Adobe Illustrator CC Certification Vocabulary

Group

A collection of objects on an artboard that can be selected as an entire unit for editing and organizing elements in a design. On the Layers panel, a <Group> listing will display and the collection of objects will display as individual listings nested within the group.

Compound path

A compound path is an object that contains within it one or more smaller, transparent subpaths that create a hole (or holes) in the larger object. All objects in the compound path take on the paint and style attributes of the rearmost object in the stacking order. Compound paths provide editing flexibility: You can release the subpath from the larger object at any time.

Smooth anchor point

A curved anchor point. See anchor point.

Color profile

A description of the color-handling characteristics of a device, such as a scanner, camera, printer, or display. A color management system uses device color profiles to ensure that document colors remain consistent as the document moves from one device to another.

Preferences dialog box

A dialog box that contains various options and settings that are applied to all Illustrator documents you create. The dialog box organizes the options and settings into specific categories and displays each category in a custom panel. Preference settings can be changed at any time.

Live Corners

A feature for non-rectangular objects such as polygons that displays a corner widget for controlling the corner radius on a selected corner point.

Live Shapes

A feature for rectangle or rounded rectangle objects only that displays corner widgets for controlling the corner radius on a selected object. See also shape properties.

Creative Cloud Libraries

A feature provided in Illustrator that enables you to copy artwork as an asset into a Libraries panel, then place that asset into any other Adobe application that also contains a Libraries panel. Library assets are stored in your Creative Cloud Assets page.

Type size

A font's height from the highest ascender to the lowest descender.

Gradient fill

A gradual blend between two or more solid colors. Gradients are created and edited via the Gradient panel in Illustrator.

Resolution

A measurement of the number of pixels in a given space—either in an inch (ppi) or pixel dimensions (such as 1920×1080). Measured by length x width.

Blend tool

A multistep color and shape progression between two separate objects. Blends are created via the Blend tool or the Make Blend command.

Anchor point

A point connecting two segments on a path. An anchor point can be either a corner point or a curved point.

Symbol

A predefined, reusable design element accessed via the Symbols panel.

Deliverables

A predetermined list of items that will be delivered to the customer.

Artboard

A printable region within a document. A document can contain multiple artboards.

Fair use

A set of rules that specify how and when copyrighted material can be used and that make sure copyright protection doesn't come at the cost of creativity and freedom.

Pixel

A single dot that makes up a raster image. Pixel is short for "picture element."

Clipping mask

A special group of objects in which the topmost object crops (masks) the objects that are below it. Portions of the lower objects that extend beyond the path of the topmost object are hidden and don't print. The topmost object in a clipping mask is referred to as a clipping path.

Isolation mode

A special viewing and editing mode that is activated by double-clicking an object or a group. All other objects are temporarily dimming, thereby limiting editing to only the selected objects.

Feedback loop

A system set up to continually encourage and require input and approval on a project's direction.

Document window

A tabbed window within the Application Frame that contains the artboards and canvas scratch area.

Rule of thirds

A technique for laying out the space of your page to provide a focal point. Two vertical and two horizontal lines evenly divide the space into nine equal boxes, as in a tic-tac-toe board.

Area type

A type object (consisting of many lines of text) where type wraps to fit within a vector shape. OR Draw text box; text is constrained to the box

Direction handle

A visual feature that displays on a selected curved anchor point that controls the shape of a curved segment.

Layers

A way to organize objects and put some objects in front of, or behind, others. When objects are on separate layers you can temporarily lock or hide them to facilitate editing objects on other layers in the same area of the artboard.

Justified

Aligns text to a straight edge on both the right and left edges of a paragraph.

Unity

Also known as harmony and sharing similar traits. Low contrast. Things that go together should look like they belong together. The opposite of variety.

Decorative fonts

Also known as ornamental, novelty, or display fonts. They don't fall into any of the other categories of fonts. Convey a specific feeling.

Dingbat fonts

Also known as wingdings. They are a collection of objects and shapes instead of letters.

Adobe Bridge

An Adobe application that enables you to view thumbnails of your files and helps you sort and organize those files.

Corner point

An anchor point that connects either two straight line segments or a straight and a curved segment on a path.

