Introduction to Adobe IllustratorWelcome to the world of vector graphics!
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DownloadAll the files for the Illustrator Instruction can be found here. Extract them to a cloud folder like OneDrive.
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Introduction to Adobe Illustrator (Short series)
Complete Tutorial Series (19)
Envato Tuts (extension projects)
Logos
Complete Tutorial Series (19)
Envato Tuts (extension projects)
Logos
Pen Tool
The pen tool is the best tool in your illustrator toolbox. Once you have mastered this tool, it opens up so many different drawing possibilities to you. It allows you to create very simple shapes to very complex ones.
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Practice Activity
Bezier: the game that helps you master the pen tool! We will set the timer, and whoever gets to the farthest level in class wins a prize! |
The Pen Tool ExerciseIn the Pen Tool Exercise, you simply follow the numbers and the instructions. The point you need to aim at in each step is the center of each numbered colored dot. The top layer is the"working layer". Make sure your fill color is empty so you don't block the directions.
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Use the pentool_exercise.ai file downloaded from the .zip file at the top of the page.
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There are 3 different colors: blue, red and green.
- The BLUE ones don't require any dragging, but involve clicking.
- The RED ones, involve dragging, and sometimes a key needs to be pressed as well.
- The GREEN ones also involve dragging, but this time dragging one of the handles of the anchor point you've just created, while holding down a key first (alt/option).
Advanced PracticeFor students who are so good at pen tool, they need just a little bit more!
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Vector Pen Tool Exercise
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Basic Shapes
Now that you have mastered the Pen tool, next we will work on how to use the shapes already built into Illustrator. Start with downloading the Basic Shapes.AI file to the right.
Use the link found to the right called the Fundamentals of Shapes. You will need to create the shapes found in the tutorial on the first Art Board. Follow these directions to show how to use basic shapes to create new ones. On the second Art Board, create the shapes you find in the file here without a guide, using ONLY other shapes, create the shapes you see here. Create the shapes on Layer 1. Save this as Last Name + First Name + Period + Basic Shapes and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder. When finished, upload it to the Canvas Assignment. |
Practice Activity
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Color Wheel |
In drawing the color wheel, you will use pathfinder in a more advanced way. Its very important that mathematically, all the anchor points and paths cross in order to let pathfinder split the shapes individually so you can color them.
Follow the written tutorial below. Its an older version of Illustrator, so you may have to use "help" the "Align to Artboard" for example.
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*Always use the class file naming convention when turning in assignments.
Getting started with Drawing
Learning to Trace
Click the Video Tutorial, want watch the simple tracing over an object in a photograph.
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Knife, Scissors, and Eraser Tool
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ACTIVITY
With the tutorial instructions to the left, create the word "Really" and break apart the typography so you can make an interesting and thematic pattern. Use each tool as described in the video. After you place text, you need to change it to an outlined object with anchor points and paths. Look --> Font Used: Kaushan Script, 100pt |
Word Cloud Project
Test your design skills in your first major assessment in Illustrator by creating a typography composition. You must have a theme, so all the words inside your major word must match the topic.
Requirements:
Requirements:
- Select a word that is between 4-6 letters (longer words might take longer to complete)
- Select a very thick font, and use 250pt type on a 8.5 x 11 Artboard. Only use the middle 1/3 of the space for your design. The extra space will be cropped.
- Ensure that each letter has double layers of text.
- You can make your color theme random (like mine), or you can be strategic and select 4-5 colors.
Extension Project
Interested in more cool text effects? Create one of these!
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