Illustrator Intro Course
Get up and running with Illustrator in 1 day with
Illustrator Getting Started
Our Illustrator training courses will help you learn to make the most of this great package, and have you up and running with Illustrator in no time at all.
The Illustrator Getting Started course is the aimed at those with little or no experience using Illustrator, so if you are looking to get up to speed quickly this is a good place to start. Taught by our Adobe Certified Instructors with many years experience using Illustrator, you will learn best practice right from the start and a wealth of new techniques.
During this course you will learn the difference between vector and raster images, how to master the pen tool and start creating your own vectors, recreating logos and other shapes. We will even introduce you to cutting edge features like intertwine and show you how to edit your artwork, adjust nodes, and combine paths.
Experienced Instructors
Over 20 years experience
Post Course Support
Hours of videos & more
Closed Courses
Live Online or inhouse
Secure Online Booking
£325.00
Scheduled Live Online Course Dates
Prices ex VAT. Highlander standard terms and conditions apply to all bookings.
Please contact us if you would like to arrange a private or onsite course.
The Illustrator Getting Started covers a wide range of topics and we try hard to ensure any specific requirements you might have are met. The standard topics we cover are listed below.
Illustrator Overview
- Vectors v Rasters
- What are Bézier curves
- Common uses of vector images
- Navigating the interface
- Working with artboards
- New document settings
Creating Simple Vectors
- The pen tool
- Adding and removing anchor points
- Corner or smooth anchors
- Independant adjustment handles
- Simplifying paths
- Creating simple shapes
Drawing Tools
- Arc Tool
- Spiral Tool
- Rectangle Grids
- Polar Grids
- Rectangle & Ellipse Tools
- Polygon & Star Tools
Paint & Modify Tools
- Shape builder
- Live paint
- The eraser
- Using the Knife
- Cutting with the scissors
- Rotation and reflection
Additional Modification Tools
- Adjusting stroke width
- Twirling
- Pucker & bloat
- Scallop, crystallize and wrinkle
- Working with the blend tool
- Creating compound paths
Working with Color
- Applying colour
- Creating swatches
- Spot colours
- Process colours
- Global colours
- Linear and radial gradients
- Freeform gradients
Applying Effects
- 3D & materials
- Stylize effects
- Distort and transform
- Warp effects
- Raster effects v vector effects
Using Text
- Adding and editing text
- Creating area type
- Applying type on a path
- Type on a path options
- Touch type tool
- Creating outlines
Basic Image Trace
- Importing a raster image
- Image trace presets
- Expanding trace results
- Group v Ungroup
Intertwine
- What is intertwine
- Applying intertwine
- Editing intertwine
- Releasing intertwine
Saving and Exporting
- Save options
- Exporting to pdf
- Other export options
The Illustrator Getting Started course introduces you to the basics of creating vector artwork such as logos and technical drawings.
You will learn to
- Understand the difference between vector and raster images
- Be able to create artwork in Illustrator such as logos, technical drawings, typography and illustrations.
- Know how to customise the Illustrator interface to improve efficiency and work better
- Feel comfortable using Illustrator's tools to create shapes, lines, bezier curves (we'll explain these too) and more.
- Understand and be able to organise your layers, artboards, templates, etc..
- Apply colours, gradients and a wide range of effects to your illustrations
- Transform your shapes by duplication, rotating, scaling, and more
- Save your illustrations for reuse in both print and web using formats such as ai, pdf, svg and more.
Who should attend this course
This course is aimed at anybody wanting to get up and running with Adobe Illustrator, and looking to learn how to use the pen tool and other Illustrator tools to create scalable vector artwork. You should be comfortable using a computer to copy and past, open files and applications and other similar skills.
Comments from delegates that attended
Andy has been super helpful in going through everything. He keeps things relevant and moving along at a good speed and can show you some good hints which are relevant to your role
Pre-contract Coordinator, Morgan Sindall Construction
Set up was easy and I don't think I'd change anything. Andy was a great instructor and made sure that we understood everything he was going through and was more than happy to go over it again until we were comfortable.
Marketing Executive, IDHL
Once again, great session with Andy who really helped me to develop a basic understanding of Illustrator. I particularly liked the section with the pen tool and going into detail on how to develop my skills with this. As a fairly new user, this was very helpful and I can take this away to now develop further.
Senior Document Designer, Wilmington PLC
Again, Andy has been super helpful and friendly. He is happy to repeat areas and go over them a little slower to ensure they are understood. Great work Andy
Forensic Imaging Specialist, Derbyshire Constabulary
Andy is a great instructor, trains in a way that is really hands on which particularly suits my learning style so was easy to grasp all the concepts. Liked the ability to attend online which gave me more flexibility, and the way the course was laid out was very clear allowing the best learning experience
Marketing Executive, Lucy Electric
"Really good instructor, very impressed with the overall approach who was very patient and explained everything clearly. Very friendly and energetic!"
Concept Designer, Interface
"Excellent. Always makes things easy to understand and more than happy to go back through any things found difficult. Really enjoyed learning the basics, feel as though its been incredibly useful."
Marketing Assistant, Varlink
"Fantastic tutor, patient and fun. I've really enjoyed my course and I feel much more equipped to start working with illustrator. I think the size of the class was perfect and the pace of the course was also great."
Photographer and Publicity Assistant, Reliance Precision
"I enjoyed the fact that it is mostly practical and you're able to get hands on with the software. The instructor is very friendly and approachable which makes it easier to ask for help."
Marketing Administrator, Softbox
"Very good. Good, comfortable working environment"
Data Officer, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
"Really good introduction to all the basic tools of illustrator."
Valerie Hawkins, Footwear Designer
"The instructor was very friendly and always helped when i asked questions."
Litho Printer, Litmus
"Excellent, Comprehensive training for Adobe suite courses."
Owner, MGT Publications
"Very good introduction to a complex matter - it made it feel easy. It wants me to go home and play around with it now."
Content Marketing Manager, Six Degrees
"Very helpful, answered every question that I had, correctly."
Project Management Assistant, Lloyds Banking Group
