that its printable5.
Do this under -b+ect 3 %ath ) -utline #tro!e
7you can see the difference in the blue outlines in
Adobe5.
%age "0
Section 3: Points and Lines
Section 3%$: Corel &ra! $$
". The problem of the points of lines has been
widely discussed. What, for e*ample, should
happen with suns and stars, or even more simply:
triangles.
The thic!ness of the point is dependent on the
angle ) but its not so easy to measure. -ne way
is to create a ".(mm circle, and run along the line
of the design until the left and right lines
of the design line up with the circle. If the space
from this point until the point of the design is
longer than "0mm, the design is too thin. If the
length is shorter than "0mm, the width is -H.
$. 6ou can measure the length to the point easily 3
draw a rectangle thats "0mm long. Chec! if thats
the length from the circleIlines meeting to the
point of the shape
&. What should you do if the line is too thinN
There are three options:
a5 add an outline
b5 shorten the end of the line:
Dont let the line run until the end. Dather, before
ma!e a rectangle out of the triangle 3 so that it
ends in a " mm thic! end.
". Chec! be creating a " mm circle and see where
the line is " mm thic!.
$. Then draw a rectangle that completely covers
the end.
&. ;ar! the line and the rectangle and use the
#implify function.
'. Then delete the rectangle and youll get a line
where the end point has been cut off.
%age ""
/. 'n the other side:
ma(e sure that the cutouts of the
design (li(e in the letters 0 and '), are at least
1 mm #ide.
(. When ma!ing these cutouts, pay attention to the
width.
1. To test the width, you can use the same tric! we
tal!ed about in %oint ". Eust with the difference
that the cutout +ust needs to be at least "mm
wide 7not li!e lines outside a design which
have to be at least ".( mm wide>5.
.. An ,*ample ) If the cutout is too thin: the length
of the point thats " mm wide until the
point is "(... 7O"0mm5. The cutout below is
fine 3 the length from the "mm wide point
until the endpoint is (.$ mm 7P"0mm5.
/. If a cutout is too thin, youve got three options:
a/ increase the design si2e 4see A,%$ Point 5/
b/ epand the si2e of the cutout%
Clic! on the 2orm Tool , and add an additional
anchor point to the line selected by
doubleclic!ing the mouse. Drag this point with the
mouse until the cutout is thic! enough.
c/ decrease the cutout
Draw a rectangle, place it over the cutout,
so that it will be made smaller as youd li!e.
#elect the design and the rectangle, weld them
together.
%age "$
Section 3%#: Adobe "llustrator CS

". Theres not much difference between
the techniAues weve +ust tal!ed about for Corel
and what wor!s with Illustrator. #o, well +ust go
from the part of wor!ing with anchor points.
$. To add an anchor point, select the design,
and clic! on the toolbar on %encil Tool.
And add a point to where youd li!e 7youll see a
little plus sign once youre on the line5.
&. To move the points, select the Direct #election
Tool and clic! on the point that you want to
move. %ay attention that +ust one point is
selected 7the point will turn blue5, otherwise
youll be moving the whole design, not +ust the
one point.
The whole design should not have over "000
anchor points. ?nder -b+ect 3 %ath 3 #implify,
you can reduce these by L/IL.Q. In doing so,
sharp corners are usually rounded off. @ecause of
this, we dont recommend simplifying by (0Q
7the number of points will only be shown if the
%review is activated5.
%age "&
Section 6: An Eample in A" CS#
". This e*ample will show all the functions weve
discussed up to now and apply them to create
a finished logo.
$. The logo should be symmetrical and even to help
us along, we can activate a grid 7:iew) #how
Mrid5. ?nder ,dit 3 %references 3 Muides and Mrid
) you can set the spacing of the grid. With a ".(
mm spacing, youll be able to see the thic!ness of
the line Auite easily. ?nder :iew again, select #et
on Mrid. That way, lines created will be
automatically oriented to the grid points.
&. Then create a Bine #egment and Arc Tool to
add more paths, that later will become an
emblem.
The Arc Tool is relatively easy: you set the start
point and end point and the arc is automatically
draw.
If you want to change the direction of the arc,
+ust switch the positions of the start and end
points.
'. Individually created paths, or open paths
always have to be lin!ed. There are two options:
either two paths ma!e a corner or a bridge.
In both cases, first select both end points of the
paths 7Direct #election Tool5 and put them
together via -b+ect 3 %ath 3 Eoin. Then select
whether this is a corner or a bridge. 2or a bridge,
both paths will be automatically +oined, so long as
they arent on top of each other. All corners and
bridges have to be +oined.
(. -nce one side of a design has been finished,
you can +ust copy, reflect 7Deflect Tool5, and
Connect the end points.
%age "'


1. The function -b+ect 3 %ath 3 -utline #tro!e
converts all stro!es into paths.
.. 4ow, to add a te*t that matches the logo. To do
so, first draw a line that the te*t should be
oriented on. #elect the type on a %ath Tool and
clic! on the line you +ust made 7this will disappear
as soon as you start typing 3 so the colourIshape
is irrelevant5.
/. After youve set the position, font and si=e,
you should convert the te*t into paths under
-b+ect 3 ,*pand.
L. In between 3 ma!e sure to chec! with a circle
or +ust with the grid, that all lines are thic!er
than ".(mm. If not, you can e*pand the logo,
or add another stro!e where needed.
"0.To fill the layers with colour, first select
the design and then the Bive %aintbuc!et Tool
to fill in the area with the colour you want
7a red outline will be shown5. Then you should
convert the design with -b+ect 3 ,*pand...>
After youve ungrouped the entire design
7-b+ect 3 ?ngroup5, you can bring the
different layers to the front or to the bac!
7right mouseclic! on the ob+ect you want, and
Arrange5. This lets you add, for e*ample,
another te*t element behind the te*t, but
in front of the emblem design.
%age "(

"".After clic!ing ,*pand again and the using the
function ;erge in the %athfinder 7Window 3
%athfinder5, the design loo!s Auite good. Dont
forget to always chec! the si=e 7red circle R
".(mm5.
"$.To add cutouts, you can use the %aintbrush Tool 3
use it to draw a few cuts with the mouse. %ay
attention that the areas you draw are closed )
you will automatically see this as soon as you
cross over a start point. 4ow you can fill in the
automatically made areas with the same colour as
the bac!ground 7in this case, blac!5.
"&. After the cuts are finished 7ma!e sure they follow
the si=e rues5, you can use that ;erge Tool again
7in %athfinder5. This will remove the cuts from
the design 7its possible to use this function
multiple times5.
%age "1

"'.The final touch: the blac! emblem
should have an outline that is evenly
spaced from the emblem.
"(.2irst, fill out the blac! bac!ground
7that is 3 there shouldnt be any more holes
or cutouts, otherwise the outline
will go around them5. Then copy the
entire design and select under ,dit )
%aste in 2ront. Then colour everything
blac! and clic! on ;erge again.
Then add an outline 7yellow5 thats about ' pts
wide around this area 7alignRoutside5. And
convert to paths 7-b+ect 3 %ath 3 -utline
#tro!e5.
Then do the same once again ) with a blac!
contour. After youve clic!ed ;erge again )
+ust for the top layer, you can delete all layers,
e*cept for the e*ternal contour. Beft over
should be the finished design with
an outline that has a set distance
from the design.
%age ".