Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

Basic concepts, overview and tools

• Vector and Bitmap images
• Using Panels. Customising the workspace
• The Illustrator toolbox: paths and points selection; drawing simple shapes and selecting objects
• Using multiple artboards
• Transformation tools and the Free Transform tool; Using online help
• Managing files with Adobe Bridge

Drawing

• The pen tool; controlling curves, creating and amending paths; splitting paths, manipulating anchor points
• Using Templates, Pencil, Erase, Smooth and Brush
• Using Image Trace to convert Bitmaps to Vectors
• Adding and deleting anchor points
• Splitting cutting and erasing paths
• Drawing with the Blob Brush tool

Colours and fills

• Fills and strokes on objects and paths
• Process, Pantone and Registration colour
• Gradients, patterns
• Applying gradient transparency
• Editing gradients directly on an object
• Applying a gradient to a stroke
• Live Paint and Live Colour

Brush effects

• Calligraphic, art, scatter & pattern brushes
• Editing existing and creating new brushes
• Scribble Effect; using the brush libraries

Typography

• Basic typography; the type tool; type on and in a path; type as outlines
• Character and paragraph styles

Text work

• Linking text boxes and using using circular text; text wrap around objects
• Typographic control including kerning, indents and baseline shift

Arranging your work

• Send to back/Bring to front
• Group/Ungroup and group selections
• Working in Group Isolation Mode
• Cut/copy/paste & paste in front/ behind
• Working with Rulers, Guides and Smart Guides
• Getting the best from Layers
• Using multiple artboards
• Editing the artboard size
• Positioning elements
• Aligning and distributing artwork

Working with layers

• Creating layers
• Using layers effectively

Modifications and special effects

• Transformations including blending shapes and the Gradient Mesh tool
• Pathfinder panel and compound paths
• Using the Shape Builder tool
• Effects, graphic styles and masks
• The Flare and Distort tools, including the warp and liquify tools, envelope distort and envelope mesh
• Using Live Paint to modify images

3D Toolset

• Rotate
• Revolve
• Bevel
• Extrude

Working with patterns

• Simple patterns and artwork patterns
• Converting logos to symbols for reuse
• Using the symbol spray to instance symbols around page
• Update symbols, manipulate symbols

Using Illustrator to present data

• Graphs and graph types
• Graph styles such as pies and bars
• Representing qualities graphically

The Actions panel

• Using existing actions
• Using Custom actions for automation

Web Work

• Optimising for the web; flexible web vector export; converting to Flash format
• Slicing and CSS layer support to create entire web pages