Phantasm CS Actions Preview

The page provides a preview of the free Actions made available to Phantasm CS range customers. The Actions are standard Adobe Illustrator CS2 and above types utilizing the color-control Filter and live Effect tools found in the Phantasm CS range of plugins.

Actions can both provide workflow-boosting solutions, by allowing pre-defined sequences to be replayed at the click of a button, and allow for more complex creative effects through the multiple application of pre-defined live Effects — the Neon Sign Action, below, being a good example of this. It is also possible to create an Action sequence to fully reconstruct complete artwork as demonstrated by the Butterfly Action below.

Don't forget to click on the indicated sample images to view larger scale versions!

 

3D Cubes

Create a vector 3D Cube structure based on any artwork including vectors and bitmaps. Using Phantasm CS Designer and Studio's Halftone tool (based on a pre-defined Style in the template document), the Action prepares for the basis of the cubes and then creates the final result stage by stage.

Three different lighting angle Actions are provided. These Actions work equally well in CMYK and RGB documents.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Butterfly

An extensive sequence demonstrating a variety of tools, including those from the Phantasm CS range, being controlled by Illustrator's Actions system.

The stylised Butterfly is created from a blank artboard with the use of several Styles, which are called upon by the Action sequence. This combination of Actions and Styles can prove to be very powerful and adds extra flexibility of being able to call up live Effects via the Actions system (not normally possible without requiring user intervention).

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS3 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Color Variations

Create a set of color variations based on your selected artwork. A grid of 9 color variants - with the original in the centre - is created automatically to help every designer consider all color options.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Export as Images

Using Phantasm CS Studio's Edit Image tool which solves a missing link with Photoshop, this pair of Actions can be of great benefit to website designers and others. With a single click on the Actions palette/panel, all selected objects are rasterized to a user-defined setting (including transparencies/alpha channel) and automatically loaded into Photoshop. The Action then tidies-up and reverts the artwork to the state at which it started.

Usage

"Export as individual images"
All selected objects are rasterized individually. Playing this Action will prompt you to specify the desired rasterizing settings (color mode, transparency, resolutions, etc.). OK'ing this sets the export in motion followed by final tidying to revert the artwork back to its original state.

"Export as single image"
All selected objects are rasterized as a single image. Playing this Action will prompt you to specify the desired rasterizing settings (color mode, transparency, resolutions, etc.). OK'ing this sets the export in motion followed by final tidying to revert the artwork back to its original state.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Neon Sign

Create wonderfully realistic neon signs with a mere click of this special Action set. Not only is the neon "glow" recreated based on standard editable text of simple closed paths, but also the wooden background and the start/ends of the neon tubes along with the mounting holes. Phantasm CS Designer and Studio's color adjustment tools provide the essential ingredients to make the color glow perfectly!

Variations of the Action include sets specifically designed for being applied to editable text, closed paths, as well as red, green and blue neon colors.

The template Illustrator file includes all the Styles necessary for the Action to be applied.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Overprint Corrections

Four essential and common overprint corrections that are essential for artwork destined for the print press.

Each correction action has a copy (with the phrase "ALL:" at the start of the Action name) with the added function of unlocking all Layers first, so that all artwork across the document can be accessed and corrected.

Usage

"Rich>black text + overprint"
Selects all objects and converts all editable text defined as rich black (a near-black color constructed from several ink levels, instead of just black leading to possible registration issues) to pure black (100% Black ink).

"Remove white overprint"
Selects all objects which are then checked for white fills/strokes/text/images. Any set to overprint (which would make the object "vanish") is corrected by changing to knock-out.

"Only black tints overprint"
Selects all objects and removes any overprint settings. Then all pure black tints are set to overprint.

"Only black text overprint"
Selects all objects and removes any overprint settings. Then all editable text defined with pure black tints are set to overprint.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!

 

Print Mis-alignment

Simulating print press ink mis-alignment (mis-registration), these two Actions can both be used for graphical effect and also an approximate simulation of artwork where mis-alignment may be a critical factor.

The two Actions provided use different tools to achieve the end effect. The "Quick" version is suitable for Phantasm CS and above, whereas the "Full" version (which does take longer to produce) is designed for Phantasm CS Designer and Phantasm CS Studio.

Note: neither Action is 100% comprehensive in terms of dealing with all object types, etc., however, the "Full" version does correctly mis-align most artwork.

Requirements
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or above
  • Phantasm CS Designer, Phantasm CS Studio and Phantasm CS Publisher

Buy from the Phantasm CS range to access these great Actions!