Anyone who has never used Illustrator before and wishes to produce logos and vector graphics for print and the web.
Aims
By the end of the course you will be confident in using the essential features of Illustrator to combine text and vector graphics for use in print and on the web – e.g. to create logos, print advertisements and promotional postcards.
What you will learn
In particular you will be able to:
- Create simple shapes.
- Create complex shapes.
- Insert and manipulate text.
- Place images and other artwork into an Illustrator document.
- Understand and apply colour.
- Format shapes, images and text.
- Use layers to organise your artwork.
- Export your artwork for use in DTP packages or for the Web.
Timetable
Session 1
Introduction to Illustrator: Finding your way around; Setting Up a new Document; Outline and Preview Modes; Grids and Guides; Adding Guidelines; Navigating Around your Document (Zooming and Panning); Tools and Panels
Session 2
Creating Simple Shapes: Simple Shapes with the Shape Tools; Simple Shapes with the Line Tools; Adding Simple Stroke and Fill Colours
Session 3
Understanding and Using Colour: Colour Fills and Strokes; Colour Swatches and Libraries; Creating Gradients; Saving New Colours
Session 4
Inserting and Manipulating Text: Typing Directly into the Image; Importing Text from a Text File; Formatting Text; Text on a Path
Session 5
Placing Images into Illustrator: Importing an Image into Illustrator; Linking or Embedding Images; Live Trace
Session 6
Creating Complex Shapes: Using the Pencil Tool; Using the Brush Tool; Using the Pen Tool; Modifying Existing Shapes to Create New Shapes; Merge and Divide Objects; Duplicate and Resize Objects
Session 7
Using Layers and Artboards & Exporting Files: the Layers Palette; Creating Layers; Moving Objects between Layers; Creating Multiple Artboards; File Formats; Exporting a File; Save for Web
Session 8
Putting it Together – Creating an Advertisement with Illustrator
Requirements
Delegates must be confident in using Windows and a mouse.
The ‘Small Print’
The course will run from 10am to 4:45pm (light cold buffet 1pm to 1:45pm). Please be careful to arrive by 9.45am for registration and refreshments. The course will start precisely on time and it may not be possible to go back over material missed by late arrivals. If you arrive over 30 minutes late you may be asked to leave and attend another day.
