Combining Features and Effects

New features aren't added haphazardly in Illustrator. Rather, each new feature is carefully thought out in regard to how it might interact with other existing features in Illustrator. One of the most powerful things that you can do with Live Effects in Illustrator is apply several of them to a single object, or even better, use effects in combination with other features, like transparency and blends (Figure 7.1).

Figure 7.1. You don't have to be a high roller to see the benefits of combining features in Illustrator. This example uses the 3D effect with artwork mapping, transparency, and blends.

When using Illustrator, you should always be asking yourself "what if. . ." questions. For example, you know that you can apply transparency to objects in Illustrator, so what if you applied transparency to a 3D effect? Would you be able to see through the 3D object? (We'll discuss how to do this later in the chapter.) Experimenting in Illustrator is a great way to discover new techniques and creative ideas. The worst thing that can possibly happen is that you get something that doesn't look that great; the Undo function serves nicely at this point.

Throughout this chapter, we ask "what if" questions and explore the ways that Live Effects integrate with other Illustrator features. These questions are answered with advice on how to get the most out of Illustrator. More importantly, the "what if" scenarios will open your eyes to the power of Illustrator's Live Effects.

The effects are listed in this chapter in the order in which they appear in Illustrator's Effect menu.