Curved point

An anchor point that connects two curved segments on a path. When selected, direction handles will display to control the shape of the curved segments.

Status bar

An area in the left side of the bottom of the document window that displays information about the current document as well as providing controls for zooming or navigating through the document.

Vector object

An element composed of points connected by straight and curved segments defined by mathematical instructions. Vector objects are resolution independent. This means they can be scaled with no loss of edge quality.

Compound object

An object contained within one or more smaller, transparent paths that creates a hole in the larger object. The hole can be removed by releasing the compound object and separating the paths into individual objects.

Compound shape

An object created via the Shape Modes options on the Pathfinder panel. The individual objects that are combined into a compound shape are preserved and can be edited or released at any time.

Proportionately

An option that can be set when scaling an object to preserve the current width-to-height ratio of an object.

Object

Any created vector shape or placed image in an Illustrator document. An individual object can be selected for editing and is listed on the Layers panel as a <Path>.

Negative space

Blank areas in a design. Also known as white space.

Subtractive Color

CMYK - Created by subtracting light. Printing uses subtractive color.

Process colors

Colors that are defined as a combination of the four CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) ink colors. Process colors are used when printing artwork to devices that create color using these four inks.

Complementary (colors)

Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. They are high in contrast and vibrant.

Analogous (colors)

Colors that are side by side on the color wheel.

Primary colors

Colors that cannot be created by combining other colors, and can be combined to create every other color in the visible spectrum. Additive color systems such as a computer use the primary colors of red, blue, and green (not red, blue, and yellow as in painting).

Tools panel

Contains all the tools that you can use in Illustrator. It's important to know that most icons on the toolbar provide access to a group of hidden tools when you click and hold on the tool's icon.

Trace

Convert shapes in a bitmap image into vector paths. In Illustrator, this can be done manually via the Pen tool or automatically via the Image Trace panel.

Additive color

Created by combining light. Color components are red, green, and blue. When added together at 100%, the three components create white.

Tertiary colors

Created by mixing primary and secondary colors.

Secondary colors

Created when you combine primary colors.

Contrast

Creates visual interest and a focal point in a composition. It is what draws the eye to the focal point. Difference

NonCommercial

Creative Commons licensing. Means you can use work in your own creative work as long as you don't charge for it.

Rhythm

Creative and expressive, rather than a consistent pattern or repetition in a design.

Texture

Describes the actual tactile texture in real objects or the appearance of texture in a two-dimensional image.

Emphasis

Describes the focal point to which the eye is naturally and initially drawn in a design.

Vertical scale

Describes the function of stretching letters and distorting the typeface geometry. Located on the character panel.

Form

Describes three-dimensional objects, such as spheres, cubes, and pyramids.

Specifications

Detailed written goals and limits for a project. These are sometimes one of the deliverables of a project.

Document color mode

Determines the color model that Illustrator uses to create the image, such as RGB or CYMK.

Project deadlines

Dictates when work needs to be completed.

Monochromatic

Different shades and tints of the same color. Communicates a relaxed and peaceful feeling.

dpi

Dots per inch and refers to the resolution of an image when printed.

Glyph

Each character of a font, whether it is a letter, number, symbol, or swash.

Paragraph settings

Effect an entire paragraph rather than selected words. These settings include alignment, space before/after, hyphenation, and so on.

Balance

Evenly distributed, but not necessarily centered or mirrored.

Serif fonts

Fonts with serifs the little "feet"on character ends, created by typewriters. They convey tradition, intelligence, and class.

Variety

High contrast. The opposite of unity.

Drawing modes

Illustrator provides three specific drawing modes: Draw Normal (the default) Draw Behind: Draw Behind places newly drawn objects behind selected objects Draw Inside: Draw Inside places newly drawn objects within a selected object.

Alignment

Indicates how the text is justified / aligned on the right and left edges: such as left, centered, and right.

Metadata

Information that is included in a document but is hidden, such as copyright, lens information, location via GPS, camera settings, and more.

Value

Lightness or darkness of an object. Together with color, represents the visible spectrum, such as a gradient.

Diagonal (lines)

Lines traveling neither on a vertical nor a horizontal path. Express growth or decline and imply movement or change.

