Graphic Styles

You mean like a macro, or like a particular series of gradients?

Personally I find little use for either... but to each their own I suppose. Perhaps I'm missing exactly what you're referring to?

 

We sometimes find this handy. We do a lot of truck fleets. Where every truck is the same but the unit numbers. In corel, we just open a file (ie: truck #203) we select the unit number which might have gradients, contours, etc. We highlight the text, type in the new number (truck #204), the number changes but the style stays the same. Then we send it to print or plot... rinse and repeat. As long as you don't convert the text to curves this is automatic in corel.

If I wanted to apply that style to other text, you can use the Attributes eyedropper tool. It's similar to the color eyedropper tool, but copies over things like : Outlines, Fills, Fonts... Size, Rotation, Position, Perspective, Envelope, Blend, Extrude, Contour, Drop shadow, etc... And you can check and uncheck which effects or properties you want to carry over. So let's say you wanted to copy over only the font, contour and colors, but none of the other properties, you would just check, font, contour and colors. This works for other shapes too, not just text. I use it all the time, as I'm sure most Corel users do also. It's a huge time saver here.

 

I do this in Corel with things like drop shadows, etc... you can save the settings and apply them to another object. You can also use the "copy proprties from" command.

 

Use graphic styles all the time. Come up with an effect I like: save it out as a style for future use. Need to modify a job I did in the past with new type or whatever? Bring up the style instead of trying to remember all the steps I took years ago to make the effect.

Etc.

Do the same thing in InDesign (Object, Paragraph, and Character styles). Good habit to get into, if you've ever had to work in an agency or marketing department where you're getting copy straight from the copy editor and need to slam it through your branding package, re-mapping styles saves you enormous amounts of time. Use EVERY time saving device built into Adobe products, time is your most valuable asset.

 

Sage advise right there.

 

Graphic styles are essential in illustrator. You can do amazing things and save them for future use. Graphic styles are my next favorite thing to brushes in photoshop. I've made them for everything from tattoo style shading to bling bling text. Graphic styles aren't limited either. I use them for 3d revolving of objects as well.
Enjoy them! You can really save time the more you create. I have hundreds.

 

One simple one I use has all the attributes Wasatch requires for designating a cutpath; spot color (with appropriately named swatch,) stroke weight and mitre limit. On the extreme end with photoshop, you can do a similar things by recording an action that can be run to apply effects...then, export that action as a droplet and use your file management sys to apply that action (now a droplet) to batches of files. graphic styles, actions and droplets are big time savers and as you all know, time is money!
Nice Post, Custom Graphx! Very relevant!

 

I think we already had this thread? Using styles throughout the Adobe suite is just good practice. Especially if you ever get into InDesign. Has saved me thousands of hours over the years. With sign work it's not as crucial (good for branding as mentioned) but if you ever end up doing layout for a book or something type and object styles will save your life.