IAN Symbol Libraries User Guide

Return to Main Symbol Libraries Page

CURRENT VERSION

Version: 5.1
Release Date: 21st March 2005

Please see the What's New page for further details.

DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING THE LIBRARIES

There are several options for the download of the IAN Symbol Libraries.

Windows

For PC/Windows users we have two self installing packages and four .zip archives:

Once downloaded, simply run the installation .exe file and it will automatically backup any previous versions of the IAN Symbol Libraries, and install the new libraries to your Illustrator Presets/Symbols folder. It will also create an IAN Symbol Libraries program group (available from your START/Programs Menu) containing links to the User Guide, Symbol Index and Interactive Tutorial. Users with non-English versions of Illustrator must be sure to correctly choose their equivalent 'Presets' directory and specify the names of the 'Symbols' and 'Swatches' folders during installation.

Zip versions

AI format

These two .zip packages contain the libraries in AI format, exactly the same as those included in the .exe automatic installations. However, you must manually extract the contents of the 'Symbols' and 'Swatches' folders to your Illustrator Presets/Symbols folder (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator X\Presets\Symbols) and Presets/Swatches folder (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Illustrator X\Presets\Swatches), respectively. The other files are the symbol index, the tutorial and documentation, and can be extracted anywhere on your computer.

EPS & SVG format

The Symbols Only EPS & SVG version .zip archives contain all the libraries as .eps or .svg files. These versions can be stored anywhere, as they do not function as Illustrator Symbol Libraries. You simply open up each library file to access the symbols in that library.

Mac

For Mac users we have four .sit archive packages:

• Full Version in AI format (.sit archive) (recommended)
  - includes all the symbol libraries, the symbol index and interactive tutorials
  - requires manual installation
• Symbols Only Version in AI format (.sit archive)
  - includes all the symbol libraries
  - requires manual installation
• Symbols Only EPS format (.sit Archive)
  - for use with Illustrator 9 or less other vector illustration software
  - includes all the symbol libraries
  - requires manual installation
  - does not have symbol palette functionality
• Symbols Only SVG format (.sit Archive)
  - for use with Illustrator 9 or less other vector illustration software
  - includes all the symbol libraries
  - requires manual installation
  - does not have symbol libraries functionality

PLEASE NOTE: Although the eps and svg versions include all the symbols contained in the normal version, they cannot be accessed through the symbol libraries interface, thereby reducing convenience, but not the ultimate functionality of the symbols.

These two .sit packages contain the libraries in AI format. You must manually extract the contents of the 'Symbols' and 'Swatches' folders to your Illustrator Presets/Symbols folder (Adobe\Illustrator X\Presets\Symbols) and Presets/Swatches folder (Adobe\Illustrator X\Presets\Swatches), respectively. The other files are the symbol index, the tutorial and documentation, and can be extracted anywhere on your computer.

EPS & SVG format

The Symbols Only EPS & SVG version .sit archives contain all the libraries as .eps or .svg files. These versions can be stored anywhere, as they do not function as Illustrator Symbol Libraries. You simply open up each library file to access the symbols in that library.

 

ACCESSING THE LIBRARIES

The symbol libraries can be accessed through Illustrator's 'Window' menu and the 'Swatches' and 'Symbols' sub-menus at the bottom of the list.

For further information on using the symbol libraries, please see the interactive multimedia tutorial available through the Window’s Start Menu/Programs/IAN Symbol Libraries. The tutorial should have automatically commenced if you agreed to view it at the end of the Windows setup process.

Please note: If you are using the eps version of the libraries, there is no symbol library interface. You simply open each library file directly in your vector illustratration software.

SYMBOL LIBRARIES INDEX

We have created a graphical index of all available symbols (‘Symbol Libraries Index’) in PDF format. It is available in the IAN Symbol Libraries START Menu group for window's users who downloaded the full installation package. For Mac users who downloaded the full .sit archive, the index is included in the archive and can be extracted wherever you wish. This is an excellent reference for viewing all symbols. This index is also available from the IAN Symbol Libraries page. Please note that this version is raster (bitmap) based and is screen quality (4MB). We also have a vector based print quality and searchable (by symbol name) version (30MB) available as a separate download from our downloads page. If you download the vector version, you can overwrite the old version, making the new one accessible via the IAN Symbol Libraries Program Group. Once downloaded, copy the PDF to C:\Program Files\IAN Symbol Libraries\Documentation.

