Introduction to Illustrator CS5
In series of lessons, we will focus on an introduction to Illustrator CS5. Software required: Illustrator CS5.
What you'll learn
In series of lessons, we will focus on an introduction to Illustrator CS5. We'll get started by learning some of the basics, such as creating and opening files, understanding and customizing the interface, and working with tools such as rulers and guides. We'll move on and learn about what Illustrator calls an object, and we'll also learn some tools for creating and modifying these objects. Once we've mastered creating and modifying objects, we'll learn how to manage objects using groups and layers. Next, we'll begin looking at ways to create more advanced objects by building on the knowledge we already have. We'll also learn about how Illustrator handles color and type. Along the way we'll learn about some of the new tools and features included with Illustrator CS5. Finally, we'll wrap things up by learning how to save and export our artwork out of Illustrator. Software required: Illustrator CS5.
Table of contents
- What Is Illustrator? 4m
- Creating Our First Vector Graphic 10m
- Continuing to Create Our First Vector Graphic 11m
- Finishing Our First Vector Graphic 12m
- Exploring Illustrator's Welcome Screen 5m
- Creating and Opening Documents 11m
- Workspace Overview 12m
- Working with Panels 11m
- Understanding and Customizing Workspaces 8m
- Creating a Document with Multiple Artboards 11m
- Managing Multiple Artboards 5m
- Creating and Using Document Templates 8m
- Understanding Illustrator's Rulers 9m
- Creating Basic Guides 8m
- Using Smart Guides to Position Artwork 6m
- Understanding the Basics of an Illustrator Object 12m
- Selecting Objects in Illustrator 15m
- Creating Objects Using Shape Tools 11m
- Drawing with the Pen Tool 14m
- Modifying an Object or Path with the Pen Tool 11m
- Drawing Free-form Paths 9m
- Creating and Managing Brush Strokes in the Brush Panel 14m
- Creating Art and Pattern Brushes 13m
- Painting with the Blob Brush 8m
- Erasing Objects 7m
- Understanding Cut, Copy, and Paste in Illustrator 5m
- Aligning and Distributing Objects 11m
- Transforming Artwork and Objects 12m
- Expanding Objects and Their Appearance 8m
- Managing Objects with Groups 10m
- Managing Objects Within Layers 11m
- Reshaping Objects and Paths 11m
- Understanding Illustrator's Drawing Modes 5m
- Building Advanced Shapes with the Shape Builder Tool 8m
- Building Advanced Shapes with the Pathfinder Panel 11m
- Understanding and Building Compound Paths 8m
- Understanding and Building Compound Shapes 4m
- Managing Object Attributes in the Appearance Panel 11m
- Adding and Customizing an Object's Stroke 10m
- Creating Unique Strokes with the Width Tool 11m
- Adding and Managing Object Effects 11m
- Copying Appearance Attributes 6m
- Adding Color to an Object 8m
- Managing Colors Using the Swatch Panel 10m
- Creating and Customizing Gradients 10m
- Understanding Illustrator's Live Paint Features 11m
- Masking Artwork with a Clipping Mask 8m
- Masking Artwork with an Opacity Mask 11m
- Working More Efficiently Using Symbols 12m
- Working More Efficiently Using Graphic Styles 9m
- Creating Text in Illustrator 8m
- Selecting and Formating Text 13m
- Creating and Managing Type on a Path 8m
- Wrapping Text Around an Object 5m
- Understanding Illustrator's Perspective Grid 8m
- Creating and Applying Artwork to the Perspective Grid 16m
- Importing Files into Illustrator from Other Applications 9m
- Understanding and Applying Illustrator's Live Trace Feature 11m
- Saving and Exporting Artwork out of Illustrator 8m
About the author
Eddie began teaching creative professionals over ten years ago for Digital Tutors. In 2014 Digital Tutors was acquired by Pluralsight and he continued his focus on creating high quality training for artists in both the film and games industries. With a background in graphic design and illustration Eddie has always been focused on visual appeal. This can be seen through his courses in which he shares secrets for achieving production level quality for concept art, illustrations, textures, mater... more