Learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator in this training. We'll explore basic skills like working with color, creating and combining shapes, and using gradients. We'll create a basic landscape drawing and some simple logos -- and during the process we'll learn concepts important to creating artwork in Illustrator, such as working with paths, anchor points, and saving our finished artwork in different formats.
Learning Objectives
- Navigate the Illustrator interface
- Understand fundamental concepts involved in creating art in Illustrator
- Create, edit, and manipulate art elements
- Combine and transform simple shapes to make complex objects
- Export artwork for print and web use
Prerequisite Skills
- Basic computer skills
- Basic file management and organization skills
For a more in-depth look at the content of Illustrator: The Basics, view the title contents below.
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View course in ExpandImportant note for participants not affiliated with IU
- This course contains training material only.
- Participants who are not affiliated with Indiana University will need your own access to installed and licensed software, according to the training topic. This will allow you to follow along and participate in the hands-on exercises.
- If you do not have access to the needed software, you can still enroll in the online course and read the course content.
More information about this course
This online course is free to everyone and available for enrollment through IU Expand.
This course consists of a series of short lessons, examples, demonstrations, practice quizzes, and hands-on exercises.
To complete the course content, you will need:
- a web browser and internet access to use the course material on IU Expand.
- a copy of the software relevant to the training installed on your computer.
Illustrator: The Basics Contents
Expand the accordion folds to see a detailed description of the content.
Explore the contents of Illustrator: The Basics:
Explore the Illustrator interface and learn about how best to set up Illustrator for efficient graphic design.
Work with the shape tools to begin creating a landscape drawing.
Learn how to use the Selection tool to manipulate shapes on the artboard.
See the full content for Using the Selection tool to alter objects.
Explore how to combine multiple separate shapes into one shape using the Pathfinder panel.
See the full content for Uniting objects using the Pathfinder panel.
Learn the basics of using the Pen tool to create straight and curved lines.
In this section, we'll finish making the boat we've been working on by creating a few more shapes and grouping them together into one boat object.
See the full content for Grouping shapes to make a complex object.
Add effects to a shape and create a gradient, as well as learn how to arrange objects on the artboard.
See the full content for Adding effects and gradients to shapes.
Create a simple logo using the techniques covered up to this point in the title.
See the full content for Creating a simple logo using shapes and the Pathfinder panel.
Learn more about how to create and manage artboards in this section.
Create an atom logo using different options for strokes.
Convert and add anchor points to change a shape.
See the full content for Altering anchor points to change basic shapes.
Combine a logo design and a square background with some basic effects to create a finished logo.
See the full content for Combining shapes to make a finished graphic.
Learn about how to export the finished logo for print and web use, as well as what file formats are best for each type of graphic.
See the full content for Saving the logo for print and web use.
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