Adobe Illustator (Ai)

To meet the demands of individuals and organizations for flexible, reusable, and easily modified visual content, Adobe Systems has created a cadre of applications that collectively provide a scalable, end-to-end solution for nearly every type of visual design project one can contemplate.

The collection of applications perform specialized design tasks while interoperating among each other to deliver superlative content.

This course focuses on Adobe Illustrator CC, the component within CC used to create “drawn” graphics, while enabling its users to integrate content from other domains (such as photo-oriented graphics and animation, which belong to Photoshop® and Flash®).

With Illustrator’s many, easily used tools, you will discover that not only can you unlock the same creative impulses you’ve always had as you’ve picked up a pencil to sketch out an idea, but also capture those multiple ideas and “what ifs” during the creative process in ways that you never imagined.

And for those of you who are just embarking on building your creative skills, you will be surprised at “how good” your work will appear even at the outset of your exploration of the world of graphic design.

Adobe Illustrator Level 1

Module 1: Getting Started

• Topic A: The Illustrator environment
• Topic B: Navigation
• Topic C: Adobe Help 

Module 2: Creating a Simple Illustration

• Topic A: Creating a document
• Topic B: Creating basic shapes
• Topic C: Manipulating shapes
• Topic D: Exporting an illustration

Module 3: Applying Basic Colour

• Topic A: Applying colour
• Topic B: Stroke options
• Topic C: The Eyedropper tool 

Module 4: Drawing Paths

• Topic A: Raster images
• Topic B: Basic drawing
• Topic C: Selecting and editing paths

Module 5: Working with Text

• Topic A: Adding text
• Topic B: Altering text

Module 6: Using Layers

• Topic A: Creating Layers
• Topic B: Manipulating Layers

Module 7: Working with Fills and Colours

• Topic A: Swatch libraries
• Topic B: Gradients
• Topic C: Transparency 

Module 8: Adjusting Typography

• Topic A: Flowing type
• Topic B: Formatting text
• Topic C: Editing text

Adobe Illustrator Level 2

Module 1: Complex Drawing in Illustrator

• Topic A: Creating compound paths and shapes
• Topic B: Using the Pathfinder panel
• Topic C: Using the Shape Builder tool
• Topic D: Working with EPS and SVG files in Illustrator

Module 2: Working with Colour

• Topic A: Working in CMYK vs RGB
• Topic B: Understanding Spot and Global swatches
• Topic C: Colour Libraries and ASE files
• Topic D: Colour Guide panel
• Topic E: Using Live Paint
• Topic F: Creating and applying pattern swatches
• Topic G: The Mesh tool

Module 3: Brushes

• Topic A: The Brush tool
• Topic B: The Brush panel
• Topic C: Creating custom brushes 

Module 4: Working with Styles and Symbols for Consistency

• Topic A: Graphic Styles
• Topic B: Character and Paragraph styles
• Topic C: Applying, editing and exporting styles
• Topic D: Creating Symbols
• Topic E: The Symbol sprayer tool

Module 5: Drawing in 3D

• Topic A: 3D Extrude, bevel and rotate
• Topic B: 3D Revolve
• Topic C: Mapping onto a 3D shape
• Topic D: The Perspective Grid tool
• Topic E: Drawing in a 3D space

Module 6: Layers

• Topic A: Layers in Illustrator
• Topic B: Working with Layers
• Topic C: Using layers to target objects

Module 7: Using Bitmap Images to Illustrator

• Topic A: Placing an image
• Topic B: The Links panel
• Topic C: Using a clipping mask to crop an image
• Topic D: Converting pixels to paths using Image Trace

Module 8: Printing

• Topic A: Creating print-ready documents
• Topic B: Saving a print-ready PDF

Certification

In order to receive Adobe Certified Associate certification, candidates must pass ACA exams.

Requirements

• 9-10 months experience with computer related task or IC3 certification is recommended
• Learners should be able to read and write in english

Popular Job Roles

Graphic Designers, publishers, pre-press professionals, marketing communications professionals, or people switching to a design job or taking on design responsibilities