Tutorials

Can't Open Vectorportal File?

The vast majority of vector images on Vectorportal are saved in older version of .ai or .eps format, most commonly in Adobe Illustrator version 8,9,10 and CS and EPS version 10. However, if that's still not old enough for the software installed on your computer and you can't open the image, I advise you to post request on Vectorportal Forum in Vectorize/Convert This Section. Some of our members will convert the file for you and send it in version you request.

No request has been left unanswered, as far as I know...

Prepare File For Editing

Vectorportal is very good resource for beginners who are just learning Adobe Illustrator. In order to modify Vectorportal files you will have to prepare them for editing with commands like Ungroup, Expand Appearance, Unlock All etc. Most of these commands are located in Object Menu. Here are few advices on potential problems with editing of Vectorportal files:

1. Can't move image? Maybe the object or part of the object is locked. Go to Object > Unlock All. Or maybe the layer is locked. Check out Layers palette and unlock locked layers.

2. I want to modify left wing, but I can only select left and right wing together. Go to Object > Ungroup to ungroup objects.

3. Use Object > Expand to expand gradients, fills, strokes and gradient meshes...

4. Use Object > Show All to show hidden objects.

Changing Color On Monochrome Images

Many monochrome images on Vectorportal are cleaned from debris created during the process of vectorization. Some are not though and the user can have a problem when changing color of the image. In perfect situation the monochrome image should be filled with only one colour (black in our example) and the user should be able to easily change color.

However, there are some images that consist of both black and white objects. In this case we need to delete white objects. Here is how to do it.

The image below is downloaded from Vectorportal > Stock Vectors > Monochrome
















1. Choose Group Selection Tool (white arrow with +) and select any area of the image that is filled with white color.

2. Now go to Select > Same > Fill Color.
3. Click Delete.
4. Select whole image and go to Objects > Group.

5. Click on the image with Selection Tool and change color.

Use Flatten Transparency When Saving To Other Formats

Many vector images on Vectorportal are created in Adobe Illustrator using complex transparency settings and blending modes in order to simulate stunning effects that are usually created with Adobe Photoshop. Therefore, majority of such files are saved in Adobe Illustrator format which leaves the user in full control over artwork. The end-user can change blending modes, level of transparency, colors etc.

However, if you want to save or export artwork to other formats like PDF, there may be problems with the outcome. Sometimes the transparency will be lost in the exported image or severely distorted. In this case you have to flatten transparency in order to get satisfactory results.

Choose Edit > Flatten Transparency and turn on Preview mode. In the Preset menu choose either High/Medium/Low Resolution. In Transparency Flattener you can set options for the output. Here you can read what each setting mean.

From Adobe Illustrator Help:

Illustrator flattens artwork when you perform any of the following actions:

• Print a file that contains transparency.
  
• Save a file that contains transparency in a legacy format such as native Illustrator 8 and earlier, Illustrator 8 EPS and earlier, or PDF 1.3 format. (For the Illustrator and Illustrator EPS formats, you can choose to discard transparency rather than flatten it.)
  
• Export a file that contains transparency to a vector format that does not understand transparency (such as EMF or WMF).
  
• Copy and paste transparent art from Illustrator into another application with both the AICB and the Preserve Appearance options checked (in the File Handling & Clipboard section of the Preferences dialog box).
  
• Export in SWF (Flash) or use the Flatten Transparency command with the Preserve Alpha Transparency option selected. This command lets you preview how artwork will look when exported in SWF.

More on Transparency settings:
Adobe Illustrator Help File

Preview Image Is Different From The File I Downloaded From VP!

When you open file you downloaded from Vectorportal in Adobe Illustrator it is possible that some layers are not visible and therefore it may appear that part of the image is missing. All you need to do in this case is to check Layers palette and make all layers visible.

In Layers palette (Windows > Layers) an Eye icon indicates that layer is visible. In this case Layer 3 is visible and Layers 2 and 1 are not. Simply click on empty square in the first column to make layer visible.