Ai Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud Beginner
Vector and pixel images There are two kinds of images: vector and pixel based images. A vector is a drawn line that can be filled with a color, pattern or gradient. On that line a stroke can be added. Most common vector based images are logo s, fonts and graphics. A pixel is a square dot on your screen. This dot is filled with a color, or can be transparant (called alpha). Depending the resolution, a picture s size depends on how many pixels there are in rouchly one square inch (pixels per inch). Most common pixel based images are photographs. Illustrator is a vector based application. Vector images are scalable, without loosing quality and sharpness. Pixel images lose quality while scaling. So when making graphics, use Illustrator to keep the image sharp at any size. For fotographs, use the resolution (width and height) you need for output. The amount of pixels only tells something about the amount per square inch (pixels/dots per inch). Vector Pixel
Explore and save workspace Getting started The Start workspace in Illustrator gives you quick access to your recent files, libraries, and mobile creations. Depending on your subscription status, the Start workspace may also display content tailored for your requirements. You can also look for the right Adobe Stock asset for your project directly from within the Start workspace. Illustrator displays the Start workspace at launch or whenever no documents are open. While creating a document in Illustrator, instead of beginning with a blank canvas, you can choose from a wide variety of templates, including templates from Adobe Stock. In the New Document dialog box, click a category tab: Mobile, Web, Print, Film & Video, or Art & Illustration. In addition to templates, you can also create a document by selecting one of the numerous presets available in Illustrator. All documents are presented as Artboards (similar as pages). You can make as many artboards as you want and change dimentions as you go. Workspace You create and manipulate your documents and files using various elements, such as panels, bars, and windows. Any arrangement of these elements is called a workspace. (The workspaces of the different applications in Creative Cloud look similar so that you can move between the applications easily.) You can adapt Illustrator to the way you work by selecting from several preset workspaces or by creating one of your own. Custom Panels Your workspace is build out of a toolbar (left), main menu (top) and the panels (right). The panels can be shown or hiden by klicking the main menu Window.. By default your workspace is set on essentials (dropdownmenu at the top rigcht of the screen). By clicking this dropdown menu, you can choose other preset workspaces, or save your own set. Custom Tools A more advanced way of organizing is to set your own tools. Mostly the ones you use the most. This way you prevent a cluttered screen. Go to Window and select Tools and then New Tools panel. You now see two panels. Drag your favourite tools from the original toolspanel to the new panel. When you are done, you can delete the original. It will not be lost! When you want to reset to the original, just go to the Tools menu again and choose Default.
Interface Workspace After opening a new document, you see the workspace. It is devided in tools (left), panels (right) and the control panel (top). In the middle you see a white canvas, called the artbord. You can make as many artboards as you need. Control Tools Artboard Panels
Interface Tools Out of the wide variaty of tools, we only use a vew for this course. These are the tools you use the most, even when you re and advanced user. The tools can be found on the left side of the screen. When you use these tools, try to memorize the shortcuts. These can be found behind each discription of the tool. By using the key-shortcut, you are able to work faster by switching to the tools you need. When you re comfortable with the tools explained above, try the other ones. By hovering above a tool, you see a tooltip that explains what the tool is. Selection Tool (v) Pen Tools (p) Text Tools (t) Rectangle Tools (m) Eyedropper Tool (l) Hand Tool (h) Fill (x) Direct Selection Tool (a) When you see this triangle, there are more similar tools selectable. Click and hold to see the other tools. Zoom Tool (z) Stroke (x) - click to activate Color (<) - Gradient (>) - None (/)
Draw shapes As you draw, you create a line called a path. A path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The beginning and end of each segment are marked by anchor points, which work like pins holding a wire in place. A path can be closed (for example, a circle), or open, with distinct endpoints (for example, a wavy line). 1. First draw a rectangle: click and hold your mouse and drag diagonal and than release 2. Draw a second rectangle by holding the SHIFT key while drawing (see 1) 3. Try the same with other default shape tools (ellipse, polygon, star. etc.)
Fill a shape Filling a shape can be done by selectiong the shape and changing the fill color. You can even choose a gradient as a fill. Use the panels: color or swatches. You can also use the ]color choose tool on the botom of the Tools panel. For a gradient use the gradient panel. Same can be done with the stroke. Fill or Stroke Fill, Gradient or no color (transparant) When panels are not shown, activate them under the menu Window. Try to do the same, but now change the stroke color. 1. Select your object with the Selection Tool 2. Choose a color or gradient
Draw proportional shapes and reshape After drawing a shape, you ll see corner markers. We call them anchor point. The path between the anchor point make the shape. This paath can contain a stroke and when a shape is closed, it can be filled with a color. 1. Select the Direct selection tool 2. Click on one of the anchor points of your shape 3. Move that ancherpoint You see that you can change every shape by moving the anchor points.
Draw with bezier curves You change the shape of a path by dragging its anchor points, the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at anchor points, or the path segment itself. Bezier curve Direction Point 1. Select your object with the Direct Selection Tool 2. Select the Anchor Point Tool 3. Drag and hold on one of the corners 4. You see a bezier appear. 1. Select the Direct Selection Tool 2. Click and hold the Direction Point (dot) at the end of the bezier 3. Drag the Direction Point of the bezier so the shape changes
Custom shapes Now you have all the basic tools to make every shape you like. Try using the pen tool for drawing your own shape. This is how to use the Pen Tool: 1. Select the Pen Tool 2. Click to make a Anchor Pont 3. Click to make another anchor point (now you se a path) 4. Make a minimal of three anchor points and close the shape by drawing the last anchor point over the first anchor point. Now try to draw a custom shape with the pen tool with curves: 1. Click and hold your mouse and than drag 2. Repeat this untill your shape is complete
Stroke A stroke can be made by color and weight. You also can change the stroke to a dashed line. By playing withs weight, dashed line and color, you can make different effects. Fill or Stroke Fill, Gradient or no color (transparant) When making a stroke, try to change the Align Stroke, play with Weight and Dashed Line to get following examples.
Align and distribute Ones you have drawn several objects, the next step is to align them. Choose the align panel (Window > Align) to have a visual overview of all possible alignment choices. You can use either the object edges or anchor points as the reference point, and you can align to a selection, an artboard, or a key object. A key object is one specific object in a selection of multiple objects. Align or distribute relative to the bounding box of all selected objects 1 Select the objects to align or distribute. 2 Select Align To Selection, and then click the button for the type of alignment or distribution you want.
Align and distribute Align or distribute relative to a key object 1 Select the objects to align or distribute. 2 Click again on the object you want to use as a key object (you don t need to hold down Shift as you click this time). 3 A blue outline appears around the key object, and Align To Key Object is automatically selected in the Control panel and Align panel. 4 In the Align panel or Control panel, click the button for the type of alignment or distribution you want. Note: To stop aligning and distributing relative to an object, click again on the object to remove the blue outline, or choose Cancel Key Object from the Align panel menu.
Align and distribute Align or distribute relative to an artboard 1 Select the objects to align or distribute. 2 Using the Selection tool, Shift-click in the artboard you want to use to activate it. The active artboard has a darker outline than the others. 3 In the Align panel or Control panel, select Align To Artboard, and then click the button for the type of alignment or distribution you want. Artboard