Applying effects to bitmap images, Improving performance for effects – Adobe Illustrator CC 2015 User Manual
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Creating special effects
Last updated 6/5/2015
Transparent, you create an alpha channel (for all images except 1-bit images). The alpha channel is retained if the
artwork is exported into Photoshop. (This option anti-aliases better than the Create Clipping Mask option.)
Anti-alias
Applies anti-aliasing to reduce the appearance of jagged edges in the rasterized image. When setting
rasterization options for a document, deselect this option to maintain the crispness of fine lines and small text.
When rasterizing a vector object, select None to apply no anti-aliasing and maintain the hard edges of line art when it
is rasterized. Select Art Optimized to apply anti-aliasing that is best suited to artwork without type. Select Type
Optimized to apply anti-aliasing that is best suited to type.
Create Clipping Mask
Creates a mask that makes the background of the rasterized image appear transparent. You do
not need to create a clipping mask if you selected Transparent for Background.
Add Around Object
Adds a padding or border around the rasterized image, using the specified number of pixels. The
resulting image’s dimensions appear as the original dimensions plus the Add Around Object setting’s value. You can use
this setting, for example, to create a snapshot effect: Specify a value for Add Around Object setting, choose White
Background, and do not select Create Clipping Mask. The white boundary added to the original object becomes a
visible border on the image. You can then apply a Drop Shadow or Outer Glow effect to make the original artwork look
like a photo.
More Help topics
Applying effects to bitmap images
Effects let you apply a special look to bitmap images as well as vector objects. For example, you can apply an
impressionistic look, apply lighting changes, distort images, and produce many other interesting visual effects.
Consider the following information when applying effects specifically to bitmap objects:
• Effects do not work on linked bitmap objects. If you apply an effect to a linked bitmap, it is applied to an embedded
copy of the bitmap instead of to the original. To apply the effect to the original, you must embed the original bitmap
in the document.
• Adobe Illustrator supports plug-in effects from Adobe products such as Adobe Photoshop and from non-Adobe
software developers. Once installed, most plug-in effects appear in the Effect menu and work the same way as do
built-in effects.
• Some effects can be memory-intensive, especially when applied to a high-resolution bitmap image.
More Help topics
Improving performance for effects
Some effects are very memory-intensive. The following techniques can help improve performance when applying these
effects:
• Select the Preview option in effect dialog boxes to save time and prevent unintended results.
• Change the settings. Some commands, such as Glass, are extremely memory-intensive. Try different settings to
increase their speed.