Illustrator CC 2013 Essential Training

Explore the basic elements of vector graphics and find out how to use the powerful drawing tools in Illustrator CC.

You can accomplish a wide variety of design tasks with Adobe Illustrator. This course focuses on core concepts and techniques you can apply to workflows for print, the web, and many other destinations.

First, author Justin Seeley explains the basic elements that make up vector graphics—paths, strokes, and fills—and shows how to use each of the program's powerful drawing tools. Then he shows how to create documents and liven up a project with color, plus build complex shapes from simple paths and trace bitmap images and line art. The course also explores the benefits of using layers and symbols, and shows how to edit text, draw in perspective, and much more. The final chapter explains how to output your work in several formats and use Illustrator files in Photoshop and InDesign.

Adobe Illustrator

• What is Illustrator?

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files
• How this course is updated

1. Getting Started

• Understanding vector graphics
• Setting preferences
• Touring the interface
• Exploring the panels
• Working with the Control panel
• Creating and saving workspaces

2. Working with Documents

• Creating files for print
• Creating files for the web
• Navigating within a document
• Using rulers, guides, and grids
• Changing units of measurement
• Using preview modes
• Creating and using custom views
• Locking and hiding artwork
• Creating and using artboards

3. Selecting and Transforming Objects

• Setting your selection preferences
• Using the Direct Selection and Group Selection tools
• Using the Magic Wand tool
• Using the Lasso tool
• Selecting objects by attribute
• Grouping objects
• Using isolation mode
• Resizing your artwork
• Rotating objects
• Distorting and transforming objects
• Repeating transformations
• Reflecting and skewing objects
• Aligning and distributing objects

4. Working with Color

• RGB vs. CMYK
• Adjusting Illustrator color settings
• Process vs. global swatches
• Creating spot colors
• Using the swatch groups
• Working with color libraries
• Importing swatches
• Using the Color Guide panel

5. Working with Fills and Strokes

• Understanding fills and strokes
• Working with fills
• Working with strokes
• Creating dashes and arrows
• Creating variable-width strokes
• Using width profiles
• Outlining strokes
• Creating and editing gradients
• Applying gradients to strokes
• Applying and editing pattern fills

6. Working with Paths

• Understanding paths
• Understanding anchor points
• Open and closed paths
• Joining and averaging paths
• Using the Scissors and Knife tools
• Working with the Join tool (CC 2014.1)

7. Creating Shapes

• Understanding drawing modes
• Creating compound paths
• Creating compound shapes
• Working with the Shape Builder tool
• Working with the Blob Brush and Eraser tools
• Working with the Paintbrush and Pencil tools
• Smoothing and erasing paths
• Working with the Curvature tool (CC 2014.1)

8. Don't Be Afraid of the Pen Tool

• Exploring the Pen tool
• Drawing straight lines
• Drawing simple curves
• Understanding the many faces of the Pen tool
• Converting corners and curves
• Using Pen tool keyboard shortcuts
• Tracing artwork with the Pen tool

9. Using Type in Illustrator

• Adjusting your type settings
• Creating point and area text
• Basic text editing
• Creating threaded text
• Using the type panels
• Creating text on a path
• Converting text into paths
• Saving time with keyboard shortcuts
• Using Typekit desktop fonts

10. Adjusting Appearance

• Exploring the Appearance panel
• Attribute stacking order explained
• Applying multiple fills
• Applying multiple strokes
• Adjusting appearance with live effects
• Saving appearances as graphic styles
• Creating and using design libraries (CC 2014.1)

11. Working with Layers

• Exploring the Layers panel
• Creating and editing layers
• Targeting objects in the Layers panel
• Working with sublayers
• Hiding, locking, and deleting layers
• Using the Layers panel menu

12. Working with Images

• Placing images into Illustrator
• Working with the Links panel
• Embedding images into Illustrator
• Cropping images with a mask
• Exploring the Image Trace panel
• Tracing photographs
• Tracing line art
• Converting pixels to paths

13. Creating and Using Symbols

• What are symbols?
• Using prebuilt symbols
• Using the Symbol Sprayer
• Creating new symbols
• Breaking the symbol link
• Redefining symbols

14. Drawing in Perspective

• Defining a perspective grid
• Drawing artwork in perspective
• Applying artwork to the grid

15. Printing, Saving, and Exporting

• Printing your artwork
• Saving your artwork
• Saving in legacy formats
• Saving templates
• Creating PDF files
• Saving for the web
• Creating high-res bitmap images
• Using Illustrator files in Photoshop and InDesign
• Packaging your artwork for commercial print

Conclusion

• Goodbye