Overview

Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for creating logos, icons, illustrations, and any design work that needs to scale perfectly at any size. This two-day course gives you a solid foundation in Illustrator’s essential tools and workflows, so you can create professional vector artwork with confidence.

You’ll learn to navigate the interface, draw with shapes and the Pen tool, work with color and text, and organize your files using layers. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how vector graphics work, when to use Illustrator instead of Photoshop, and how to create clean, editable artwork ready for print or digital use.

Format: 2 Days | VILT

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Who Should Attend

• Designers new to Illustrator or switching from other design tools
• Marketing professionals creating logos, icons, and simple graphics
• Anyone who needs to produce scalable vector artwork for print or web
• Photoshop users ready to learn when and how to use Illustrator instead

What You’ll Learn

• Navigate Illustrator’s interface, tools, and workspaces efficiently
• Draw precise shapes and paths using basic tools and the Pen tool
• Select, move, resize, rotate, and align objects accurately
• Apply colors, gradients, fills, and strokes to artwork
• Work with text and basic typography in vector format
• Organize projects using layers and groups
• Set up files correctly and export for print, web, and other formats

Course Outline

Module 1: Illustrator Fundamentals and Interface

• Understanding vector graphics vs. raster images: when to use Illustrator vs. Photoshop
• Navigating the workspace: panels, tools, and customizing your layout
• Creating, saving, and managing documents and artboards
• Zooming, panning, and view controls for efficient navigation

Module 2: Selection and Basic Object Manipulation

• Selection tool vs. Direct Selection tool: selecting objects and anchor points
• Moving, copying, and duplicating objects
• Resizing and scaling objects proportionally
• Rotating, reflecting, and basic transformations

Module 3: Drawing with Basic Shapes

• Creating rectangles, circles, polygons, and stars
• Drawing from center vs. corner: modifier keys for shape control
• Combining and arranging shapes to build complex artwork
• Line Segment and Arc tools for simple path drawing

Module 4: Working with Color

• Fills vs. strokes: understanding the difference and when to use each
• Applying color using the Color panel, Swatches panel, and Eyedropper tool
• Creating and saving custom colors in the Swatches panel
• Understanding RGB vs. CMYK color modes for screen and print

Module 5: Strokes and Stroke Settings

• Adjusting stroke weight, caps, and corners
• Creating dashed lines and custom stroke patterns
• Applying arrowheads and stroke profiles
• Aligning strokes to center, inside, or outside of paths

Module 6: Introduction to the Pen Tool

• Understanding anchor points, handles, and path segments
• Drawing straight lines and smooth curves with the Pen tool
• Adding and deleting anchor points to refine paths
• Converting between corner points and smooth points

Module 7: Editing and Refining Paths

• Using the Direct Selection tool to adjust anchor points and handles
• Reshaping paths with the Curvature tool for easier curve drawing
• Joining open paths and closing shapes
• Cutting and dividing paths with the Scissors and Knife tools

Module 8: Alignment, Distribution, and Arrangement

• Aligning objects to each other and to the artboard
• Distributing objects evenly with spacing controls
• Arranging stacking order: Bring to Front, Send to Back, and layering
• Grouping objects for easier selection and movement

Module 9: Working with Type

• Creating point type and area type for different text needs
• Formatting text: fonts, size, leading, and tracking
• Character and Paragraph panels for precise typography control
• Converting text to outlines when necessary for file handoff

Module 10: Layers and Organization

• Creating, naming, and organizing layers for complex projects
• Locking and hiding layers to protect and simplify your workspace
• Moving objects between layers
• Using layer colors to identify and organize artwork elements

Module 11: Basic Transformations and Effects

• Transform panel for precise positioning, sizing, and rotation
• Reflect and Shear tools for symmetry and distortion
• Introduction to gradients for depth and dimension
• Basic transparency and blending modes

Module 12: File Setup and Export

• Setting up artboards for logos, icons, and multi-page documents
• Understanding resolution, document size, and bleed settings
• Saving files in native Illustrator format (.ai) for editing
• Exporting to PDF, PNG, SVG, and other formats for different uses

Prerequisites & Technical Requirements

• No prior Illustrator experience required
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with file management
• Adobe Illustrator CC (current or recent version recommended)

Customization Options

This course can be tailored to your team’s specific goals—whether you’re focused on creating logos and branding, icons and graphics for presentations, or preparing artwork for professional printing. We can adjust examples and exercises to match your industry and the types of projects you’ll be creating in Illustrator.

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