Illustrator CS4 for Beginners
Dave Cross introduces the essential tools and techniques in Illustrator CS4. Rather than attempting to cover every single aspect of Illustrator, this course focuses on the most important skills that a beginner needs to know.
Release Date: 2009-06-04
Lessons
Introduction
<p>Dave introduces the course and talks about what he will be covering</p>
Duration: 1 mins 50 seconds
AI vs PS: Similarities and Differences
<p>See the key differences and similarities between Illustrator and Photoshop.</p>
Duration: 5 mins 36 seconds
Key Concepts 1: Paths and Shapes
<p>Learn about the building blocks of Illustrator: paths, anchor points and shapes.</p>
Duration: 3 mins 27 seconds
Key Concepts 2: Selecting Objects and Paths
<p>See the difference between the Selection tool and Direct Selection tool and how to use isolation mode.</p>
Duration: 5 mins 3 seconds
Key Concepts 3: Fill and Stroke
<p>Every object potentially has a fill and a stroke. Learn how to use both.</p>
Duration: 3 mins 12 seconds
The Illustrator Process
<p>Dave shares his thoughts on the typical process in Illustrator: create, edit, manipulate, color.</p>
Duration: 4 mins 53 seconds
Setting Up a Document
<p>Step one: set up a document</p>
Duration: 2 mins 36 seconds
Creation Tools and Commands 1: Shapes
<p>Start creating shapes using the built-on tools.</p>
Duration: 9 mins 20 seconds
Illustrator Clip Art
<p>Dave addressees the question of whether there is clip art in Illustrator.</p>
Duration: 4 mins 12 seconds
Creation Tools and Commands 2: the Pen Tool
<p>Learn the ins and outs of using the most unique tool in Illustrator, the Pen tool.</p>
Duration: 7 mins 15 seconds
Creation tools and Commands 3: Brushes
<p>A brief overview of the Brush tools in Illustrator</p>
Duration: 3 mins 3 seconds
Pathfinder Commands
<p>One of the most powerful ways of making shapes is to combine them using the Pathfinder commands</p>
Duration: 7 mins 28 seconds
Working with Type
<p>Learn about the incredible type options in Illustrator</p>
Duration: 10 mins 48 seconds
Editing Tools and Commands
<p>Once you have created shapes, we need to know how to edit them</p>
Duration: 5 mins 45 seconds
Manipulating Tools and Commands
<p>See how to rotate, scale, skew, reflect and shear objects</p>
Duration: 7 mins 57 seconds
Coloring Tools and Commands
<p>How to add color to objects, including fills, strokes ands gradients.</p>
Duration: 7 mins 26 seconds
Live Effects
<p>Add editable special effects thanks to the Effects menu.</p>
Duration: 4 mins 50 seconds
Appearance Panel
<p>Build interesting looks through the use of the Appearance panel and save graphic looks to apply to other objects using Graphic Styles</p>
Duration: 6 mins 40 seconds
Saving
<p>How to save your work both for Illustrator editing, and to use in other applications.</p>
Duration: 6 mins 57 seconds
Sample Projects, Part 1
<p>Follow along with the first of two simple projects</p>
Duration: 2 mins 25 seconds
Sample Projects, Part 2
<p>Follow along with the first of two simple projects</p>
Duration: 8 mins 11 seconds
Conclusion
<p>Thanks for following along. Hope you enjoyed it.</p>
Duration: 0 mins 30 seconds