Illustrator Foundations

Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

Let's explore what Adobe Illustrator is and what we can do with it. We'll cover raster vs. vector graphics as well as what mediums we can design for. Finally, we'll discuss the Objects, Groups and Layers and how they are used inside the application. 8 steps

• Introduction to Adobe Illustrator 2:44
• Introduction to Adobe Illustrator 5 questions
• Vector vs. Raster Graphics 2:16
• Vector vs. Raster Graphics 5 questions
• Working with Different Types of Mediums 3:50
• Working with Different Types of Mediums 5 questions
• Understanding the Application 1:37
• Understanding the Application 5 questions
• Extra Credit Think about a project you would like to design for in the future and write it down. Post the idea on your monitor or near your computer when learning Illustrator. When you finish the entire course you should be able to approach the build of this project with the tools and techniques you learned.

Creating an Icon

For your first Illustrator project we'll dive into the basics as we design an icon. We'll kick off the project by setting up our first document and touring the interface. Then we will use the Shape and Align tools to create our objects that'll make up the icon. Finally, we'll grab the Pen tool to finish our icon and merge it with the Pathfinder panel. 14 steps

• Document Setup & Understanding the Interface 8:03
• Document Setup & Understanding the Interface 5 questions
• Setting Up Our First Document 12:16
• Setting Up Our First Document 5 questions
• Understanding Shapes 21:03
• Understanding Shapes 5 questions
• Grouping Objects & Group Selection 6:46
• Grouping Objects & Group Selection 5 questions
• Pen Tools 8:58
• Pen Tools 5 questions
• Aligning Objects 7:24
• Aligning Objects 5 questions
• Using Pathfinder with Objects 9:24
• Using Pathfinder with Objects 5 questions
• Extra Credit Take the project one step further and create an icon set of your own. It could be anything from a weather icon set to social network icons. Once you're done, post them on the forum for other members to critique or download.

Adding Color and Type

In this project we will create a logo by using the icon we already created, and incorporating color and type. We'll also cover different ways to set up our workspace, select different objects and how to paint specific objects for a speedy workflow. 12 steps

• Creating Custom Workspaces 6:34
• Creating Custom Workspaces 5 questions
• Colors, Patterns and Selecting Objects 14:41
• Colors, Patterns and Selecting Objects 5 questions
• Scale, Rotate, Reflect & Select 7:26
• Scale, Rotate, Reflect & Select 5 questions
• Type Tools 19:51
• Type Tools 6 questions
• Additional Shape Tools 8:39
• Additional Shape Tools 5 questions
• Painting Objects and Adding Graphic Fills 9:15
• Painting Objects and Adding Graphic Fills 5 questions
• Extra Credit Take our logo one step further and play around with different color options.

How to Draw in Illustrator

In this stage we'll learn the Drawing tools in Illustrator by referencing an imported sketch. We'll cover all the brush types and how to manipulate our strokes. Also how to create custom brushes with a graphic stylus. Finally we'll take a look at Transparencies, Blending Modes, Gradients and Image Trace. 17 steps

• The Paintbrush 9:38
• The Paintbrush 5 questions
• The Blob Brush & Erasing Options 9:37
• The Blob Brush & Erasing Options 5 questions
• The Pencil Tool 6:43
• The Pencil Tool 5 questions
• Manipulating Stroke Paths 16:43
• Manipulating Stroke Paths 5 questions
• Creating Custom Brushes: Part 1 18:46
• Creating Custom Brushes: Part 2 7:11
• Creating Custom Brushes 5 questions
• Transparency and Blending Modes 17:16
• Transparency and Blending Modes 5 questions
• Image Trace 7:26
• Image Trace 5 questions
• Gradients 15:00
• Gradients 5 questions
• Extra Credit Create a sketch of your own and use one of the Drawing tools to illustrate your graphic. Take that one step further and use the Mesh Gradient tool to give the illustration some color and depth.This could be anything from a realistic sketch to a child-like cartoon. Let your imagination explore options that allow you to use the Drawing tools to their extreme.

Applying Effects

Let's explore all the effects Illustrator offers and learn how to turn our effects into new Graphic Styles. 18 steps

• 3D Effects 14:45
• 3D Effects 5 questions
• Pathfinder Effects 8:20
• Pathfinder Effects 5 questions
• Warp Effects 9:21
• Warp Effects 5 questions
• Convert to Shape 5:26
• Convert to Shape 5 questions
• Stylize Effects 5:55
• Stylize Effects 5 questions
• Path Distort & Transform 7:45
• Path Distort & Transform 5 questions
• Rasterize, SVG Filters, Crop Marks 4:36
• Rasterize, SVG Filters, Crop Marks 5 questions
• Photoshop Effects 3:38
• Photoshop Effects 5 questions
• Graphic Libraries & Styles 9:57
• Graphic Libraries & Styles 5 questions
• Extra Credit Find a vintage, grungy handpainted sign and see if you can replicate it using the effects. This might be an old barber shop or gas station sign. Try to match the font or trace the characters. Then see if you can use the Warp effects to match the text layout. Finally, apply some texture with the Photoshop effects or create your own grunge pattern to overlay the sign.Sign Example

Creating Home Page Assets

For our final stage we have our fourth project: creating home page assets for Moon Walker Interactive. We will create a background for the site, a Rubik's cube graphic and a pie chart. Then we'll set up and auto save ten sets of business cards.We'll also cover the Blend and Symbolism tools, Graphs, Save for Web options and using Illustrator's Variables. 12 steps

• The Blend Tool 10:25
• The Blend Tool 5 questions
• Symbolism Tools 10:20
• Symbolism Tools 5 questions
• Graphs 13:46
• Graphs 5 questions
• The Perspective Grid Tool 12:31
• The Perspective Grid Tool 5 questions
• Save for Web 15:06
• Save for Web 5 questions
• Variables 10:50
• Variables 5 questions
• Extra Credit Take your new Illustrator skills and apply them to your future projects. See if you can create a custom home page of your own.For all you front-end developers, see if you can take that even one step further. Export the graphics as .svg and build your site retina (300ppi +) ready.