tut: Illustrator Cartographic Effects

Cartographic Effects using Adobe Illustrator

See also: Using ArcGIS Maps in Illustrator

 

Below are a few 'effects' that can be applied in Adobe Illustrator for cartographic enhancement. For the most part, these are tricks that are relatively easy in Illustrator and relatively difficult in ArcGIS...

There are LOTS of other effects in Illustrator and LOTS of minor tweaks to the tools listed here. Feel free to experiment with any of the items listed under the Effects menu...

Note that these effects, like any cartographic enhancement, should be used sparingly. In most cases, the goal of an effect is that map reader does not even notice the effect as an effect, they simply find the map easier to read and more appealing to look at.

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Transparency

While ArcGIS allows you to set the transparency of a feature layer it is relatively difficult to apply transparencies to individual features or portions of features. It is also not possible at all to set the transparency of the text or of graphic features (text or legend box backgrounds, etc.)...

 

 

Legend on the left is not transparent. Legend on the right is 50 transparent.

Setting transparency (or Opacity) in Adobe is probably the simplest 'effect' described here (so easy, in fact that you ENVS. Moreover, you can make just the outline (or even part of the outline) transparent if you wish. The process for setting transparency is basically the same for any object in your file (features, layers, text, graphic objects...):

  • Using the Selection tool (or by selecting individual layers or sub-layers) select the object(s) you wish to make transparent
  • On the top tool bar adjust the Opacity slider (or enter a number) as desired (you can also adjust the Opacity in the Appearance panel) 

 

 

  • Alternatively, you can also adjust the Opacity on the Stroke panel (choose Stoke from the Window menu)
  • If you want to make an entire layer or group of layers transparent you can select the entire layer in the Layers panel and then adjust the Opacity

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Drop Shadows

Unlike ArcGIS (which simply creates a completely opaque and slightly off-set drop box, not really a drop shadow at all), Illustrator gives you a wide range of controls for the size, direction, type, opacity, and color of your Drop Shadows to create an appearance that actually looks like a shadow. Experiment with the settings to get an effect you like...

 

 

  • Select an object using the Selection tool
  • From the Effect menu choose Stylize (the Stylize under Illustrator Effects NOT the Stylize under Photoshop Effects) and then Drop Shadow...
  • For starters simply accept the defaults and click OK
  • Now try this again (either use CTRL-Z to undo the shadow you just created or select a different object)
    • This time tweak the parameters a bit - the size of the blur, type, color or direction of the shadow etc...
  • To modify an existing Drop Shadow (after it's been created):
    • Select the object that has the Drop Shadow
    • Open the Appearance panel (Choose Appearance from the Window menu or Shift+F6)
    • Tweak parameters as desired...

 

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Halos for Text (or other objects)

Creating halos in Illustrator requires the creation of a second copy of the text letters. One copy is set to the back and enlarged, the other copy is in the front and slightly smaller, creating the effect of a halo. The size of the halo as well as the color of both the stroke and the halo can be adjusted as desired. Note that a similar effect can be used for non-text objects as well.

 

 

ABOVE: text without a Halo...       BELOW: text with a Halo

 

 

  • Lock ALL layers except the text layer that you are applying the Halo effect to
  • Optional: Create a new layer (using the Create New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel)
    • Change the name of your new layer to "Text and Halo" or something appropriate by double clicking the layer
    • Move the text layer that you want to have a halo to your new layer (as a sub-layer)
  • Select all the labels in your original text layer by clicking on the area to the right of the circle next to the layer name
    • A tiny box should appear, and all labels should appear “selected”
  • With the text selected, use the Selection tool to move your text slightly (if need be you can move it a second time to return it to it's original position)
    • This moving of the text will force Illustrator to recognize the font size from the ArcGIS exported text
  • With the text where you like it (still selected), Copy the entire layer (CTRL+C)
  • Paste what you just copied BEHIND your original text by pressing CTRL+B (or choose Paste in Back from the Edit menu)
    • This pastes all your new text into a new sub-layer, directly below/behind the original text layer
  • Lock your original text layer (but keep the visibility On)
  • Your newly created copy should be directly below the original text layer and should be selected (if not, select it)
  • In the top tool bar, set the size of the Stroke for your copied text layer
    • Set it to 1 pt for starters...
    • Do not change the Font size (use the stroke size box not the font size box)
  • Set the color for your halo using the Stroke color selector (either in the top tool bar or the main Tools panel)

 

 

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Inset Perimeter Outlines

Creating an inset (or interior) border line is a "classic" cartographic effect, seen on many historical maps. It is especially effective on choropleth maps. Essentially, the effect is as if you buffered one side only (the inside of a polygon) and gave that interior area a color and/or transparency of it's own (typically a related shade of color to the polygon itself). This effect helps to distinguish the individual polygons without having a hard solid line for the borders. (Note for ENVS. You might even opt for a slightly larger than usual spacing between your dashes so as to better show your interior outlines.)

