Discover ways to use Adobe Illustrator on this free course for absolute newcomers. By the top, you may understand how to attract in Adobe Illustrator, make a sample in Illustrator, and a lot extra.
Watch the Full Illustrator for Newbies Course
Soar straight to the Illustrator method you need to be taught:
What You may Be taught
- How to attract in Illustrator
- Working with coloration and gradients
- Tips on how to use textual content and fonts in Illustrator
- Tips on how to create results and patterns
- Tips on how to 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 a licensed Adobe teacher. I’ve additionally received a number of Adobe instructing awards at their annual MAX convention.
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 outline of what you may be studying.
1.2 Getting Began
Watch video lesson (6 minutes) ↗
Now let’s get every part arrange with the intention to comply with the course simply. The excellent news is that you do not want something aside from a replica of Adobe Illustrator to comply with 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 here are another helpful hyperlinks:
2. Tips on how to Attract Illustrator
2.1 Setting Up Our Doc
Watch video lesson (4 minutes) ↗
Our first train might be to attract a penguin! You may begin with a pencil drawing and discover ways to draw over it to create your personal vector paintings. Watch this video to learn how to import the drawing from the supply information and arrange your doc correctly.
As soon as we have arrange your doc, we’ll have a look at 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 discover ways to draw shapes in Illustrator. This can be a basic ability when studying how to attract in Illustrator as a result of you’ll be able to create many widespread objects by creating and adjusting easy shapes and contours.
For instance, we will begin by making a easy rectangle utilizing the Rectangle Software.
Then we will make changes to the form in order that it matches the define of our penguin.
And ultimately we will create an entire drawing, simply utilizing easy shapes.
I am going to take you thru each step within the video, so comply with it to get the total directions.
That is the longest a part of the course, however the expertise you decide up right here will enable you 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 seemed fairly good, however we will enhance it by filling within the shapes with coloration and making it look extra skilled and completed.
To create this outcome, you may have to be taught:
- group shapes in Illustrator
- transfer shapes in entrance of and behind one different
- use isolation mode” in Illustrator
I cowl all of these issues within the video, so comply with alongside to see the way it’s accomplished!
2.4 Drawing With the Form Builder Software
Watch video lesson (14 minutes) ↗
Our penguin drawing retains getting higher! This time, we’re including shadows to offer 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 advanced outcomes.
You may be taught all concerning the Form Builder Software on this video—it is a highly effective instrument that can assist you remodel easy shapes into extra advanced ones.
2.5 Train: Draw a Customized Brand
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
We have discovered some helpful methods now, so let’s put them into observe with a real-world instance: brand design. Let’s examine create the emblem proven beneath, utilizing the instruments and methods we’ve lined thus far.
Wish to know extra about brand design in Illustrator? Take a look at this free course:
2.8 Tips on how to Use the Pencil Software in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
What if you wish to draw freehand? Then you definately’ll want yet one more drawing instrument—the Pencil Software! Let’s discover ways to use the Pencil Software in Illustrator to attract these freeform traces and arrows over a photograph:
The Pencil Software has fairly just a few completely different choices to play with, so watch the video to be taught 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 taking a look at use brushes. This is what you may be creating:
You’ll be taught to rework the traces you’ve created with the pen, curvature, and pencil instruments into beautiful “painterly” strokes. Discover ways to use Illustrator brushes, change the comb measurement in Illustrator, and extra.
If you wish to dive even deeper into Illustrator brushes, try this complete information:
3. Coloration
3.1 Working With Coloration
Watch video lesson (8 minutes) ↗
This chapter is all about coloration. First, let’s discover how Illustrator controls coloration by means of RGB and HSB settings.
RGB stands for “Crimson, Inexperienced, Blue”, and HSB stands for “Hue, Saturation, Brightness”. They’re two methods of defining colours, and you will find out about them in additional element within the video.
You’ll additionally discover ways to use Adobe Coloration to search out thrilling coloration mixtures. Simply go to Window > Coloration Themes > Discover to search out some inspiring coloration swatches to make use of in your initiatives.
3.2 Tips on how to Use the Gradient Software in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (7 minutes) ↗
On this part, you’ll discover ways to use Illustrator’s Gradient Software to use and modify gradients to things. We’ll take a plain doc and provides it a colourful gradient background.
I’ll additionally present you get gradient coloration inspiration from a website referred to as Grabient and duplicate the colour values into Illustrator.
Helpful Sources
4. Kind and Fonts
4.1 Tips on how to Use Kind and Fonts in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (10 minutes) ↗
Now let’s examine work with textual content in Illustrator. I am going to present you use Illustrator’s Kind Software and the way to decide on the font coloration, type, measurement, weight, and spacing.
You’ll be taught the variations between level kind and space kind bins. You’ll additionally discover ways to use Adobe’s Typekit system to search out thrilling new typefaces to your initiatives. See add and alter fonts in Illustrator, and far 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 may discover ways to use the Liquify Software in Illustrator and distort textual content in Illustrator. You’ll additionally discover ways to minimize, twist, and explode your paintings in artistic methods.
tip
You’ll find the Warp Software and different liquifying and distorting instruments by clicking and holding on the Width Software 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 discover ways to bend and warp your Illustrator paintings. This characteristic will can help you remodel easy shapes into radically artistic designs. You may additionally see 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 you can apply with a single click on!
After you’ve got utilized an impact, the Warp Choices window will open robotically. There you’ll be able to modify the values to customise your impact. Easy!
5.3 Tips on how to Make a Sample in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (12 minutes) ↗
Now, you’ll discover ways 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 at last, we’ll rotate and duplicate our brand to make a extra advanced sample:
Wish to be taught extra about patterns? Watch this free course:
5.4 Tips on how to Vectorize an Picture in Illustrator
Watch video lesson (11 minutes) ↗
Illustrator is usually used for vector paintings. However do you know you’ll be able to simply create vector paintings from a photograph, simply through the use of the Picture Hint characteristic? We’ll have a look at use it to create just a few completely different results:
Helpful Sources
6. Exporting
6.1 Exporting for Print and Net
Watch video lesson (11 minutes) ↗
On this lesson, you’ll discover ways to export your paintings from Illustrator. You’ll discover ways to get the very best outcomes if you print out of your paintings in addition to exporting your pictures for on-line/net makes use of. See 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 choice, 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 it’s worthwhile to select, and we’ll have a look at just a few completely different eventualities reminiscent of exporting various kinds of initiatives, exporting for print vs. net, and many others.
7. Conclusion
7.1 What Subsequent?
Watch video lesson (2 minutes) ↗
You’ve reached the top of the course! You’ve got now discovered a lot extra about use Adobe Illustrator than you knew at first. On this remaining lesson, we have a look at what the following steps might be in your studying development.
Be taught Extra About Adobe Illustrator
Now that you’ve got mastered the fundamentals of Illustrator, the logical subsequent step is to be taught one thing extra superior. The right alternative is Dan White’s Superior Illustrator course:
After that, try a few of these superior Illustrator movies:
We even have an enormous library of free Illustrator tutorials right here on Envato Tuts+. This is only a small choice:
