Representation + Landscape Views in Illustrator

Representation + Landscape

Landscape Architecure Program Graduate School of Design Harvard University

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A d o b e I l l u s t r a t o r Wo r k f l o w f o r V i e w s

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Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

CO N T E N TS

Gen eral Notes

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Preparat i on i n Rh i no

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Il l us t rator V i ew Wor k flow

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Il l us t rator V i ew Wor k flow

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References

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Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

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Ge n e ra l Note s This tutorial outlines only one method of generating views.

changing lineweights, adding color and hatches. Adobe

There are many other forms and graphic styles that land-

Photoshop is used to add raster elements to vector

scape views can take.

drawings.

Before starting work on a view, there are a few questions that are helpful to ask: What views would best support my

Though a view is not a scaled drawing, per se, modeling and

narrative and concept? How will the different views relate

exporting from Rhino will ensure that the scalar relationship

to each other (in space or in time)? It is also good to keep

between elements in the drawing is accurate and convincing.

in mind that you don’t need to to show everything in a view. Highlighting certain elements can be more effective.

This tutorial will focus on the Adobe Illustrator (AI) workflow that is completed after linework has been exported from Rhino. The Adobe Suite should not be used for scale drawing. Adobe Illustrator can be used to edit and add vector representation, including

G e n e r a l Tu t o r i a l s LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda) includes tutorials on Rhino, AutoCAD and Adobe Suite. The Rhino tutorials are focused on architectural and product design operations, but can be used for a general overview of commands. Access tutorials with your Harvard key at www.linkedin.com/learning.

O n l i n e Tu t o r i a l s The Digital Media Workshop has tutorials on almost all software suites used at the GSD. These tutorials can be accessed on the Digital Media Workshop site on Canvas. Access tutorials with your Harvard key.

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Landscape Core Sequence

Linework Exported from Rhino

Extruded Tree Guides

Modeled Wall

Contours in Perspective

Projected Path Outlines

Mathur Da Cunha Fresh Kills Proposal - Using Contour Lines to Show Terrain in Perspective

Handy Hints

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Pre p a rati o n i n Rhi no This is covered in more depth in other tutorials, but, before exporting to AI, you should have done the following in Rhino:

work (this will help you line up your linework with the

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Modeled the terrain

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Generated contour lines across the terrain (can be done using the “Contour” command)

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Artboard in AI) •

Clean up the linework generated using Make 2D.

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Use the ‘Hatch’ command to fill any areas you plan to fill in Illustrator. Hatch will bring the shapes into AI as

Modeled any other objects in the view (in this

closed shapes which can be easily filled.

example, a low wall running through the landscape) •

Projected pathways, so they sit on the terrain

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Added vertical polylines to serve as guides for tree heights (tree will be added in Illustrator)

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Added vertical polylines to serve as guides for people (tree will be added in Illustrator)

Make 2D With these elements ready, you will choose a view in Rhino. You can consider setting a specific camera position or adjusting the lens length to suit your needs. Once you have a view set, make sure you save it under “Named Views.”

Use the Make 2D command to generate 2D linework. In this example, the following items were selected to make 2D: •

Contour lines

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Modeled wall

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Projected path outlines

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Tree guides

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People guides

Once the you have 2D linework, do the following: •

Draw a rectangle for your paper size around your line-

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Use ‘File > Export Selected’ to export to Illustrator.

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Landscape Core Sequence

Clipping Mask

Image Trace

Hand-Drawn Tree

Converted to Vector Linework

Can also be used for color images by changing 'Mode' to 'Color'

Check 'Ignore White' Select 'Advanced'

Object > Pattern > Edit

Object > Pattern > Make

Made using jpeg scan of hand-drawing

Handy Hints

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Il lu s t rato r V i ew Wor kf l ow Initial Changes Open the file in AI and do the following: •

Select everything and change the lineweight to .25, all fills to no color, and all lines to black. You can build lineweights up from there.

Clipping Mask The Clipping Mask tool is a simple way to highlight elements or add material texture to your drawing through collaging. In this example, the corten steel wall is highlighted in this way.

> After tracing object, click “Expand” at the bottom.

Once Image Traced, you can experiment with line weights, colors and fills. For example, you can try black fill with a white outline.

Rastorize Converts vector linework to raster images. If you’re finding that the file size of your drawing is getting too large, you can rasterize elements of your drawing (if you have a hundred linework trees you Imaged Traced for example, you can rasterize them on a

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Find an image (e.g. corten steel) and save as a jpeg

separate layer to a 150 resolution). Steps:

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Create new layer in AI, just beneath the shape you

> Select the objects to rasterize

will use to clip the image •

File > Place to place image in new layer

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Select both the image and the clipping shape (make sure the clipping shape is above the image to be clipped in the Layers panel)

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Object > Clipping Mask > Make (or Ctrl+7)

Image Trace Image Trace can be used to add vegetation to AI. Image Trace converts raster images to vector linework. Raster trees can also be added, but converting them to vector gives you more flexibility to change color, lineweight, etc.

> Go to Effects > Rasterize > Set the pixel ratio Swatches Swatches are great tools in AI. They can be used to give sense of texture in drawing. They can be customized and created from scratch.

To edit a swatch: > Select the object filled with a swatch > Go to Object > Pattern > Edit

In example, I started with trees I drew by hand, but you can

> Use the Direct Selection tool (the second arrow) to

also use trees found online.

select an element in the swatch (e.g. a dot)

> Open and select the raster image (scanned hand drawing or image found online) in Illustrator > Go to Window > Click “Image Trace.” > Click “Advanced”

> Go to Select > Same > Appearance > Change the color of the pattern > Click Done at upper left

> Check “Ignore White”

Overlaying different swatches at different opacity

> Click “Trace”

levels is another way to create interesting textures.

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Landscape Core Sequence

Placing objects, such as trees, behind other objects is a simple way to create a sense of depth.

Live Paint

Shadows

Copy and Rotate Object

Scale

Make more opaque, add gray outline to black fill

Skew: Ctrl+E > Click Corner > Ctrl and Drag

Layer shadows, use Effects > Stylize > Feather

Handy Hints

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Il lu s t rato r V i ew Wor kf l ow Creating a Sense of Depth be cast.

The linework you export from Rhino (and the scalar relationship between objects) is primary in creating a sense of depth. However, there are also 3 key things you can do in

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the ground and is larger closer to the viewer. To

AI to help add to this sense of depth: •

Skew the object so that it sits convincingly on do this:

Place vegetation behind objects where appropriate. For example, in this case, some trees need to go behind the wall. To do that, create a new

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Select the object

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Hit the “E” key to turn on transform

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To skew the object’s shape, 1) click a

layer – “Trees Behind Wall” – and move trees to it. Move that layer underneath the wall layer.

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corner grips

Adjust scale: Perhaps obvious, but objects that

corner, 2) press “Ctrl” and 3) Drag the

are farther away should be smaller

corner to skew it

Adjust opacity: Making an object more opaque will make it appear farther away than less opaque objects.

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Reduce the opacity of shadow object.

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Use the Feather tool to soften the edges of the shadow object.

Live Paint

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Effect

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Stylize

Live Paint.

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Feather

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Select the linework you want to fill

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Choose the distance around the edges

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Select the Live Paint Bucket

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Click to fill in the line work (this can also be done

In the example image, dwg files for people were found online. These were opened in AI and filled with white using

in Rhino using Hatch) Creating Shadows Shadows are central to creating compelling views. Shadows can be exported from Rhino using Vray if you have the

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to be feathered

Additional tips to create convincing shadows in AI: o

Keep the fill black but change the line

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Layer two shadow objects on top of

color to gray

each other at low opacities.

object modeled. Basic shadows for objects such as trees and people can also created in AI. •

Start by copying the object that will cast the shadow

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Rotate and scale the copied object, depending on the view and what direction the shadow will

Continue to create shadows for other objects, maintaining the same sun direction and perspective.

