Adobe Illustrator Certificate
Online - 30 hours
Want to learn more about how to translate your ideas into extraordinary graphics? Whether you are a graphic design novice or expert, these training resources can help you use Adobe® Illustrator® CS3 software to realize your vision
Curriculum
Getting Started with Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 is an industry-standard illustration program for multimedia, online graphics, and print. Whether you are creating multimedia graphics or laying out print publishing, Illustrator will allow you to create professional quality results. This course introduces the Illustrator interface, shows how to customize the workspace and navigate panels, and demonstrates how to create and prepare projects using document profiles and other settings. This course will also enable you to begin creating artwork using the Shape, Line Segment, Pencil, Pen, and Eraser tools to create and modify shapes. You will learn to use various Selection and Alignment tools to precisely modify and align components of your artwork, and you will use basic Transform tools to manipulate simple vector objects by reflecting, rotating, shearing, and scaling.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Getting Started with Illustrator CS3
· recognize the main components and characteristics of the Illustrator CS3 interface
· recognize how to change the view of artwork in Illustrator CS3 in a given scenario
· recognize how to create and save an Illustrator CS3 document
· prepare a new project in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to draw lines and shapes with the Line Segment and Shape tools in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to adjust the appearance of a line using the Pencil Tool
· recognize how to draw and edit lines with the Pen Tool and path editing tools in Illustrator CS3
· draw and edit basic objects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to select, align, and join points in Illustrator CS3
· recognize methods for positioning and reshaping objects in Illustrator CS3
· make basic modifications to an object in Illustrator CS3
Coloring Objects and Using Brushes in Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 allows for the addition of vibrant colors to electronic artwork. Users can now employ numerous Live Color tools and techniques to enhance the color of their Illustrator images with immediate and interactive results. Various brushing styles and tools add elaborate and colorful strokes to existing images. This course introduces color and brush techniques in Illustrator CS3. In this course, you will learn how to add customized colors, as well as complex color gradients and patterns, to fills and strokes in your artwork. You will use Illustrator CS3s Swatch and Color panels, Live Color and Live Paint tools to recolor artwork quickly according to preset harmony rules or customized settings. This course will also introduce Calligraphic, Art, Scatter, and Pattern brushes, demonstrating how to create brushes and apply brush techniques.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end-user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Coloring Objects and Using Brushes in Illustrator CS3
· color artwork using the Color panel and Live Paint in Illustrator CS3
· recognize the impact of key color concepts on Illustrator CS3 projects
· recognize how to use the Color Guide and Swatches panels to select and store colors in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
· recognize how to create, save, and apply pattern fills in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to create and edit color gradients in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to change the colors of Illustrator CS3 artwork, in a given scenario
· use the Live Color dialog to modify object colors in Illustrator CS3
· color fills and strokes using Live Color tools in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
· recognize how to customize brushes in Illustrator CS3
· recognize the characteristics of Art, Scatter, Calligraphic, and Pattern brushes in Illustrator CS3
· create a Pattern brush in Illustrator CS3
· work with brushes in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
Manipulating Objects in Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 provides numerous tools and techniques for manipulating objects and transforming your art in exciting ways. Its Layers panel enables you to organize complex artwork into objects, groups and layers, and work with many elements at once, or with a single object in isolation. This course will familiarize you with more advanced object selection and organization techniques, layering, and masking. It shows you how to apply Illustrators Transform and Blend tools, mesh and envelope options to distort and manipulate objects in dramatic and editable ways. You will also learn how to apply Cutting, Compound, and Pathfinder tools to divide and combine objects into new shapes.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end-user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Manipulating Objects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to arrange and manipulate objects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize object selection techniques in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to arrange objects inside a layer in Illustrator CS3
· recognize the significance of key components of the Layers panel in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to create a clipping mask in Illustrator CS3
· work with objects, groups, and layers in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to use the Transform tools to reshape objects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to create a blend between objects in Illustrator CS3, given a scenario
· recognize how to use the Liquify tools to distort objects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to create an envelope to distort an object in a given scenario
· recognize the functions of mesh object components in creating and editing a mesh object
· recognize the results of using cutting commands, Pathfinder effects, and compound shapes
· reshape, blend, distort, and create compound objects in Illustrator CS3
