Illustrator: Drawing without the Pen Tool

How to draw vector artwork in Illustrator without having to think about technical concepts.

Introduction

• Welcome
• The evolution of vector drawing
• Getting the most out of this training
• Using the exercise files

1. Core Drawing Concepts

• Plotting points vs. drawing paths
• Drawing artwork vs. building artwork
• The keyboard shortcuts you HAVE to know
• Groups and layers really do matter
• Taming Smart Guides and the Bounding Box
• Do you need a drawing tablet?

2. Workflow: Drawing Paths

• To sketch or not to sketch?
• Setting up a template layer for your sketch
• Optimizing default settings for drawing
• Using the primitive shapes tools
• Mastering the modifier keys
• Mastering the transform tools
• Creating curves with the Reshape tool
• Using the Smooth tool
• Using Simplify to create smooth paths
• Recording an action for the Simplify command
• Mirroring art for speed and accuracy

3. Pathfinder: Drawing with Math

• Deconstructing the Pathfinder panel
• Using the Shape Modes functions
• Using the Pathfinder functions
• Understanding how compound shapes work
• Understanding why compound shapes exist
• Exploring additional Pathfinder options

4. Live Paint: Changing the Rules

• Why Live Paint was created
• Creating a Live Paint group
• Using the Live Paint Bucket tool
• Using Live Paint with open paths
• Detecting gaps in Live Paint groups
• Adding paths to a Live Paint group
• Using the Live Paint Selection tool
• Releasing and expanding Live Paint groups
• Understanding how Live Paint works

5. Shape Builder: Building Artwork

• Why the Shape Builder tool was created
• Focusing on the big three: Add, Subtract, and Divide
• Using the Shape Builder tool to add and subtract artwork
• Using the Shape Builder to divide artwork
• Building and coloring artwork at the same time
• Using Gap Detection with the Shape Builder tool

6. Adding Expression: Variable Widths

• Understanding how variable widths work
• Modifying width points along a path
• Saving time with width profiles
• Turning variable width strokes into filled paths

7. Drawing with a Tablet

• Understanding how the Pen and Pencil tools differ
• Adjusting the behavior of the Pencil tool
• Using the Path Eraser tool
• Drawing with the Calligraphic Brush tool
• Drawing with the Blob Brush tool
• Using the Eraser tool

Conclusion

• Looking at the VectorScribe plug-in
• Next steps