Resizing drawings in Adobe Illustrator (AI) can be a necessary step when working on different design projects. Whether you need to make a logo larger for a billboard or shrink an illustration for a business card, it’s essential to understand the proper techniques for resizing drawings in AI 6. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to resize drawings in Adobe Illustrator 6.
1. Open Your Drawing in Adobe Illustrator 6
First, open the drawing you want to resize in Adobe Illustrator 6. You can do this by navigating to “File” and selecting “Open” from the dropdown menu, or simply dragging and dropping the file onto the AI workspace.
2. Select the Drawing
Click on the drawing to select it. This will display the bounding box around the drawing, indicating that it is selected and ready to be resized.
3. Resize Proportionally
To resize the drawing proportionally, hold down the “Shift” key while dragging one of the corner points of the bounding box. This will maintain the aspect ratio of the drawing, preventing it from becoming distorted as you resize it.
4. Resize Non-Proportionally
If you need to resize the drawing non-proportionally, you can do so by dragging one of the corner points of the bounding box without holding down the “Shift” key. This will allow you to stretch or squish the drawing as needed.
5. Input Specific Dimensions
If you require the drawing to be resized to specific dimensions, you can do so by entering the desired width and height values in the control panel at the top of the AI workspace. Simply click on the values next to “W” (width) and “H” (height) and type in the dimensions you need.
6. Use the Scale Tool
Another option for resizing drawings in AI 6 is to use the “Scale Tool” located in the toolbar on the left side of the workspace. With the drawing selected, click on the “Scale Tool” icon and adjust the size of the drawing by dragging the bounding box or inputting specific values in the control panel.
7. Consider Using Artboards
When resizing drawings for specific projects, consider utilizing artboards in Adobe Illustrator. Artboards are separate canvases within the same AI file, allowing you to work on multiple layouts or versions of the drawing at once. By setting up artboards for different sizes or applications, you can easily adjust the drawing to fit each specific use case.
8. Save Your Resized Drawing
Once you have resized the drawing to your satisfaction, be sure to save your work. Navigate to “File” and select “Save” or “Save As” to preserve the resized version of the drawing.
By following these steps, you can effectively resize drawings in Adobe Illustrator 6. Whether you need to adjust the size for print, web, or other design purposes, understanding these resizing techniques will help you achieve the desired outcome in your design projects.
