Discover ways to use Adobe Illustrator on this free course for absolute newcomers. By the top, you will understand how to attract in Adobe Illustrator, methods to make a sample in Illustrator, and a lot extra.
Watch the Full Illustrator for Learners Course
What You may Study
- How to attract in Illustrator
- Working with colour and gradients
- use textual content and fonts in Illustrator
- create results and patterns
- export for print and net
About Your Teacher
Sharing is who I’m, and instructing is the place I’m at my greatest. I am a digital designer and an authorized Adobe teacher. I’ve additionally received a number of Adobe instructing awards at their annual MAX convention.
Soar straight to the Illustrator method you wish to study:
1. Introduction
1.1 Welcome to the Course
Watch video lesson (2 minutes) ↗
I am going to begin by introducing myself and telling you what we’ll cowl on this Illustrator fundamentals course. So simply click on the hyperlink above to get an summary of what you will be studying.
1.2 Getting Began
Watch video lesson (6 minutes) ↗
Now let’s get every little thing arrange with the intention to observe the course simply. The excellent news is that you do not want something aside from a duplicate of Adobe Illustrator to observe alongside and do the workouts on this course.
We do have to reset our Illustrator workspace, although, in order that we will work extra effectively and ensure we’re all on the identical web page—I am going to clarify how to do this on this part.
You may obtain all of the supply information for the course by clicking this button:
And listed below are another helpful hyperlinks:
2. Attract Illustrator
2.1 Setting Up Our Doc
Watch video lesson (4 minutes) ↗
Our first train shall be to attract a penguin! You may begin with a pencil drawing and learn to draw over it to create your personal vector paintings. Watch this video to learn the way to import the drawing from the supply information and arrange your doc correctly.
As soon as we have arrange your doc, we’ll take a look at methods to import our drawing utilizing File > Place after which lock the layer in order that we will simply draw excessive of it.
2.2 Drawing With Shapes and Strains
Watch video lesson (21 minutes) ↗
Now let’s learn to draw shapes in Illustrator. This can be a elementary talent when studying how to attract in Illustrator as a result of you may create many frequent objects by creating and adjusting easy shapes and contours.
For instance, we will begin by making a easy rectangle utilizing the Rectangle Device.
Then we will make changes to the form in order that it matches the define of our penguin.
And ultimately we will create a complete drawing, simply utilizing easy shapes.
I am going to take you thru each step within the video, so observe it to get the total directions.
That is the longest a part of the course, however the expertise you decide up right here will allow you to create all kinds of cool paintings in Illustrator, so it is time properly spent!
2.3 Grouping and Arranging
Watch video lesson (13 minutes) ↗
The drawing we simply created regarded fairly good, however we will enhance it by filling within the shapes with colour and making it look extra skilled and completed.
To create this outcome, you will have to study:
- methods to group shapes in Illustrator
- methods to transfer shapes in entrance of and behind one different
- methods to use isolation mode” in Illustrator
I cowl all of these issues within the video, so observe alongside to see the way it’s finished!
2.4 Drawing With the Form Builder Device
Watch video lesson (14 minutes) ↗
Our penguin drawing retains getting higher! This time, we’re including shadows to present our drawing extra of a 3D look, and we’re engaged on particulars like the attention.
Once more, we’re simply utilizing easy shapes because the constructing blocks, however we’re making them overlap to create extra complicated outcomes.
You may study all in regards to the Form Builder Device on this video—it is a highly effective software that can assist you rework easy shapes into extra complicated ones.
2.5 Train: Draw a Customized Emblem
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
We have realized some helpful methods now, so let’s put them into follow with a real-world instance: brand design. Let’s have a look at methods to create the emblem proven beneath, utilizing the instruments and methods we’ve coated thus far.
Need to know extra about brand design in Illustrator? Try this free course:
2.8 Use the Pencil Device in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
What if you wish to draw freehand? Then you definately’ll want one more drawing software—the Pencil Device! Let’s learn to use the Pencil Device in Illustrator to attract these freeform traces and arrows over a photograph:
The Pencil Device has fairly a number of completely different choices to play with, so watch the video to study what settings to regulate to make sure you get stunning outcomes.
2.9 Utilizing Brushes
Watch video lesson (7 minutes) ↗
We’ll end off this part on drawing in Illustrator by methods to use brushes. This is what you will be creating:
You’ll study to rework the traces you’ve created with the pen, curvature, and pencil instruments into beautiful “painterly” strokes. Discover ways to use Illustrator brushes, methods to change the comb measurement in Illustrator, and extra.
