Intro to Illustrator:  Class 1

1.  Introductions and overview
  • Illustrator Tool Gallery Handout (see link below)
  • Workspace (space bar navigates around the page when zoomed in)
  • Vector vs. Rastor
  • Fill vs. Stroke
2.  Uses
  • Create freehand drawings and paintings
  • Trace and color in scanned artwork
  • Create complex shapes and logos
  • Create vector graphics
3.  In-class exercises
  • Pen Tool Exercise (see link below)
  • Create a house scene using basic shapes
  • Create a snowman / grapes / ice cream using basic shapes and Mesh Tool
4.  Key terms/concepts
  • Zoom Tool - allows you to zoom in on your image
  • Star Tool - draws stars
  • Mesh Tool - a multicolored object on which colors can flow in different directions and transition smoothly from one point to another
  • Fill - characteristics of the inner area of and object, such as the color, pattern, style,etc., inside an object
  • Stroke - characteristics of the outline of an object, such as its weight, color, style, etc.
  • Selection Tool - black arrow that will select the wholes or grouped objects
  • Direct Selection Tool - white arrow that will select individual objects in a group or anchor points
  • Pen Tool - perhaps, the most bizarre and valuable tool Illustrator has to offer. It places anchor points which define a path that, eventually, becomes an object
  • Anchor Points - Anchor points define the path by controlling the angle of a corner, or the shape of a curve
  • Handles - Special points attached to a curve that are used to alter the shape and angle of the adjacent curve segment. Stretching the control point manipulates the shape of a curve, rotating the control point manipulates the angle of a curve
5.  Shortcuts
  • Command + a = Select all
  • Command + c = copy
  • Command + v = paste
  • Command + z = undo
  • Command + 0 = zoom out to full screen
  • Command + w = closes a tab or folder
  • Command + q = quits a program
  • Command + t = transforms an object so that you can rotate, enlarge, or shrink it
  • Holding down the shift key  = allows you to make a perfect square or circle shape (forces proportionality)
  • Holding down the shift key when drawing a line (forces you to draw a straight line horizontally or vertically)
  • Holding down the space bar = turns your mouse in to a hand that you can use to navigate around in your work space
6.  Course files
7.  Homework
  • Review Tool Gallery hand out
TEXTBOOK
  • Is recommended, but not required
  • Available in college bookstore

SESSIONS
  • 4 sessions
  • Campus map can be found here.