Printer's marks

Marks printed along the outer margins of a printed sheet (beyond the page boundary). These marks are indicators to help printers determine such items as trimming the paper, aligning color separation films, and evaluating the color quality of each the separate inks used to print color.

Script fonts

Mimic calligraphy. They convey a feeling of beauty, grace, or feminine dignity.

Symmetrical

Occurs when you can divide an image along its middle, and the left side of the image is a mirror image of the right (or the top reflects the bottom). Conveys an intentional, formal, and mechanical feeling.

Project scope

Outlines the amount and type of work to be completed.

ppi

Pixels per inch

Embedded

Placing a bitmap image as a non-vector object in an Illustrator document. The image data is stored in the document. See also linked.

Linked

Placing a bitmap image as a screen version of an image in an Illustrator document. A link is established between the placed image and the original source image. Image data is not stored in the document. See also embedded.

Geometric shapes

Predictable and consistent shapes, such as circles, squares, triangles, and stars. They are rarely found in nature and convey mechanical and manufactured impressions

Repetition

Repeating an element in a design.

Sketches

Representative drawings of how to lay out a document or web page. These are sometimes one of the deliverables of a project.

Workspaces

Specific arrangements of the panels within the interface for easy access to features you use often. Illustrator provides predefined workspaces or you can create a custom workspace that suits your workflow needs. Examples: Essentials, Painting, Typography, Web

Typeface

Specific letterform set, such as Helvetica, Arial, Garamond, and so on. It is the "look" of letters.

Sans serif fonts

Text without serifs. Often used for headlines and titles for their strong, stable, modern feel.

Leading

The amount of space between the baselines of two lines of text in wraparound paragraph type. Increase the leading value to increase the amount of white space between lines of text.

Appearance

The attributes that are applied to an "object" and are listed on the Appearance panel: stroke, fill, opacity, fx, etc.

Elements of art

The building blocks of creative works. They are the "nouns" of design: space, line, shape, form, texture, value, color, and type.

Path

The edge of a vector shape or line. A path technically has no dimension, so a stroke must be added to make it visible.

Design principles

The essential rules or "assembly instructions" for art.

Application frame

The frame that surrounds the Illustrator interface and contains the Application bar, document windows, and panels, and select zoom and artboard navigation options.

Panels

The highly customizable interface elements containing common tools, settings, and options that can be easily moved, rearranged, or resized.

Saturation

The level of pure color versus white or gray in a color less white or gray means a more vivid, or saturated, color.

Shape properties

The middle portion of the Transform panel that displays shape and corner settings for a selected object drawn with the Rectangle or Rounded Rectangle tool. See also Live Shapes.

Tracking

The overall space between ALL of the letters in a block of text. It allows you to compress or expand the space between the letters as a whole rather than just between specific pairs, as you do with kerning. Located on the characters panel.

Control panel

The panel in Illustrator that contains controls, links (to temporary panels), and settings. Options on the panel change depending on the type of object currently selected.

Bleed

The part of the image extending past the cut edge to ensure an edge-to-edge print.

Color (hue)

The perceived hue, lightness, and saturation of an object or light.

Model releases

The permission that is required when a person's face is identifiable in a photo and the image will be used to promote something—whether it's a product or an idea.

Attributes

The settings such as fill, stroke, effects, and opacity that are applied to an object. The attributes of an object make up the object's appearance.

Kerning

The space between a set of characters only.

Stroke weight

The thickness (width) applied to a stroke on the edge of a path.

Weight (stroke)

The thickness, or width, of a line.

Fonts

The whole collection of a typeface in each of its sizes and styles.

Rasterize

To convert a vector object into a raster/bitmap image.

Project creep

Unplanned changes that increase the amount of work, or scope, that a project requires. When the project loses focus and spins out of control, eating up more and more time and effort.

Points

Used to measure type size, approximately 1/72 of an inch.

Movement

Visual movement within an image, such as the natural tracking of the eye across an image as the eye moves from focal point to focal point.

Creative Commons

Ways that artists can release their works for limited use and still choose the way the works are used and shared: Public Domain, Attribution, ShareAlike, NoDerivs, and NonCommercial.

Public domain

When copyright is expired or released and no longer applies to the content or when an artist releases their work. It can be used without worrying about infringement.