Illustrator Training: Essential Skills I

NEW FEATURES OF CS5 COVERED

• Perspective drawing
• Beautiful strokes
• Bristle Brush
• Crisp graphics for web and mobile devices
• Multiple Artboards enhancements
• Shape Builder tool
• Drawing enhancements

GETTING TO KNOW THE WORK AREA

• Viewing Artwork
• Using the Illustrator Tools
• Working with Panels
• Using Panel Menus
• In-Panel Appearance Editing
• Changing the View of Artwork
• Using the View Commands
• Using the Navigator Panel
• New Multiple Artboards Feature
• New On-Object Controls
• Using the Illustrator Help

SELECTING AND ALIGNING

• Using the Selection Tool
• Using the Direct Selection Tool
• Selections with the Magic Wand
• Grouping Items
• Aligning Objects
• Applying Selection Techniques

CREATING BASIC SHAPES

• Using Basic Shape Tools
• Using Live Trace to Create Shapes
• Drawing Polygons, Spirals, and Stars
• The New Blob Brush Tool

TRANSFORMING OBJECTS

• Scaling Objects
• Reflecting Objects
• Distorting Objects
• Shearing Objects
• Positioning Objects Precisely
• Changing the Perspective
• Making Multiple Transformations

DRAWING WITH THE PEN TOOL

• Creating Straight Lines
• Creating Curved Paths
• Building a Curve
• Curves and Corner Anchor Points
• Selecting and Manipulating Curves

COLOR AND PAINTING

• Color Mode
• Understanding the Color Controls
• Color Fundamentals
• Copying Attributes
• Using the Appearance Panel
• Building and Saving Your Own Custom Color
• Using Illustrator swatch libraries
• Creating a Spot Color
• Creating Color Groups
• Editing Color with Live Color
• Creating a Color Group with Live Color
• Assign Colors to Your Artwork
• Using Patterns
• Creating Your Own Pattern
• Applying Live Paint
• Create a PDF from your artwork

WORKING WITH TYPE

• Importing a Text File
• Creating Columns of Text
• Understanding Text Flow
• Working with Overflow Text
• Threading Text
• Working with Font Size and Color
• Paragraph Attributes
• Saving and Using Styles
• Creating Character Styles
• Sampling Text
• Creating Text on Paths and Shapes
• Creating Text Outlines

WORKING WITH LAYERS

• Creating Layers
• Moving Objects and Layers
• Locking Layers
• Viewing Layers
• Pasting Layers
• Creating Clipping Masks
• Merging Layers
• Applying Appearance Attributes to Layers

BLENDING SHAPES AND COLORS

• Creating a Gradient Fill
• Adjusting the Direction of a Gradient
• Adding Colors to a Gradient
• Creating Smooth-Color Blends
• Modifying the Blend
• Combining Blends with Gradients
• New Gradient Options
• Gradient Angle, Position
• Gradient Elliptical Dimensions.

WORKING WITH SYMBOLS

• Using Illustrator Symbol Libraries
• Editing Symbols
• Creating Symbols
• Applying a Symbol Instance
• Using the Symbolism Tools
• Updating a Symbol
• Breaking a Link to a Symbol
• Mapping a Symbol to 3D Artwork

NEW ENHANCED GRAPHIC STYLES

• Combine Styles for Unique Effects
• Styles for Increased Efficiency
• New Thumbnail Previews
• Exploring the Library of Pre-built Styles.

OVERVIEW OF PRINTING AND COLOR SEPARATIONS

• Learning about Printing Devices
• Halftone Screens
• Output Device Resolution
• The RGB Color Model
• The CMYK Color Model
• Spot Colors
• Synchronizing Color Using Adobe Bridge
• Separations Preview
• Specifying the Bleed Area