Illustrator Course

It’s a programa of vectorial desing, This program don’t used to edit photos as photoshop. We can find
images as bit maps or vectors. The different between a bit map and a vector is that bit map is a
image created by pixels while the vectores no, the resolution of bit maps depend of pixels and this is
affected by zoom while vectors don’t affected in its resolution by zoom.
Illustrator is componed by a menu bar situated in the top of window:

And this bar have common basic tools in some program.

In the next level or bar find the Settings bar is depending of tool that be used like this:
A) Type Tool (Shorcut:T):

B) Gradient tool (Shorcut:G):

In the top of workspaces is located the tabs bar: this bar lets us show all documents created and used
in real time. also lets us see, how much many documents we are using?

On the left we find the tool bar, it has the basic tools for basic desings into workspace like.
Some tools have sections with Different characteristics belonged to a principal tool:

On the right we find some panels with other tools that can be modificated by the users, these aspects
can be selected in the menu bar in the right top:
Remark: These aspects vary depending upon action selected.

How change the color on the user interface?

At the menu bar in the tab edit > Preferences > General or using the shortcut “Ctrl+K”:
In this windows we can select the user interface color to user preference:
 Rulers on the workspaces

The programs have some rulers these let’s to users take references at moment of draw lines with
precision, these are located around of workspace, but sometimes cannot be found by users.
The rulers can be enabled in the menu bar on section “View” > Rulers. Or using the shortcut “Ctrl +
R”.
 How to change the units?
Some users prefer to work with inches, millimeters or centimeters, theses options can be modified on
the window of preferences on section “Units” where we can select the unit.
 How to create a new document?

At the menu bar we can locate the section “File” > New or can use the shortcut “Ctrl +N”

This option opened to us a windows with some options of documents:

At right we can find settings to new document like the title, Hight or Widht, and artboards, these are
the number of document with equal characteristics.
At color mode we have these:
-RGB color: for digital formats.
-CYMK color: for priting formats.

Note: To move us on the workspace or move a vector to better view, can use the shortcut “H” or keep
pressed the space bar and with click of mouse move the vector or document.
Two click on the bottom of command Hand Tool let center the document.

How to put the vector on outline format?

At menu bar on the section “View” > Outline or using shortcut “Ctrl + Y”
 How to create vary artboards on the workspace?
At moment of create a new document in the option “More Settings” we can see on “Number of
artboards” that let selected us, how many artboard we used? Also the position on the workspaces for
example:
These artboards can be viewed on the right of workspace on the section Artboard:

To Copy a artboard we use the tool called “Artboard Tool” (Shift +O) located on the tool bar:
And keep pressed the key “Alt” and moving the vector automatically this is copied:
 How to modify the size of an artboard?
The command “Artboard Tool” (Shift +O) must be enabled and at one of controllers keep pressed and
move to change the size.

Note: With the key “Alt” Changed the size in a proportionate manner:
 How to select objects?
There are two selection ways such as:
Selection Tool (Shorcut “V”): this selection let us changed the size of the vector:

Direct Selection Tool (Shorcut “A”): this selection let us configure the form of the vector:
 How to enable the Smart guides?
At the menu bar on the section “View” > Smart Guides (Shorcut “Ctrl + U”). These let guide us at
moment that move a vector. Taking as reference the rulers or the positions of other vectors.
Remark: to move an object in right angles only we select the object and keep pressed the key “Shift”
and move.
To move with presition only we select the object and pressing the key “enter”; automatically a
windows let specify us with presition the points, pixels or exact angles. At option preview we can see
on real time the position on workspaces.

Note: If we introducing a valor and selected “copy” automatically a copy is created with the values
added.
In the option “Document Setup” we can change the type of Unit.
 How to rotate an object with rotate axis?
Using the rotate tool:
First we selected the object and then used “Rotate tool” (Shortcut “R”).
The first click to will place the rotate axis and second click will rotate the object or pressing enter let
introduce us the exact angle.
Note: With the key “shift” pressed we can rotate per 45 grades.

How to scale an object?

A) Simply with the controllers, But this is in an uncontrolled manner, for example:

B) Is, we keep pressed the key “Shift” this object will scale in an controlled manner, For example:
Note: with the key “Alt” pressed we scale of central manner, for example:

To add values to the scale we used the scale tool (Shortcut “S”) and press enter to open the scale
menu:
 How to draw lines?
By pressing the line segment tool we have some options to draw lines.
And the menu bar we selected the color for the lines, and also modify the weight.

