Adobe Illustrator
2-3 months
Overview
This course is perfect for aspiring graphic designers, illustrators, or anyone wanting to learn Adobe Illustrator to create vector-based graphics for professional or personal projects. Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your skills, this course will guide you through key design principles like typography, color theory, and composition, while giving you hands-on experience in crafting professional-quality vector designs. By the end of the course, you'll be able to confidently use Illustrator to produce graphic design projects and build a professional portfolio.
Course Curriculum
- Introduction to Illustrator & Basic Tools
- Overview of Adobe Illustrator interface and workspace
- Basic drawing tools: Pen Tool, Pencil Tool, and Shape Tools
- Working with the selection tools: Direct Selection, Group Selection
- Introduction to the toolbar, panels, and navigation
- Creating and saving files (artboards, document setup)
- Working with Color, Gradients, and Strokes
- Understanding color modes (RGB vs CMYK) and color palettes
- Using the Color Picker, Swatches, and the Eyedropper Tool
- Applying gradients and blending colors
- Working with stroke properties: thickness, dash patterns, and joins
- Using color groups and creating custom color palettes
- Typography & Text in Illustrator
- Understanding typography principles: font selection, hierarchy, and spacing
- Creating and manipulating text using the Type Tool
- Working with text on paths, shapes, and custom effects
- Applying text styles and effects (distort, wrap text, 3D)
- Exploring text formatting and integration with graphic elements
- Advanced Drawing Techniques & Paths
- Mastering the Pen Tool for creating complex shapes and paths
- Using the Pathfinder panel to combine, subtract, and divide objects
- Creating custom shapes using the Shape Builder Tool
- Converting shapes and paths into outlines and creating compound paths
- Using the Anchor Point Tool for editing paths and curves
- Working with Layers, Grouping & Organization
- Introduction to layers: creating, organizing, and managing them
- Locking, hiding, and selecting layers for better workflow
- Grouping and ungrouping objects for efficient design
- Aligning and distributing objects using guides and grids
- Using the Layers panel to keep designs organized
- Logo Design & Vector Illustration Techniques
- Understanding the principles of logo design (simplicity, scalability)
- Designing logos using basic shapes, type, and effects
- Introduction to vector illustration techniques for creating digital art
- Working with gradients, shading, and highlights for vector illustrations
- Combining text and shapes to create a cohesive logo
- Patterns, Brushes, and Custom Effects
- Creating custom patterns and textures for use in designs
- Working with brushes: modifying and creating custom brushes
- Adding effects like 3D, shadows, and reflections
- Using the Appearance panel to apply multiple effects and styles
- Creating repeat patterns and designing seamless backgrounds
- Final Project & Portfolio Development
- Final project: Creating a complete graphic design (logo, poster, or illustration)
- Preparing designs for print and digital output (resizing, resolution)
- Organizing your portfolio with selected projects
- Exporting files for various formats (AI, PDF, PNG, SVG)
- Tips for client presentations and working in a professional setting