Course Content

Introducing Adobe Illustrator CS

• Explore the Workspace
• Explore the Navigation Tools
• Working with Panels
• Understanding the Tools
• Differentiate Between Raster and Vector Graphics
• Defining Preferences

Essential Techniques

• Understanding Paths and Selection Tools
• Modifying Paths
• Working with Objects
• Modifying Objects
• Making Selections

Document Setup

• Understanding New Document Options
• Creating A Print Document
• Creating A Web Document
• Saving an Illustrator Document
• Understanding Guides, Grids and Rulers

Drawing Shapes

• Understanding The Shapes and Colour Tools
• Preparing the Workspace
• Drawing Shapes
• Modifying Shapes
• Editing Path Segments

Colour and Strokes

• Understanding Fill and Stroke
• Understanding Colour
• Adjusting Stroke weight
• Understanding Stroke Effects
• Applying Colour
• Saving Colours

Reshaping Objects

• Understanding The Transform Tools
• Adjusting Objects
• Understanding The Distortion Tool
• Merging Shapes

Text and Images

• Understanding Type in Illustrator
• Inserting and Formatting Point Type
• Inserting and Formatting Area Type
• Importing, Threading Text
• Formatting Text
• Creating Columns
• Working with Paths
• Transforming Objects

Document Output

• Understanding Save and Export Options
• Understanding File Formats
• Exporting an Illustrator Document
• Saving for Microsoft Program
• Saving a PDF file
• Saving for the Web
• Printing an Illustrator Document

Libraries and Templates

• Understanding Libraries and Templates
• Browsing Templates in Adobe Bridge
• Creating a Document from a Template
• Working with the Symbol Libraries
• Working with the Brush Libraries

Layering and Arranging Objects

• Understanding Layers and Arranging Objects
• Selecting Objects via the Layers Panel
• Working with the Layers Panel
• Arranging Objects in the Layers Panel
• Locking and Unlocking Objects

Drawing with the Pen Tool

• Understanding the Pen Tool
• Drawing Straight Lines using the Pen Tool
• Drawing Objects
• Drawing Curves with the Pen Tool
• Adjusting the Curves and Paths
• Converting Anchor Points

Gradients and Patterns

• Understanding Gradients and Patterns
• Applying Linear Gradients
• Changing Gradient Directions
• Adding Colours to Gradients
• Applying Gradients
• Applying a Pattern
• Editing a Pattern

Applying Effects

• Understanding Effects
• Working with Inner Glow, 3D-Revolve and Extrude Effects
• Working with the Appearance Panel
• Applying Drop Shadow, Gaussian Blur, Warp Effects and Clipping Masks

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, students will know how to:

• get acquainted with the Adobe® Illustrator® application.
• create shapes in a document.
• create custom paths.
• enter text in an Illustrator document.
• work with the Layers Panel
• enhance documents.
• proof documents to make them more accurate.
• save images for web and print.

Suitable for

Those individuals who want to learn the basics of graphic design or those who are looking to learn how to use this powerful software to advance their digital image design skills.

Before the course

Before taking this course, students should be familiar with the basic functions of their computer’s operating system such as creating folders, launching programs, and working with windows. You should also have basic Windows application skills, such as copying and pasting objects, formatting text, saving files, and so on. Familiarity with basic design terminology, such as palette, colour mode, shapes, text, and paths, is highly recommended.