With the key “shit” pressed we can draw lines in specific angles. Like 45° o 90°
 How to draw arcs?
In the tool bar we selected the option “Arc Tool”

How to put values in an arc?

Selecting the option “Arc Tool” we click on the workspace and opened a windows with some values to
modify:
 How to draw Spiral?
Selecting the option “Spiral Tool” we click on the workspace and with the keys “up” and “down”, add
or decrease the depth of spiral.
 How to draw Shapes?
Selecting the option “Rectangle Tool” we can see some options of form like Rectangle, Rounded
Rectangle, Elipse, Polygon or Star.

To draw rectangles we selected “Rectangle Tool” and click on workspace. For a draw more
proportional we hold down the SHIFT key.

We hold down the ALT key for a centralized manner.

We hold down the ALT and SHIFT keys for proportioned and centralized manner.

How to put color to a form?

In the Settings bar we can put color to a form select the outline and background color.
In the first box we can select the background color, for example:
And the second box we can select the outline color, for example:

We can also put values for the rectangle, selecting the “Rectangle tool” option and click on the
workspace:
Remark: when we draw Rounded rectangles, can modify the bezels, holding the cursor over the
controller and press.

Note: For controlle a bezel individually we click in the controller and modify.
 How to draw a polygon?
Selecting the option “Polygon Tool” we can see that inmediatly appear a hexagon for change the
number of sides hold down the up and down keys for add or discrease sides.
Note: To draw a star more long, only we hold down the CTRL key, for change the number of pointed
hold down the up and down keys for add or discrease pointed.

To joint two or more objects we can use the SHAPER tool to join two or more objects for example:
Note: also we can stress the intersections for example:
 PART II
How to see the guides and grid?
In the menu bar on the section VIEW we can show grid and smart guides:
 Hot to configurate the grids?
In preferences on the section GUIDES & GRID we can configurate the color, style, gridline every and
subdivisions.
 How to activate the SNAP TO GRID option?
To draw with more precision for be guided by a grid, in the VIEW section on the SNAP TO GRID
option we select for star to draw with snap to grid.

How to take a guide line?

We hold down the rules and move to place the guide line on the artboard.
 How to configurate a guide line?
We select the guide line and click right a select Tranform/rotate and specify the angle:
Also we can:
 How to convert a shape in a guide?

We draw the shape and select, click right and select MAKE GUIDES or use the CTRL+5
 COLORS
RGB: Digital
CMYK: paiting
Note: On the right toolbar we can use the color panel.

To we can specify a color by its number, code or percent, click on:

 How to use the eyedropper tool (I)?

First we select the shape to imitate and click on the eyedropper and then select the shape to
apply
How to create a new swatch?
For a group:
And to add a new swatch in a folder or group, first we select the folder and then a new swatch.
 How to create a new global color?
We select GLOBAL and add this in other folder with same name.

The global color if it is modified all the shapes with this global color will be modified.
How to degrade a color?
If we use black, white, the shape selected will be degraded on black and white.
On the right toolbar in the GRADIENT section we can modify the gradient of the shape:

For modify the color:

With the Gradient Tool we can see the controllers on the shape:
 How to control shape?
To draw some shape we use the pen tool or curvature tool, but to control we need to know, what
select tool to choose.
For example:

1) Selection Tool:
2) Direct Seletion Tool (A):

The other tools are for add and decrease controllers:

Note: The Anchor Point Tool (Shift+C) this tool convert the curveD lines in Straight lines and vice
versa.
With the cut tool we can cur a controller, for example:
 How to handle a controller individually?

We hold down the ALT key for handle one side of the controller at a time

How to use the pathfinder?

In the menu bar on the WINDOWS section we select “pathfinder”
A) Unite:

B) Minus Front:

C) Intersect:
D) Exclude:

E) Divide:
F) Trim:
G) Merge:

H) Crop:
I) Outline:

J) Minus Back:
 How to work with Text?
Jj

A) Type Tool (T): With the first click we make a title and if hold down and move a paragraph.

How to remove dummy text?