 

DISCUSSION FORUM

Our online discussion forum http://ian.umces.edu/forum/isl is an excellent resource for asking questions on the use and creation of symbols for Illustrator as well as the construction of conceptual diagrams for enhancing science communication.

BACKUP OF OLD VERSION OF SYMBOL LIBRARIES

If a previous version of the symbol libraries was installed on your computer, the Windows setup wizard will prompt you to make a backup of the old libraries to the ‘C:\Program Files\IAN Symbol Libraries\Old Libraries Backup’ folder. These backup libraries can be opened in Illustrator to access any symbols you added to the libraries.

ILLUSTRATOR SYMBOL LIBRARY TUTORIALS

This interactive tutorial takes you through the process of using the IAN Symbol Libraries with Adobe Illustrator, including a step-by-step guide to creating a conceptual diagram. It will be installed on your computer when you download the symbol libraries (Windows users). It can be accessed through the Window’s Start Menu/Programs/IAN Symbol Libraries. For Mac users who downloaded the full .sit archive, the tutorial is included in the archive and can be extracted wherever you wish.

SYMBOL CREATION SERVICE

Need a symbol we don't already have? Photos and descriptions of objects can be posted on our discussion forum at http://ian.umces.edu/forum/scs and we will create a symbol which will be posted back to the forum and also incorporated into the IAN Symbol Libraries in future updates. All requestors of symbols will receive credit for their contributions.

SYMBOL CONTRIBUTIONS FORUM

We would also like to accept your contributions to the IAN Symbol Libraries. If you’ve made any symbols you’d like to contribute, please visit our Symbol Contributions Forum http://ian.umces.edu/forum/scf and share them with forum users. They will also be included in the next version of the libraries. You will of course receive credit for your contributions.

PUBLICATIONS / PROGRAMS FEATURING THE IAN SYMBOL LIBRARIES

The Adobe Illustrator CS Wow! Book, 2006
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Reports, May/June 2005
DT&G E-zine, April 2005
Digital Creative Arts Special Edition, March 2005
Conceptual Diagrams Poster at Riversymposium, August 2004
MacDesign Magazine, July/August 2004
Flotsam and Jetsam: Coastal CRC newsletter, July 2004
Where River Meets Sea: Exploring Australia’s Estuaries Book, June 2004
Illustrator CS Killer Tips 1st Ed., May 2004
Avenza MAPublisher v6.0, April 2004
Creative Suite for Dummies, March 2004
IAN Conceptual Diagrams Newsletter, August 2003

COPYRIGHT

The symbols in the IAN Symbol Libraries are available completely free for anyone to use for any purpose, but the Integration and Application Network retains full copyright and you must not redistribute the complete package. Please refer people to our registration page ( http://ian.umces.edu/symbols ) where they can always download the latest version. Thank you!

USAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The libraries are provided completely cost and royalty free. Please acknowledge as: Symbols for diagrams courtesy of the Integration and Application Network (ian.umces.edu/symbols), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

ABOUT

Developed by:
Tracey Saxby, Adrian Jones, Tim Carruthers & Bill Dennison

Symbol Contributors:
Jessie Burton, Chip Chenery, Catherine Collier, Coastal CRC Australia, Giuseppe di Carlo, Lloyd Godson, Healthy Waterways Campaign Australia, Ian Hewson, Karen Holloway, Diana Kleine, Marine Botany Group UQ Australia, Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership, Kate Moore, Raymond Miriam, Brian Timms, Jane Thomas, Dieter Tracey, Andrew Watkinson

Symbol Requestors (from our free Symbol Creation Service board):
Angela Padeletti, bschweig, creativegeek, Danika K, darrenroy, giovanni, Giuseppe di Carlo, jefforig, Jackie Takacs, Jessie, JohnG, LAaron, rachelb, Thais Perkins

Symbol Copyright:
The symbols are available completely free for anyone to use for any purpose, but we ask that you do not distribute the complete symbol package, but rather refer users to our registration page where they can always download the latest version. Thank you!

Copyright © 2004 - 2005
Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

 

Enjoy the new expanded range of symbols and please contact us if you have any suggestions or technical questions.

Regards,

The IAN Symbol Libraries Team