• The Illustrator toolbox: paths and points selection; drawing simple shapes and selecting objects
• Using multiple artboards
• Transformation tools and the Free Transform tool; Using online help
• Managing files with Bridge
Drawing
• The pen tool; controlling curves, creating and amending paths; splitting paths, manipulating anchor points
• Using Templates, Pencil, Erase, Smooth and Brush; using the Livetrace tool to convert Bitmap to vectors
• Drawing with the Blob Brush tool
Colours and fills
• Fills and strokes on objects and paths
• Process, Pantone and Registration colour
• Gradients, patterns
• Applying gradient transparency
• Editing gradients directly on an object
• Livepaint and objects; Live Colour
Brush effects
• Calligraphic, art, scatter & pattern brushes
• Editing existing and creating new brushes
• Scribble Effect; using the brush libraries
Typography
• Basic typography; the type tool; type on and in a path; type as outlines
• Character and paragraph styles
Text work
• Linking text boxes and using using circular text; text wrap around objects
• Typographic control including kerning, indents and baseline shift
Day 2
Arranging your work
• Send to back/Bring to front; Group/Ungroup and group selections
• Cut/copy/paste & paste infront/ behind
• Working with Rulers, Guides and Smart Guides, Getting the best from Layers
Modifications and special effects
• Transformations including blending shapes and the Gradient Mesh tool
• Pathfinder panel and compound paths
• Effects, graphic styles and masks
• The Flare and Distort tools, including the warp and liquify tools, envelope distort and envelope mesh
• Using Live Paint to modify images
3D Toolset
• Rotate, Revolve, Bevel and Extrude
Working with patterns
• Simple patterns and artwork patterns
• Converting logos to symbols for reuse
• Using the symbol spray to instance symbols around page
• Update symbols, manipulate symbols
Using Illustrator to present data
• Graphs and graph types
• Graph styles such as pies and bars
• Representing qualities graphically
The Actions panel
• Using existing actions
• Using Custom actions for automation
Web Work
• Optimising for the web; flexible web vector export; converting to Flash format
• Slicing and CSS layer support to create entire web pages
Practical experience100%
Entry requirementsBasic word processing, and a familiarity with the Web as a user.
Academic titleDrawing and Planning Software OCN
Course description
Adobe Illustrator CS5. Learn how to create illustrations, technical drawings, logos, maps web navigation, etc.This course will teach you how to use Illustrator for the production of a wide range of graphical elements.