This comprehensive course provides a thorough review of the Adobe Illustrator interface, teaching you how to effectively use tools and panels while learning to customize and preserve your preferred workspace configurations. You will master document setup, saving reusable document presets, working with multiple artboards, and navigating your canvas with precision zooming capabilities as you develop complex illustrations.
The course teaches you to leverage selection and drawing tools to create basic geometric shapes and paths, then demonstrates how to combine these elements to build sophisticated and intricate designs. Comprehensive instruction covers typographic work in Illustrator, including point type and area type techniques, application of text styles, and the specialized technique of creating type along paths. A complete lesson on the layers panel shows you how to organize design elements effectively and utilize layers to create multiple design variations and layout versions.
Target Student:
- This course is well-suited for beginners and self-taught Illustrator users seeking to solidify their foundational knowledge. Experienced designers frequently find that a Core Skills Level 1 course helps fill knowledge gaps and improve overall proficiency.
Prerequisites:
- Core Skills level Adobe courses require foundational computer and file management abilities.
- Students should demonstrate competency in: locating, copying and opening files; creating folders; arranging, resizing, minimizing and maximizing application windows; starting and closing programs; managing multiple simultaneous applications; and switching between open software.
Course Outline:
- Understanding the Illustrator Work Area
- Essential Techniques for Selecting Artwork
- Building Illustrations Using Shapes for a Postcard Project
- Editing and Combining Shapes and Paths
- Transforming Artwork Elements
- Creating Complex Illustrations with Drawing Tools
- Using Color Theory to Enhance Signage
- Adding Typography to a Poster
- Organizing Complex Artwork with Layers
- Exporting Assets for Web and Print
Adobe software maintains substantial consistency across Mac and PC platforms. When attending classes at our physical locations, instruction uses PC hardware with Windows software, though the instructor will highlight any minor Mac keyboard and interface distinctions. For students participating from home or office, either PC or Mac hardware can be used to connect to the hosted Windows-based Adobe software environment.
