Summary

Course Aim:

The Illustrator Level 1 course provides an introduction to creating and editing vector artwork such as logos, illustrations and graphic artwork.

Course Prerequisites:

Previous experience using applications on a PC or Macintosh is an essential prerequisite for this course. Experience in using a graphics application in the Windows/Macintosh environment is helpful.

Course Duration:

Two days 9:00am – 4:30pm

Classroom courses include:

• Adobe Certified instructors (with min 10 yrs experience)
• Alpha prepared comprehensive coursenotes with tutorials and exercises (updated frequently to reflect industry trends)
• Certificates
• FREE eLearning DVD Package (extensive video files that replay all topics covered in the course you have completed)
• After course support, unlimited HELP DESK (via email, to reinforce the learning), helpdesk@alphacc.com.au
• Training guarantee
• FREE repeat of public course within 6 months (where required, and on same version), see terms & conditions

Content

Course Content

During this course you will learn about:

Topic 1 Illustrator's Interface

• Topic Objectives
• The Welcome Screen (pre CS6)
• The Tools panel
• Working with panels
• Customizing your workspace
• The Application bar
• The Control panel
• The context menu

• Zooming in and out
• Scrolling the view
• Preview and Outline Views
• Illustrator's preferences
• Undo, Redo and Revert commands
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 2 Artwork Essentials

• Topic Objectives
• Vector images
• Bitmap images
• Creating new Illustrator documents
• Opening a file
• Templates
• About Adobe Bridge
• The Illustrator artboard
• Creating, editing, and deleting artboards
• Creating artboards
• Editing or deleting artboards

• Artboard options
• Working with rulers
• Changing the measurement units
• Working with the Grid
• Working with guides
• Snapping objects to anchor points and guides
• Use smart guides to align objects
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 3 Drawing Vector Art

• Topic Objectives
• About vector paths
• Drawing lines with the Line Segment tool
• Drawing rectangles
• Drawing ellipses
• Drawing polygons
• Drawing stars
• Drawing straight lines with the Pen tool
• Tips for drawing curves with the Pen tool
• Drawing curves with the Pen tool
• Changing the curve direction
• (method 1 - preferred method)
• Changing the curve direction (method 2)
• Adjusting the shape of a curve
• Adding or deleting anchor points

• Converting between smooth and corner points
• The Pencil Tool
• Smoothing paths
• Finding and deleting stray anchor points
• Erasing artwork
• Simplifying paths
• Joining and cutting paths
• Aligning the position of anchor points
• An Introduction to the Stroke Panel
• Adjusting the thickness of a path
• Adding arrowheads to paths
• An Introduction to Pathfinder Panel
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 4 Selecting and arranging objects

• Topic Objectives
• Selecting objects
• Selecting with the Selection tool
• Selecting objects and groups within groups with the Selection tool
• Selecting one object within a group
• Using the Group Selection tool
• Selecting with the Magic Wand tool
• Customising the Magic Wand tool
• Selecting the next object in the stacking order
• Selecting all objects by characteristics
• Moving and duplicating objects
• Moving or duplicating objects by pasting

• Moving an object by dragging
• Duplicating objects by dragging
• Moving an object by using the arrow keys
• Moving using the Move command
• Moving objects using x and y coordinates
• The Align panel
• Distributing objects by specific amounts
• The stacking order
• Grouping objects
• Locking and hiding objects
• Isolating groups and sublayers
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 5 Transforming objects

• Topic Objectives
• Transforming objects
• Using the Transform panel to transform
• Using the bounding box to transform
• Scaling objects
• Rotating objects
• Reflecting objects

• Shearing objects
• Distorting objects with the Free Transform tool
• Warp Effects
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 6 Colour

• Topic Objectives
• Process colours
• Spot colours
• RGB colours
• Fills and strokes
• Making out-of-gamut colours printable
• The Colour Picker
• The Colour panel
• Selecting colours in the Colour panel
• About swatches

• The Swatches panel
• Creating process colour swatches
• Creating spot colour swatches
• Adjusting swatches
• Using Pantone colours
• Changing the tint of a colour
• Managing Swatches
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 7 Layers

• Topic Objectives
• Using layers
• The Layers panel
• Layer options
• Moving objects to a different layer
• Changing the stacking order of Layers
• Locating an item in the Layers panel
• Locking and unlocking objects
• Hiding and showing objects

• Pasting objects between layers
• Duplicating objects using the Layers panel
• Using Template Layers to redraw artwork
• Merging and flattening layers
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 8 Type

