Adobe Illustrator is a graphics program used primarily for creating graphic vectors. Developed in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop as a companion product, Illustrator is used to create logos, graphics, cartoons and fonts for Photoshop layouts. The latest version of the program, Illustrator CS 5 offers new features such as three-dimensional applications and realistic brushes. If you want to know the basic functions of Adobe Illustrator, here is a tutorial that can briefly show you how.
Steps
Step 1. A good test project is to create a poster with Adobe Illustrator
You will learn how to create a simple document, by changing the text and color, and generating a product.
Step 2. After creating a poster, you can try creating a brochure, which requires a greater understanding of height, width, sizing and layout
Step 3. But if your plan is to create graphics that you can transfer to Photoshop, you can start by learning how to use the simpler tools to draw with this program, such as the Pen tool
Use this tool to start drawing a simple shape to create a complex logo. In order not to get confused, fill the images with white and draw black. Forget the effects, gradients and colors for a while and focus on the drawing.
Step 4. Once you have mastered the pen tool, you can try drawing something from start to finish
Step 5. The next step is to learn how to use the Shape and Pathfinder tools
If you are using the Pen tool to draw shapes and find that they are not perfect enough, you can also use the Shape tool. Use this tool to create ellipses, rectangles, rounded rectangles, triangles and stars.
Step 6. You can also test your skills using the Pathfinder tool
This tool will come in handy when you need to create complex shapes and objects.
Step 7. After learning how to draw with Illustrator, learn how to use its swatches and colors
Start by changing the colors of the fills and strokes of your designs using your swatches.
Step 8. You can also apply a gradient using the Mesh tool
The basic idea is to use your own color swatches if you're looking to create a flat or two-dimensional image, gradients if you're looking to create more three-dimensional graphics, and the Mesh tool if you want more realistic graphics.
Step 9. Test your skills of using the color tools by trying to draw a burger from start to finish
Step 10. To summarize everything you've learned, try creating your own logo and business card
By following all the steps, you can start designing a logo and prepare a simple layout.
Step 11. If you want a more difficult challenge, try tracing an image
This is a great introductory test to Adobe Illustrator's more advanced tools.
