Adobe Illustrator Level 1: Introduction

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Recommended Book

Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book (2022 release)

The book is not required, but we recommend that you purchase it as a reference during and after the course. This book and its exercise files are made specifically for the CC2022 software used in our computer labs and may not be compatible with older versions of the software. The instructor can provide backwards-compatible files upon request.

Course Outline

• Lesson 1: Getting to Know the Work Area

  • Starting Illustrator and opening a file
  • Understanding the workspace
  • Changing the view of artwork
  • Navigating multiple artboards
  • Arranging multiple documents

• Lesson 2: Techniques for Selecting Artwork

  • Selecting and aligning objects
  • Working with groups
  • Exploring object arrangement
  • Hiding and locking objects

• Lesson 3: Using Shapes to Create Artwork for a Postcard

  • Creating a new document
  • Working with basic shapes
  • Editing and combining paths and shapes
  • Working with drawing modes
  • Using Image Trace to create shapes

• Lesson 4: Editing and combining Shapes and Paths

  • Scissors, Knife and Eraser tools
  • Shape Builder and Pathfinder tools
  • Compound paths
  • Width tool

• Lesson 5: Transforming Artwork

  • Working with artboards
  • Transforming content
  • Creating a PDF

• Lesson 6: Creating an Illustration with the Drawing Tools

  • Creating an illustration
  • Drawing and editing with the Pencil tool

• Lesson 7: Using Color and Patterns to Enhance Signage

  • Understanding and working with color
  • Painting with patterns
  • Working with Live Paint

• Lesson 8: Adding Type to a Poster

  • Creating columns of text
  • Formatting type
  • Creating and applying text styles
  • Warping text
  • Working with type on a path
  • Wrapping text around an object
  • Creating text outlines

Learner Outcomes

After this class, you will be able to:

• Create and modify artboards
• Use the drawing tools
• Combine simple objects into complex shapes
• Rotate, scale and reshape objects
• Draw organic shapes with the Pen and Pencil tools
• Create, use, and edit colors
• Work with text
• Create a PDF and submit work to a commercial printer

Course Schedule