Adobe Illustrator Class - Introduction

Adobe Illustrator 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