Background

This is a comprehensive two day Adobe authorised introduction to Adobe Illustrator designed to teach new users how to produce professional graphics and illustrations. The course covers Illustrator's sophisticated drawing and text controls, it's graphing features, multimedia features and range of web functions and explores filters from both Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop allowing you to dramatically increase levels of productivity and creativity.

Throughout the two days the emphasis is on practical, hands-on learning and at the end of day two, there will be a series of practical exercises designed to consolidate new skills and build confidence. If you wish to tailor this outline to your exact requirements, please call or email.

Course Outline

WELCOME TO ILLUSTRATOR
About vectors and bitmaps
What Illustrator is used for
Anchor points, segments and paths
Illustrator's interface
The Zoom and Hand tools
Outline and Preview modes

SELECTING AND MODIFYING OBJECTS
Selecting and colouring objects
Applying fills and strokes
Using closed and open paths
Modifying gradients
About groups and sub-groups
Selecting objects inside groups
Manipulating an object's anchor points

WORKING WITH SHAPES
Creating polygons, stars and grids
Aligning objects accurately
Duplicating objects

LAYERS IN ILLUSTRATOR
Tracing over imported artwork
Using the Template feature
Hiding, showing and locking layers
Specifying layer attributes
Duplicating layers
Moving objects between layers

TEXT IN ILLUSTRATOR
Working with text
Specifying character and path attributes
Placing text on a path
Aligning text with other objects
Copying text attributes
Turning text into outlines
Modifying outlined text

GRAPHS IN ILLUSTRATOR
Creating graphs with the Graph tool
Working with graph data
Changing graph attributes
Working with data from Excel

TRANSFORMATION TOOLS
About Transformation tools
Using the Free Transform tool
Transforming objects numerically
Scaling and rotating objects
Changing the origin of a transformation
Transforming and duplicating at the same time
Using Transform Again

PATHFINDER OPTIONS
Dividing overlapping objects
Using the Pathfinder palette
Expanding compound shapes

COLOUR IN ILLUSTRATOR
Choosing a colour mode
Working with Pantone colours
Working with web colours
Creating custom colours
Using swatches from another document
Creating gradients
Saving for print
Saving for web
Understanding different file formats

WEB FEATURES
Using Styles
Using Pixel Preview
Exporting in Flash and SVG formats

DRAWING AND ILLUSTRATION
Illustrator's Pen tool
About Bezier curves
Anchor points and handles
Drawing on a grid
Creating simple Bezier shapes
Creating 'hinged' corners
Using the Convert Anchor Point tool
Adding and deleting points on a path

OTHER ILLUSTRATOR FEATURES
Creating and applying patterns
Creating symbols
Placing instances of symbols
Using the Pencil and Smooth tools