Using Type and Symbols in Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 allows for text and symbols to be added to various forms of electronic art. With the addition of text and symbols, Illustrator artwork can quickly be enhanced or customized to meet personal or business needs. This course will show you how to create point type, add and fill a type area, or arrange your type around an existing path in your illustration. This course will familiarize you with methods for editing, aligning, formatting, distorting, and flowing type in your illustration to achieve the styles and layout you desire. By introducing the Symbols panel and Symbolism tools, this course will show you how to create, edit, and apply individual symbol images, or quickly spray symbol sets across your artwork and collectively modify symbol instances.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end-user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Using Type and Symbols in Illustrator CS3
· determine how to create type in a given scenario, and recognize the effect of modifying the area it occupies
· identify considerations for importing type from other applications into Illustrator CS3
· determine how to edit and format type in a given scenario
· recognize how to apply multiple attributes to type, in a given scenario
· recognize characteristics of outline text and rationales for converting text to outlines
· recognize how to arrange and flow text within or between areas, in a given scenario
· create, format, or flow text in Illustrator CS3 in a given scenario
· recognize how symbolism tools have been used in an illustration
· recognize key concepts relating to the use of symbols in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to edit symbols and symbol instances
· recognize how to create and redefine symbols in Illustrator CS3
· apply and edit symbols in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
Importing and Tracing Images, and Applying Effects in Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 allows users to import electronic art from other applications and combine them with vector artwork in creative ways. Once in Illustrator CS3, vector and bitmap images can be enhanced, altered, or completely changed using the special effects and filters that are built into the application. This course shows you how to place, link, and embed files from other applications into Illustrator CS3. It demonstrates the Live Trace and Live Paint features, which allow you to create full-colored vector images by tracing bitmap artwork. This course also introduces the wide variety of transparency effects, filters, 3D, and other live effects that can be applied to vector or bitmap images, and demonstrates how to use the Appearance panel to manage the application of effects and styles throughout your artwork.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end-user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Importing and Tracing Images, and Applying Effects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize the significance of Links panel and Layers panel indicators in the context of an illustration
· recognize how to import a Photoshop file into Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to use Live Trace and Live Paint to convert bitmap images to vector images and color them in Illustrator CS3
· recognize the capabilities of Live Trace in Illustrator CS3
· import a bitmap image into Illustrator CS3, and use Live Trace and Live Paint to convert it to a colored vector image in a given scenario
· recognize how to use the Appearance panel to track and assign appearance attributes to objects, groups, and layers in an illustration
· recognize how to work with Graphic Styles in Illustrator CS3
· determine how to apply filters or effects in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
· distinguish between filters and effects in Illustrator CS3
· recognize key transparency concepts
· recognize the results of applying transparency using opacity masks and blending modes
· determine which method to use in creating a 3-D object in Illustrator CS3
· recognize how to map 2-D artwork to a 3-D object in Illustrator CS3
· create and apply styles and effects to objects in Illustrator CS3, in a given scenario
· create a 3D object and map a symbol to it
Exporting and Printing Artwork in Illustrator CS3
Overview/Description
Adobe Illustrator CS3 allows users to export electronic art to use in other applications and other members of the CS3 suite of products, such as Flash CS3. There are several printing options available in Illustrator CS3 that allow for different output applications and technologies and make Illustrator a versatile product. This course will familiarize you with file formats for saving, exporting, and work flow. It will show you how to optimize Illustrator artwork for the Web, video, and mobile devices, and prepare Illustrator layers for building Flash animations. In this course, you will also learn how to crop areas for print or export, configure artwork for optimal printing on various output devices, and use approaches such as flattening, overprinting, and trapping to address special printing considerations for gradients, effects, and transparency in your artwork.
Target Audience
Graphic designers and IT professionals who want to gain experience using Adobe Illustrator CS3.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with end-user computer applications such as word processing and basic graphics; some knowledge of digital imaging would be an advantage
Lesson Objectives
Exporting and Printing Artwork in Illustrator CS3
· match the four native file formats in Illustrator CS3 to their characteristics
· recognize the characteristics of file formats and how to save files for export
· recognize how to set optimization options and preview images for export to the Web
· recognize strategies for optimizing file size
· recognize how to use Illustrator CS3 artwork to create animation in Adobe Flash
· recognize how key image components function when exporting from Illustrator CS3 to Flash
· prepare artwork for export, in a given scenario
· recognize how to set crop areas using the Crop Area Tool
· distinguish between crop areas and crop marks
· determine how to configure a printing job in a given scenario
· recognize the utility of basic print options
· recognize strategies for optimizing the printed appearance of gradients, meshes, effects, and color blends
· recognize how to use the Print dialog and the Flattener Preview panel to flatten transparency before printing
· prepare an illustration for print in a given scenario