Adobe Illustrator

This Adobe Illustrator instructor-led training course will teach you time-saving techniques and best practice workflows for creating and editing vector graphics. Learn how to design and create Infographics, Diagrams, Illustrations, Maps, Web Banners, Icons, Logos, Marketing Materials and much more ...

The Illustrator Workspace

• Choosing a workspace
• Using existing Adobe Illustrator files and making new files
• Using and Manage Workspaces
• The document window
• Importing artwork
• Creating and using multiple Artboards
• Changing your view and screen modes
• Preview versus Outlines
• Navigating the artboard
• Using Tools
• Using Panels
• The Control Panel
• Ruler Guides
• Using the Grid
• Using Smart Guides

Graphic Creation

• Vector Path Fundamentals
• Using the shape tools
• Selecting artwork
• Repositioning and resizing shapes
• Using the Transform panel and tools
• Adding a Fill and Stroke to document elements
• Using Layers when building a document
• Working with Groups
• Adding "Live" Effects
• Linking and Embedding images
• Transparency and Blending modes
• Compound paths
• Using the Pathfinder Panel
• Creating shapes using the Shape Builder tool
• Combining and Subtracting shapes
• Transforming using values
• Aligning and Distributing

Colour Basics

• Colour Models and Modes
• Colour Measuring
• Basics of the Appearance panel
• Creating and changing colours
• Creating a Colourful illustration
• Using Live Paint
• Creating and applying Gradients
• Using the Gradient Panel and Gradient tool
• Creating Blends
• Colour swatches
• Using Pantone colours and spot colour printing.

Working with Drawing Tools

• Path Fundamentals
• Working with the Pen tool
• Using the Shaper tool
• Using the Curvature tool
• Manually tracing images
• Placing an image as a template
• Other drawing tools
• Cutting paths with various tools
• Refining and joining paths
• Using the Puppet Warp Tool

Image Trace

• Working with Image Trace
• Using the Tracing Presets
• The Image Trace panel
• Understanding tracing options
• Expanding Image Traced artwork.

Working with Live Paint

• Creating a Live Paint group
• Setting Gap Detection options
• Using the Live Paint Bucket and Selection tool.

Working with and Formatting Text

• Illustrator text tools
• Character formatting
• Paragraph formatting;
• Creating Paragraph and Character Styles
• Text on a path
• Touch Type Tool
• Warping text
• Text in a shape
• Creating Text outlines
• Creating print documents using Illustrator

Working with Layers

• Organising your Illustrations documents with Layers
• Getting to know the Layers panel
• Layer management
• Using the Layers panel to make selections
• Isolation mode
• Creating new layers and moving items between layers
• Nested layers and sublayers
• Using Template layers.

Saving Illustrator Files

• Save and exporting graphics
• File Formats and what and when to use
• Exporting files to other applications
• Managing colour
• Printing and exporting transparency
• Rasterising images
• Printing Illustrator images
• Saving and optimising images for the web.

Strokes

• Setting Strokes attributes
• Variable width Strokes
• Gradient on strokes
• Dashed strokes
• Applying brushes to strokes
• Using the Strokes panel
• Using Arrowheads
• Applying multiple Strokes

Effects

• Applying non destructive Effects
• Types of Effects
• Appearance panel
• Graphic Styles panel
• Applying Multiple Fills and Strokes
• Saving Styles
• Expanding Appearances

Symbols

• Using and Editing Symbols
• Symbols panel
• Isolation mode
• Symbol Libraries
• Creating your own symbols
• Symboliser Tools.

Clipping Masks

• Creating Clipping Masks
• Working non destructively
• Editing Clipping Masks
• Applying and Releasing Clipping Masks
• Using Draw Inside

Perspective Drawing

• Drawing new objects in perspective
• Perspective grid presets
• Applying existing artwork to your perspective work
• Release objects with perspective
• Selecting objects in perspective
• Transforming objects
• Adding text and symbols in perspective
• Perspective Grid settings
• Using a template image as a guide

Using Gradient Mesh

• Create mesh objects
• Using the Mesh tool and menus
• Edit mesh objects
• Set transparency for gradient meshes.

Colour Groups and Edit Colours

• Using the Colour Guide panel
• Creating and Saving Colour Groups
• Adobe Kuler
• Using the Recolour Artwork Dialog
• Assigning colours
• Reducing and editing colour artwork

Opacity Masks

• Creating, Applying and Disabling Opacity Masks
• Editing masked objects in Opacity Masks
• Releasing masks.
• Using Gradients with Opacity Masks

3D Effects

• Extrude and Bevel
• Revolve in 3D
• Expanding 3D Appearance to generate artwork
• Mapping Symbols to 3D Objects

Patterns

• Creating and applying patterns
• Saving and editing patterns
• Transforming and Repositioning patterns
• Pattern options
• The new Patterns panel

Producing Complex Artwork

• Organising and managing complex designs
• Transforming guides
• Using Pathfinder techniques
• Completing a number of advanced Projects

On completion of this course participants will have learned the necessary technical skills required to create computer generated digital artwork for print and other media using Adobe Illustrator CC.

Participants will have learned the necessary technical skills and knowledge required to:

Use the Illustrator Workspace, Tools and Panels

Create Graphics using various vector production methods

Include Text in Compositions

Apply Colour to Graphics using various methods

Manage Compositions with Layers

Save files correctly to suit media requirements

Use Live Effects and Symbols

Apply Gradients using various methods

Create Graphics in Perspective

Apply Masking techniques

Produce Complex Artwork