• Topic Objectives
• Adding type in Illustrator
• Creating point type
• Creating area type
• Creating text along a path
• Resizing a text area object
• Moving or flipping text on a path
• Path type effects
• Vertical alignment of type on a path
• Character spacing around sharp turns
• Importing text into Illustrator
• The Character panel

• Leading
• Adjusting the baseline
• Kerning and tracking
• The Paragraph panel
• Aligning text
• Justifying text
• Indenting text
• Adjusting paragraph spacing
• The Glyphs panel
• Converting text into graphic objects
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 9 Importing Files

• Topic Objectives
• Placing files
• Linking or embedding artwork
• Using the Links panel
• Embedding/Unembedding artwork
• Viewing information about placed files
• Updating modified links

• Editing the original of a linked file
• Relinking missing links
• Setting placement options for linked artwork
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 10 Clipping Masks, Transparency, Gradients & Patterns

• Topic Objectives
• Clipping masks
• Creating a clipping mask for objects
• Creating a clipping mask for a group or layer
• Editing a clipping mask
• Adding or removing objects from a clipping mask
• Releasing objects from a clipping mask
• Transparency

• Using the Transparency panel
• Illustrator's blending modes
• Gradients
• The Gradient tool
• Gradients on Strokes (CS6)
• Creating Patterns
• Create pattern swatches
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 11 Saving and Exporting from Illustrator

• Topic Objectives
• Saving and exporting artwork
• Saving in Illustrator format (AI)
• Illustrator format (AI) options
• Saving in EPS format
• EPS format options
• About Adobe PDF format
• Saving in Adobe PDF format
• Creating a layered Adobe PDF file

• Adobe PDF presets
• Customizing PDF presets
• PDF presets locations
• Exporting PDF presets
• Importing PDF presets
• Exporting artwork to other formats
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Topic 12 Printing from Illustrator

• Topic Objectives
• Printing an Illustrator file
• Print dialogue box options

• Print presets
• Topic Summary
• Topic Review

Appendix A Colour Management

• Reproducing Colour
• Colour Management Basics

Appendix B Adobe Bridge

• Using Adobe Bridge
• The Bridge workspace
• Starting Bridge
• Viewing file thumbnails in Bridge
• Controlling the display of files
• Navigating files and folders in Bridge
• Selecting files
• Opening files
• Managing files in Bridge
• Rotating images with Bridge
• Managing folders
• Searching for files and folders

• Filter files
• Viewing metadata in Bridge
• Editing metadata in Bridge
• Applying keywords with Bridge
• Viewing Files in the Preview panel
• Previewing document pages
• Viewing Linked Files of InDesign Documents
• Viewing the contents of subfolders
• Slideshow and Full screen view
• Creating a PDF contact sheet

Appendix C Keyboard Shortcuts

• Keys for selecting tools
• Keys for viewing artwork
• Keys for drawing
• Keys for drawing (continued)
• Keys for selecting
• Keys for moving selections
• Keys for editing shapes
• Keys for painting objects
• Keys for working with Live Paint groups
• Keys for transforming objects
• Keys for working with type
• Keys for using panels

• Keys for the Actions panel
• Keys for the Brushes panel
• Keys for the Character and Paragraph panels
• Keys for the Colour panel
• Keys for the Gradient panel
• Keys for the Layers panel
• Keys for the Swatches panel
• Keys for the Transform panel
• Keys for the Transparency panel
• Function keys
• Keys for working with Adobe Bridge

Appendix: Index

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Packages

Packages Available

Adobe Illustrator Level 1 is offered as part of the following packages, designed for users who want to attend multiple courses to achieve in depth knowledge:

Illustrator Package

• Illustrator Levels 1, 2 and 3
• 5 days

Publishing Level 1 Package

• Acrobat for Business, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop Level 1
• 7 days

Visit our packages page for more information

Specials

2012 Training Specials for Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra Centres

eLearning DVD

When you attend any of the following scheduled courses, you will receive a FREE eLearning DVD:

• Acrobat for Business and Advanced
• PhotoShop Level 1, and Level 2
• Illustrator Level 1, and Level 2
• InDesign Level 1, and Level 2
• Dreamweaver Level 1, and Level 2
• Flash Level 1, and Level 2

Specials are subject to our terms and conditions

Gift Vouchers

When you give an Alpha Computer Consultants Gift voucher, you let people choose their own reward from the entire list of courses and consulting we provide. It is much more effective than other incentive schemes as they can choose which courses they want to benefit from.