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Created byVideo School, Phil Ebiner, Daniel Walter Scott

Last updated 1/2025

English

What you'll learn

You will be able to add Illustrator to your CV
You will be able to start earning money from your Illustrator Skills.
You will have over 30 of your own projects to add to your portfolio.
Feel comfortable using Adobe Illustrator to design your own graphics from scratch.
Navigate Adobe Illustrator CC like a pro.
Design your own graphics, without any experience.
Draw beginner to advanced shapes and icons.
Learn all of the key skills of Illustrator: shapes, text, masking, effects, and exporting.
Master advanced Illustrator tools and techniques.
Export your projects for print, web, or other design projects.
Make your ideas come to life.
Create your own logos.
Draw existing famous logos.
Illustrate animals.
Draw with paint brushes.
Draw with pens & pencils.
Create custom typography.
Take hand drawings and recreate them using Illustrator.
Create a logo badge with text that wraps around.
Create type that follows a curving line.
Put images inside of text for cool effects.
Create beautiful gradients and apply them to icons, text & illustrations.
Find the secrets to choosing color combinations for your work.
Create a paper cut effect.
Pull, push & cut text to make interesting styles.
Repeat patterns to create vector flowers.
You will redraw yourself as an illustration.
Create many different icons styles.
Build a repeating pattern to be used as wallpaper or fabric designs.
Find many templates for posters, stationery & UI designs to save you time.
You'll build create assets like colors, patterns & drawings using the Illustrator mobile app.

Course content

15 sections • 113 lectures • 12h 7m total length

Intro to the Illustrator Essentials Course2:31
Learn to create beautiful vector illustrations in Adobe Illustrator by mastering shapes, pen tool, lines and strokes, typography, color, brushes, and generative AI features for portfolio-ready projects.
Getting Started1:46
What is Illustrator used for & when to use Photoshop vs InDesign3:40
A quick tour around Illustrator10:56
Take a quick tour around Illustrator to open files, set up the essentials workspace, adjust units and interface size, and master core tools, zoom, navigation, artboards, and isolation mode.

How to draw rounded rectangles triangles & tracing images in Illustrator14:46
How to draw lines arcs & stars in Illustrator16:50
Scaling Stroke & Effects & Corners6:37
Scale objects in Illustrator while preserving stroke and corner radii. Learn to toggle scale stroke and effects and scale with or without selection for consistent icons.
Saving to the Creative Cloud versus locally on my desktop6:51
Exporting your images 1013:27
Learn how to export images from Adobe Illustrator early in the course, using WebP and PNG with lossless, 150 resolution, medium settings, and fallback guidance when WebP isn't supported.
Class Project 01 - Your First Creature8:26
Class project 01 - Brief & Creature
How to draw using the Shape Builder tool in Adobe Illustrator CC9:42
Class Project 02 - Icons Using the Shape Builder2:18
Completed - Class Project 02 - Icons Using the Shape Builder18:49
Class project 02 - Icons Using the Shape Builder
How to use layers in Illustrator11:07
Align distribute rotation & math in fields - Impossible Triangle12:44
Learn to align, distribute, rotate, and use math in the fields in Illustrator to build an impossible triangle with the shape builder, smart guides, and gap detection.
Class project 03 - Impossible Triangle1:07
Draw and color the impossible triangle in Adobe Illustrator CC, adjust the background and triangle colors, and optionally add creative flair while applying the skills learned so far.
Class project 03 - Impossible Triangle

How to draw anything using the Curvature Tool in Adobe Illustrator13:55
Master curvature tool in Adobe Illustrator to redraw line drawings with smooth curves, an easier alternative to the pen tool, using anchor points and handles with the direct selection tool.
Mixture of curves and straight lines using the Curvature tool7:41
Master the curvature tool to create straight lines and curves by double-clicking for corners, turning off fill, and blending straight and curved segments for polished vector art.
Class project 04 - Curvature Tool3:21
Class project 04 - Curvature Tool
Combining shapes curvature & shape builder tools into Fox shadows10:04
How to draw using the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator CC15:55
Master the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator CC, learning to create curves and corners with anchor points and handles, compare it to the curvature tool, and gain precision through practice.
Class project 05 - The Dreaded Pen Tool1:18
Class project 05 - The Dreaded Pen Tool
Dan tidying up students work12:59
Class project 06 - Pen Tool Redemption1:46
Class project 06 - Pen Tool Redemption
Awake Fox Combining Tools & Skill Stacking18:34
Combine tools to draw and color a fox in Illustrator, using curvature, pen, shape builder, line segment, and ellipse tools, with outline mode and smart guides.
Class Project 07 - Skill Stacking Practice3:56
Practice drawing in Illustrator using basic shapes, shape builder, pen, and curvature tools, with outline view and x-ray mode. Resize templates on layer one, color, save, and share online.
Class project 07 - Skill Stacking Practice
AI Generative Recolor6:51
How to make a Mood Board in Illustrator4:39
Class Project 08 - Make your mood board0:39
Class Project 08 - Make your mood board
Class Project 09 - Your New Creature4:39
Class project 09 - Your Amazing Creature
T-Shirt Making15:25