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Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s Planting Guides The following resources can be used while making drawings that accurately reflect the structure of trees and root systems.

Tree Root Systems This guide describes the development and structure of tree root systems, including the appropriate proportions and spread of root systems by species.

90% of all roots are in the upper 2 feet of soil, and designers should take care to avoid disturbing the soil in this area.

Dobson, Martin. “Tree Root Systems.” Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service. 1995. www.trees.org.uk/Trees.org.uk/files/61/6181f2b7e35d-4075-832f-5e230d16aa9e.pdf

Resilient Tree Species This excellent guide presents resilient tree species to plant in urban areas throughout the northeast, with a focus on Massachusetts. The guide includes individual illustrations of each species habit, as well as information on pests, planting and management requirements.

McElhinney, Ashley and Richard W. Harper. Planting for Resilience: Selecting Urban Trees in Massachusetts.

Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 2019. www.nebula.wsimg.com/a2e55d13e8fda042c126aa6 3287648a5?AccessKeyId=A146045A33CB9AB2E53F &disposition=0&alloworigin=1

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Landscape Core Sequence

USDA Soil Survey

Set Area of Interest

Area of Interest

Go to Soil Map tab to see soil types

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s Soil The following resource can be used to gather information on the soil types at a particular site.

USDA Soil Survey For overview and instructions, go to: https:// websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey. aspx To generate a map of soil types: > Click “Start WSS” > Use the Magnifying Glass to zoom into your area of interest (AOI) > Set the AOI by using the AOI rectangle or polygon tool to draw a boundary > Switch to the ‘Soil Map’ tab to see a map of the different soil types within the AOI

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Landscape Core Sequence

In the swatches panel, click the bottom left icon and click on Other Library.

Copy and paste the swatches into the Swatches folder.

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s Swatch Assets USGS Patterns for Geological Mapping This expanded set of metal, rocks and sedimentary swatches includes a reference for units. To install the pack in Adobe Illustrator, open the Swatches window. Click on the library icon in the bottom left corner and select “Other Library.” Open the swatches folder and paste the USGS Patterns into the swatches folder. www.geo.fu-berlin.de/bibliotheken/Downloads/ Standard-US-Geological-Survey-_USGS_-patternsfor-geological-mapping.html Note: if you update your Illustrator version (from 2020 to 2021 for example, you will need to copy the expanded swatches folder).

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Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s Swatch Assets Albums de Statistique Graphique This expanded set of hatches is derived from over 400 maps produced in 1886. The maps are available from the David Rumsey collection www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/ RUMSEY~8~1~309250~90079139 The swatches are available to download from Github (download the SVG folder) www.github.com/infowetrust/albumcolors Additional documentation can be found on the Info We Trust website www.infowetrust.com/project/album-colors

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Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s Tr e e A s s e t s Index of Formation This PDF of trees drawn by GSD students taught by Rosetta Elkin includes generic and hand-traced trees of species in the Mount Auburn Arboretum. The trees are drawn to scale. The trees can be brought into Rhino using the Insert command, or into Illustrator using Place. www.practicelandscape.com/project/index-offormation Note: this is a large file. To reduce the size, delete the measured grid after scaling the file.

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Pimp my Drawing

Non-Scandinavia

Escalatina

Skalgubbar

Landscape Core Sequence

Handy Hints

Refe re n ce s People Assets Helpful websites: pimpmydrawing.com nonscandinavia.com skalgubbar.se escalalatina.com studioalternativi.com/collections/free Note: You can always make your own people assets.

One way is to import a photo into Rhino (using “Picture”) or AutoCAD (using “XRef”) and trace it.

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