If you wish to dive even deeper into Illustrator brushes, take a look at this complete information:
3. Coloration
3.1 Working With Coloration
Watch video lesson (8 minutes) ↗
This chapter is all about colour. First, let’s discover how Illustrator controls colour by way of RGB and HSB settings.
RGB stands for “Pink, Inexperienced, Blue”, and HSB stands for “Hue, Saturation, Brightness”. They’re two methods of defining colours, and you may find out about them in additional element within the video.
You’ll additionally learn to use Adobe Coloration to seek out thrilling colour combos. Simply go to Window > Coloration Themes > Discover to seek out some inspiring colour swatches to make use of in your initiatives.
3.2 Use the Gradient Device in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (7 minutes) ↗
On this part, you’ll learn to use Illustrator’s Gradient Device to use and alter gradients to things. We’ll take a plain doc and provides it a colourful gradient background.
I’ll additionally present you methods to get gradient colour inspiration from a website known as Grabient and duplicate the colour values into Illustrator.
Helpful Assets
4. Sort and Fonts
4.1 Use Sort and Fonts in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
Now let’s have a look at methods to work with textual content in Illustrator. I am going to present you methods to use Illustrator’s Sort Device and the way to decide on the font colour, fashion, measurement, weight, and spacing.
You’ll study the variations between level kind and space kind packing containers. You’ll additionally learn to use Adobe’s Typekit system to seek out thrilling new typefaces to your initiatives. See methods to add and alter fonts in Illustrator, and rather more.
5. Results and Patterns in Illustrator
5.1 Liquifying and Distorting in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (11 minutes) ↗
How do you apply results to shapes and typography? On this a part of the course, you will learn to use the Liquify Device in Illustrator and methods to distort textual content in Illustrator. You’ll additionally learn to lower, twist, and explode your paintings in artistic methods.
tip
Yow will discover the Warp Device and different liquifying and distorting instruments by clicking and holding on the Width Device within the toolbar to disclose the dropdown menu.
5.2 Bending and Warping Shapes and Textual content
Watch video lesson (7 minutes) ↗
On this lesson, you’ll learn to bend and warp your Illustrator paintings. This function will mean you can rework easy shapes into radically artistic designs. You may additionally see methods to warp textual content in Illustrator.
You may create completely different results by choosing your form and going to Impact > Warp. Then you definately’ll see a variety of results that you may apply with a single click on!
After you have utilized an impact, the Warp Choices window will open robotically. There you may alter the values to customise your impact. Easy!
5.3 Make a Sample in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (12 minutes) ↗
Now, you’ll learn to create a sample in Illustrator. This sample can then be used as a repeating sample—nice for backgrounds, wallpaper, material prints, and wrapping paper.
We’ll begin with the emblem we created earlier, and flip it upside-down…
Then we’ll go to Window > Sample Choices to show this brand right into a repeating sample:
And eventually, we’ll rotate and duplicate our brand to make a extra complicated sample:
Need to study extra about patterns? Watch this free course:
5.4 Vectorize an Picture in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (11 minutes) ↗
Illustrator is commonly used for vector paintings. However do you know you may simply create vector paintings from a photograph, simply by utilizing the Picture Hint function? We’ll take a look at methods to use it to create a number of completely different results:
Helpful Assets
6. Exporting
6.1 Exporting for Print and Internet
Watch video lesson (11 minutes) ↗
On this lesson, you’ll learn to export your paintings from Illustrator. You’ll learn to get the very best outcomes whenever you print out of your paintings in addition to exporting your photos for on-line/net makes use of. See methods to export as a PDF from Illustrator, how and when to export an SVG file, and extra.
Though it appears logical to make use of the File > Export possibility, it is really higher to make use of File > Save As to avoid wasting your file as a PDF. Then you definately’ll see the next choices.
I am going to undergo all of the choices you could select, and we’ll take a look at a number of completely different eventualities similar to exporting various kinds of initiatives, exporting for print vs. net, and so forth.
7. Conclusion
7.1 What Subsequent?
Watch video lesson (2 minutes) ↗
You’ve reached the top of the course! You have now realized a lot extra about methods to use Adobe Illustrator than you knew initially. On this ultimate lesson, we take a look at what the subsequent steps might be in your studying development.
Study Extra About Adobe Illustrator
Now that you’ve got mastered the fundamentals of Illustrator, the logical subsequent step is to study one thing extra superior. The right selection is Dan White’s Superior Illustrator course:
After that, take a look at a few of these superior Illustrator movies:
We even have a large library of free Illustrator tutorials right here on Envato Tuts+. This is only a small choice:
