Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

Duration: 1 Day

Course Overview

Adobe Illustrator is the industry leading application for creating and editing vector graphics.
Introduction to Illustrator training provides a thorough grounding in Illustrator, teaching techniques for producing professional standard illustrations and type effects.

Provides the essential knowledge you need to use Illustrator effectively. You learn how to:
• Use Illustrator’s powerful drawing tools to work with shapes and layers, and apply effects and styles.
• Create sophisticated artwork and graphics for print, web, mobile and motion designs.
• Create logos with special type effects.
• Use Illustrator’s Image Trace and Live Paint tools.
The course investigates the most effective ways for integrating Illustrator into your workflow.

Armada is an Adobe Authorised Training Centre (AATC), and our Introduction to Illustrator course is accredited by Adobe.
Courses are hosted by Adobe Certified Instructors (ACIs) with vast experience of using the application professionally.
Whilst attending training at our centres, delegates have the use of a computer running licensed Illustrator software to practice the techniques taught. Refreshments and lunch are provided.

Course fees can be paid by card or bank transfer. We accept purchase orders from UK-registered companies and public sector organisations.

If you’re self-funding your training, you can pay in staged payments, interest-free, over 12 months.

How can I attend my course?

On-line from
your chosen location

At our dedicated
training facility

On-site at
your premises

Target Audience

This course is ideal for new and novice Illustrator users. As well as graphic/Web designers, this course is relevant to anyone in a design-related role who needs to create illustrations, logos, diagrams, advertisements or other graphics.

METHOD OF DELIVERY

Training is designed for the busy professional, being short and intensive and combining lecture and demonstration. Practical exercises carried out under guidance help delegates to learn the techniques taught.
Delegates have ample opportunity to discuss specific requirements with the trainer.

Course Content

Introduction

Interface – window/palettes/menus
Bitmap vs vector graphics
Resolution/print theory
Locating help

Drawing basics

New documents – document setup
Basic shapes – rectangles/ellipses
Viewing – preview/outline
Object Stacking order
Selecting and modifying shapes
Colour – fills and strokes

Selections

Selection and Direct select tools
Magic Wand and Lasso selections

Simple drawing

Shaper tool – ‘predictive’ drawing
Pencil tool – freehand drawing
Paintbrush and Blob brush tools
Eraser/Scissors/Knife
Curvature tool – simple, smooth, more accurate shapes

Drawing – pen tool

Drawing with the pen tool
Modify shapes – cut, join, align
Alignment/smart guides
Drawing using guides
Drawing over a template

Transformations

Free transform tool
Cutting/joining paths

Fills and textures

Colour theory – RGB/CMYK
Colours – creating, editing, sharing Spot colours – Pantone™
Creating Patterns Creating Gradients
Libraries – sharing/accessing various elements throughout Illustrator and Creative Cloud

Transformations

Free Transform tool
Scale, rotate, reflect and shear tools
Repeating transformations

Editing

Grouping/Locking/Visibility
Isolation mode
Edit colours throughout a graphic

Symbols

Symbols – updateable graphics Modifying symbols

Layers

Introduction to layers
Controlling layers – viewing/locking/printing
Exporting layers – to InDesign, Acrobat and Photoshop

Saving and file formats

Saving – file types – ai, eps, pdf…
Exporting – file types
Share on behance – online showcase

Preferences

Configuring preferences – units, increments, grids/guides, interface…

New artboards

Artboard tool – rotating/moving/resizing

Styling

Brushes – art/scatter/calligraphic/bristle/ pattern
Effects – Applying editable effects as bitmap or vector

Type

Type characteristics – size/leading/tracking…
Point and area type tools
Importing type
Threading text boxes
Text wrap
Outlining type – pros and cons
Touch type tool – adjust individual letters

Clipping masks

Masking objects – draw inside and Clipping Masks

Tracing

Image Trace – vectorising bitmap images
Live Paint – quicker painting for areas

Combining shapes

Compound paths Shapebuilder tool
Pathfinder – combine several shapes

COURSE MATERIALS AND CERTIFICATE

Delegates receive:
• A comprehensive Illustrator training guide.
• A certificate confirming successful completion of an Adobe-accredited Introduction to Illustrator course.

AFTER COURSE SUPPORT

Following Illustrator training, you’re entitled to 30 days’ email support from your trainer.
Further information, prices & dates
See armada.co.uk/course/illustrator-training.

You will receive a full set of course notes
and all supporting materials for your course.

Hard Copy Delivered to your premises or Downloaded to a chosen device.

To book this course please call 
+44 (0) 1444 410296 or email Info@kplknowledge.co.uk