On preferences we select the Type option and unmark “Fill new type objects with Placeholder text”
And ok:
 How to modify a paragraph?
On the paragraph panel we can modify a paragraph:

And to modify a character, the character panel:

To organize all we can located a windows with multiple tabs, on WINDOWS in the Text/character
option.
A) Size: (Tamaño)

B) Kerning: (Espacio entre dos caracteres)

C) Set the leading: (Interlineado)

D) Tracking:
Note: Also we can change the color, like any shape.
In a text box we double click on un small box this show us the continuation of text in other text box.
 How to locate text over shape?
If we select as text as the shape, automatically in the Settings bar found some options for locate:

To adjust a text to a shape we must select the shape then OBJECT/ TEXT WRAP and MAKE:
B) Type on a path tool:

First, We select the line and then the tool:

How to put controller to a text?

First we must convert a text in a outline, TYPE/ CREATE OUTLINES (Shift+Ctrl+O)
 How to Align a shape?
On the align panel, we found the options for align:

O directly on WINDOWS/ALIGN (Shift+7):

Align to selection: for align a object with other.
Align to Artboard: for align a object take like reference the artboard:
For move a shape take like reference the locate of other shape we click on the reference shape
 How to select by group?
With the lasso tool:
Note: with Ctrl+g joint the shapes by group.
Or OBJECT:

On this bar we can see the information of group or layer.

 How to work with layers?

We can locate them on the right toolbar or in WINDOWS/LAYER

All the shapes of the artboard are in a only layer, but for we can add more layer select on new layer
and in the windows of layer if we open the only layer will see all the shapes select and move until the
new layer to add.
Illustrator works in orden as are the layers, if a layer is first its elements of shapes were of first.
WE can lock a layer for not to select its elements.

For lock

Toggles visibility

For example: also we can change the color of layer,

First we select the layer “Name: Guide”.
And we can change the name or the color of layer.
Also we can change the name of layer double click over the layer.

How to work with appearance tool?

We create a shape of model and to convert in right click Create outline

And we copy and ungroup the text with right click:

On gradient tool to we select automatically this change:

And we change the colors:

And we can see the gradient on the text:

Also we can put a bigger.outline

And we can put gradient in the outline
 Hot to convert a outline in a individual shape?
If we select the outline appear one only line.

OBJECT/PATH/ OUTLINE STROKE

 The Efeccts
The effects are found in the aparesrance.
 3D

Buscatrazos/Pathfinder
Convertir en forma/ Converte to shape

Deformar/ Warp
Distorcionar y transformar/ Distort & Transform

Estilizar/Stylize

Artistico/Artistic
 Bosquejar/ Skecth

Textura/Texture

On Stylize/ Drop shadow for the types.

 How to add a picture on illustrator?
FILE/ PLACE (Shift+Ctrl+P)

And we select the picture and place on the artboard.

Als we can mark the space to use.
We see the information of picture in WINDOWS/LINK
For save a picture in the same artboard or document.
We select the picture and then on the settings bar select Embed:

And for the contrary “Unembed”:

How to cut a picture?

If we select mask only can modify the corners of pictures for example:
Only after of we select mask only click up and down to mark the new controller and move for cut:
 How to cur with a shape?
We put the shape to cut, Then select all and OBJECT/ CLIPPING MASK/ CREATE
Also we can use the gradient tool in a clipping mask:
For we put various clipping mask, first draw the shapes to use:

Select and OBJECT/ COMPOUND PATH/ MAKE

Then select again all and OBJECT/ CLIPPING MASK/ MAKE

1) Make Grid
2) Appearance /stroke and adjust
3) Select all and unselect the background
4) OBJECT/ PATH/ OUTLINE STROKE
5) Select all and activate pathfinder
6) select all and eliminate path
7) select line by line without select the boxes and eliminate
8) select all and ungroup
9) select all except the picture then OBJECT/ COMPOUND PATH
10) Clipping mask

How to vectorize a picture?

We place the picture and select Image Trace

For we can modify a Imagen Trace select the Image trace Panel
For converte in vectors we must eliminate the white background.
In Advanced/options/ ignore white:
And in the settings bar we select EXPAND:
If the picture is a fullcolor we must change the mode:

For export a illustration we select and drag to the asset export panel:
In format we can change the formt to export and browse to the location of folder to export.
 How to save or export an artboard on illustrator?
File/ Save as (Shift+Ctrl+S)
On RANGE we select until artboard wish to export: