Illustrator Bootcamp

Illustrator Bootcamp: Course Overview

This comprehensive Illustrator bootcamp training teaches foundational skills through advanced topics over four consecutive days. The Illustrator bootcamp covers the same materials as the introductory and advanced Illustrator courses, delivered as an intensive program over four consecutive days. Participants learn to use the pen tool, how to transform existing shapes, how to use layers to organize artwork, and discover the power and versatility of vector artwork. This four-day intensive Illustrator course also covers troubleshooting for production personnel as well as advanced techniques for interesting design effects. The bootcamp starts with entry-level topics then migrates to more advanced skills as the week progresses. If you would prefer to take the introductory and advanced courses separately, you can find dates for them in the Illustrator classes section of our site.

All Illustrator courses at our training centers or at your location are led by a live instructor in the same classroom with you. If you do not want to travel to one of our classroom locations, we also offer live online Illustrator training.

Illustrator Bootcamp: Course Length

This four-day Illustrator bootcamp training is available as a regularly scheduled class at AGI’s classroom locations, as a private or custom course at your location, or as a live online course. This Illustrator training class is delivered by the instructors who wrote the Adobe Illustrator Digital Classroom. You learn from Illustrator experts in a small group setting when you take an Illustrator class with AGI.

Illustrator Bootcamp Course Dates

All classes start at 10:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time and are led by a live instructor.

Course Title	Course Dates	Course Location	Fee
Illustrator Bootcamp	Mon, Sep 14 2020 to Thu, Sep 17 2020	Online Live instructor-led class online	$1,690.00
Illustrator Bootcamp	Mon, Nov 2 2020 to Thu, Nov 5 2020	Boston American Graphics Institute AGI Training Boston 150 Presidential Way Woburn, MA 01801	$1,690.00
Illustrator Bootcamp	Mon, Nov 2 2020 to Thu, Nov 5 2020	Philadelphia American Graphics Institute AGI Training Philadelphia 101 West Elm St. Conshohocken, PA 19428	$1,690.00
Illustrator Bootcamp	Mon, Nov 2 2020 to Thu, Nov 5 2020	New York American Graphics Institute AGI Training New York 21 W 46th St. New York, NY 10036	$1,690.00
Illustrator Bootcamp	Mon, Dec 7 2020 to Thu, Dec 10 2020	Online Live instructor-led class online	$1,690.00

Illustrator Training Class Introduction: Complete Topics Covered

Module 1: Getting to Know the Adobe Illustrator Workspace

Exploring the Illustrator interface
Choosing a workspace
Opening a file
Using artboards
Changing your view
Zooming and scrolling
Using tools and panels
Exploring the Control panel
Working with panels and the dock
Saving workspaces and shortcuts

Module 2: Adobe Illustrator Essentials

Using Illustrator's shape tools
Repositioning and visually resizing the shapes
Putting the Transform panel to work
Constraining a shape
Entering exact dimensions
Selecting artwork
Using the shape and transform tools
Introducing layers
Cutting and pasting objects
Repeating transformations

Module 3: Adding Color

Exploring the Appearance panel
Changing colors in Illustrator
Adding effects
Using Live Paint
Adding a symbol
Saving swatches
Selecting the same color
Creating a color group
Using the Color panel
Adding Pantone colors

Module 4: Working with the Adobe Illustrator Drawing Tools

Understanding the Pen tool
Drawing straight, curved and hinged lines
Tracing images
Creating a tracing template
Working with Image Trace
Using the Line, Pencil and Eraser tools
Editing existing paths
Adding and removing points
Cutting and joining paths
Combining shapes with the Shape Builder

Module 5: Exploring Additional Adobe Illustrator Color Options

Adding tonal values with gradients
Customizing an existing gradient
Saving the gradient
Applying a second instance of the gradient
Using the Gradient panel
Updating a gradient
Creating and using patterns
Creating a bounding box
Applying the pattern
Editing a pattern fill
Locating existing patterns
Finishing up the illustration
Creating a Color Group
Using the Color Guide

Module 6: Working with and Formatting Text using Illustrator

Formatting text
Paragraph formatting
Using paragraph and character styles
Editing styles
Putting text on a path
Warping text
Putting text in a shape
Creating outlines
Checking spelling
Using Find and Replace

Module 7: An Introduction to Illustrator's Layers

Getting to know the Layers panel
Using layers to organize your illustrations
Using the Layers panel to make selections
Creating new layers
Showing and hiding layers
Locking and unlocking layers
Rearranging layers
Moving items between layers
Remembering layers when pasting
Creating a template layer

Module 8: Working with symbols in Illustrator

Understanding symbols and instances
Cleaning out the symbol library
Creating symbols
Editing symbols
Importing a symbol library
Modifying symbol instances
Using the symbolism tools
Editing nested symbols
Replacing symbols
Saving symbol libraries

Module 9: Using Adobe Illustrator effects and transparency

Working with the Appearance panel
Applying effects
Editing effects
Using graphic styles
Creating and saving graphic styles
Working with object transparency
Experimenting with multiple opacities
Understanding blending modes
Saving and importing graphic styles
Applying graphic styles to layers and symbols

Module 10: Exporting and saving files from Illustrator

Saving using the AI format
Saving an illustration with layers
Saving a layered PDF
Exporting for Photoshop
Integrating with InDesign
Integrating with Flash
Integrating with Microsoft Expression Blend
Integrating with Premiere and After Effects
Saving as EPS
Saving for Web

Module 11: Advanced Illustrator blending techniques

Using the Blend Tool in Adobe Illustrator
Applying a gradient
Understanding linear vs. radial gradients
Using Gradient Mesh options
Adjusting a mesh
Revisiting Blend Options
Selecting multiple mesh points
Overlapping images
Using the Mesh tool
Adding a highlight

Module 12: Adobe Illustrator new features

Using the adjustable user interface
Image Trace
Pattern Options panel
Gradients on strokes
Make Mask and Release button
Expandable color spectrum
Character panel enhancements
Transform panel additions
Redesigned Control pane

Illustrator Bootcamp: Prerequisites

We recommend that you have the Adobe Illustrator application before starting the class so that you are able to practice upon course completion. You can purchase the software, license Creative Cloud, or obtain a trial version of it at from the Adobe website.

Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp: Course Materials

You will receive a comprehensive course manual for this class developed by the Adobe Certified Instructors at AGI. AGI instructors that have created many of the official Illustrator training guides and books for Adobe Systems, including the Adobe Illustrator Digital Classroom. You can see examples of our training content by viewing our Illustrator tutorials.

American Graphics Institute