 

 

  • Lock all layers other than the layer with the outlines you wish to change
  • Open the Stroke panel (choose Stroke from the Window menu or CTRL+F10)
  • Use the Selection tool (from the main Tools panel) to select a polygon
  • Optional: Adjust the fill color of the polygon as needed using the Fill color selector from the main Tools panel
    • NOTE: If your color turns to grey after you have chosen a new color:
      • With your polygon still selected, open to the Color panel (Window / Color)
      • Click on the small drop-down arrow in the upper right-hand corner
      • From the dropdown menu, choose “CMYK”
      • The color you chose should appear...
  • Use the Stoke color selector (from the main Tools panel) to choose a color for the outline (stroke)
    • Typically the chosen color for the inset stroke is a similar, darker color (i.e., a more saturated and/or less bright or darker hue compared to the polygon fill)
    • Note: if the stroke color turns to grey instead of the color you choose, see Fill color note above
    • Note: by default the stroke is set to be centered on the line so you will not see an inset yet
  • With the polygon still selected, go to the stroke window
    • For Align Stroke: choose Align Stroke to Inside (the middle icon)
    • Adjust the stroke Weight: (start with a width of 2 pts)
    • For the Corner: choose Round Join (the middle icon)
    • This should give you the above look....

 

 

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Blurred Polygon Edges

Adobe Illustrator has a number of different effects for blurring objects, softening their edges and giving the features a fuzzy border. (Note for ENVS. You might even opt for a slightly larger than usual spacing between your dashes so as to better show your blurred edges.)

image with No blurring: 

 

 

 

ABOVE: Gaussian Blurr...      BELOW: Radial Blur

 

 

  • Select the layer (or more likely, the entire group of layers) to add the blur effect to in the Layers panel
    • Alternatively you can choose individual objects using the Selection tool
  • From the Effects menu, choose Blur and then Gaussian Blur...
    • For now accept the defaults and click OK
    • Your polygon edges should now be blurred...
  • Use CTRL+Z to undo the blur you just applied
  • Apply the Blur to the same features a second time:
    • This time use the Radial Blur... option
    • Again accept the defaults and click OK
  • Use CTRL+Z again to undo this second blur
  • Now, choose the type of blur you like better (Gaussian vs. Radial)
    • This time tweak the parameters a bit to see how they change the blurriness
  • Choose a type of blur you like for the final version...
  • To modify an existing Blur effect (after it's been created):
    • Select the object(s) that have the Blur
    • Open the Appearance panel (Choose Appearance from the Window menu or Shift+F6)
    • Tweak parameters as desired...

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Shoreline Vignettes

Adding a shoreline vignette softens the transition from land to water and can provide the illusion of depth for the water.

If you have a water layer (ocean or lake) you can apply an "Inner Glow" effect:

  • Select your water layer
  • From the Effect menu choose Stylize and then Inner Glow...
    • For the Mode: choose Screen
    • For the Opacity: choose 60% (experiment to your liking)
    • For the Blur choose a size to your liking...
    • Choose Edge (as opposed to Center)
  • To modify an existing Glow effect (after it's been created):
    • Select the object(s) that have the Glow
    • Open the Appearance panel (Choose Appearance from the Window menu or Shift+F6)
    • Tweak parameters as desired...

Alternatively, if you do not have a water layer, you can apply an "Outer Glow" to your land:

 

 

ABOVE: No Glow effect...      BELOW: With the Glow effect

 

 

  • Select the land (e.g., the continents) layer in the Layers panel
  • From the Effects menu choose Stylize and then choose Outer Glow...
    • Experiment with the Mode, color, Opacity and Blur size
    • Start with Normal or Multiply for the Mode
    • You'll probably need a fairly large Blur size
  • To modify an existing Glow effect (after it's been created):
    • Select the object(s) that have the Glow
    • Open the Appearance panel (Choose Appearance from the Window menu or Shift+F6)
    • Tweak parameters as desired...

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More...

Plus there's tons more you can do with Illustrator. Have a look at any of the hundreds of online tutorials for more ideas. Or stop by the Student Tech Center for help.