Drawing with the Pencil Tool in Adobe Illustrator CC6:13
Class project 10 - Pencil Tool Drawing2:11
Import a product photo from free sources, lock it on its own layer, and draw with the pencil tool to create a doodle; save and upload your work.
Class project 10 - Pencil Tool Drawing
Adjust your stroke corners profile and mitres9:14
How to make an arrow in Illustrator5:44
Create and customize arrowheads in Illustrator by using the curvature, pencil, and direct selection tools, adjusting stroke weight, arrowhead size, and caps and profiles, and flipping ends as needed.
How to Make a Dotted or Dashed in Illustrator4:00
How to use Brushes in Adobe Illustrator CC15:40
Class project 11 - Brush Doodles1:40
Use the brush tool to produce a product-related doodle or thought bubble for your own product, applying brush and stroke techniques, then save, upload, and share your social media graphic.
Class project 11 - Brush Doodles
How to Simplify paths in Illustrator7:16
How to draw lines with the Width Tool in Adobe Illustrator9:17
Master the width tool in Adobe Illustrator to bend strokes, set rounded caps, and create ligatures by adjusting anchor points with the direct selection tool and curvature techniques.
Class Project 12 - Width Tool1:32
Class project 12 - Width Tool
How to Join two lines together in Illustrator8:01
Learn four practical methods to join two line segments in Illustrator, including path join, average, the join tool, and the shape builder tool, with tips for when each works best.
How to use Intertwine in Illustrator5:27
Class project 13 - Intertwine3:05
Class project 13 - Intertwine
How to Expand Appearance in Illustrator6:52

How to create a postcard document in Illustrator4:24
Create a postcard document in Illustrator and set a 4x6 inch landscape canvas. Build a three-column layout with layered background and text, then save to the cloud with versioned files.
How to add type in Illustrator us Area vs Point text6:00
How to pick fonts in Illustrator5:59
How to use Adobe Fonts in Illustrator10:21
How to make Adobe Font Pairing2:36
Class Project 14 - Postcard Fonts3:11
Class Project 14 - Postcard Fonts
How to find & use Glyphs in Illustrator5:51
Class Project 15 - Logo Type3:14
Design three logo types by pairing two fonts for name and product, study wordmark concepts, and refine glyphs in Illustrator, then share and provide constructive feedback in monochrome.
Class Project 15 - LogoType
How to curve text in Illustrator11:54
How to put type around a circle badge using Illustrator13:18
Class Project 16 - Type on a Path1:20
Class Project 16 - Type on a Path
How to break apart & outline text in Illustrator5:31
Adjusting an existing drawing using the pencil tool4:50
Learn to adjust an existing drawing or text by outlining it, then refine with the pencil tool to create smooth, joined shapes, using keep selected and simplify.
Class Project 17 - Heavy Metal Band Logo1:18
Class Project 17 - Heavy Metal Band Logo
How to Intertwine text monogram in Illustrator4:14
Master intertwining text to create a monogram in Illustrator by using glyphs and the glyphs panel to customize letters, while keeping the text editable.
Class Project 18 - Monogram2:25
Create two monograms in Illustrator CC—one with your initials and one for your brand—by experimenting with fonts and letter pairings, refining intertwined letters, and sharing for feedback.
Class Project 18 - Monogram

What is RGB & CMYK & HSB & HEX colors in Illustrator9:17
How to steal colors from an image using Eyedropper in Illustrator4:17
Use the eyedropper tool to steal colors from logos and images in Illustrator, then apply them to fills or strokes across objects and mood boards.
Design a Modern Swan with the Shape Builder Tool
Creating a reusable color swatch in Illustrator3:43
Transparency & Opacity and darkening images in Illustrator2:36
How to use CC Libraries in Adobe Illustrator CC7:43
How to find amazing colors in Illustrator using Adobe Color7:16
Class Project 19 - Color Variants2:38
Create color variants of your logo, monogram, or creature in Illustrator, using at least five color themes from color dot adobe.com, save, and share for feedback.
Class Project 19 - Color Variants
How to use AI Generative Recolor in Illustrator4:53
Class Project 20 - Generative Recolor1:25
Class Project 20 - Generative Recolor
Drawing with the Pencil Tool
How to make Gradients in Illustrator10:30

Missing images and relinking and embedding3:30
Learn to fix missing images in Illustrator by using the Links panel to relink or embed, understanding when to embed to prevent missing image errors and manage file size.
How to crop an image in Adobe Illustrator4:37
Class Project 21 - Postcard Finish1:58
Finish a postcard project in Adobe Illustrator CC by adding your logo, cropping images, and exploring color, gradients, and opacity; share 1–3 versions for feedback.
Class Project 21 - Postcard Finish
How to cut holes in shapes using Compound Shapes in Illustrator6:15
How to separate Compound & Masked shapes in Illustrator7:26
How to make a Paper cut effect in Illustrator8:18
Create a paper cut depth effect in Illustrator by combining blobs with compound paths, using a clipping mask, and adding a drop shadow for dimensional depth.
Class Project 22 - Papercut Effect0:58
Class Project 22 - Papercut Effect

How to use Liquify distort wrinkle bloat & pucker in Illustrator6:42
Explore how to apply liquify, warp, twirl, pucker, bloat, wrinkle, and crystallize tools in Illustrator to distort artwork and create playful effects, with practical brush sizes and intensities.
Class Project 24 - Liquify Type1:48
Class Project 24 - Liquify Type
Sliced text effect in Illustrator3:32
Class Project 25 - Sliced Text1:13
Practice the sliced text technique to craft a cheesy brand slogan with multiple gradients, outlining the text, and applying color and fonts from Adobe Fonts for a sharp advertising effect.
Class Project 25 - Sliced Text
How to bend & warp shapes in Adobe Illustrator5:38
How to Warp & Bend type in Illustrator1:49
Learn to warp and bend text in Illustrator using envelope distort, isolation mode, and expand, comparing envelope distort with type on a path.
Class Project 26 - Established Flag Warp1:38
Create an establishing flag for your brand in illustrator using triangles and the rectangle tool, then bend it with envelope distort warp and refine by duplicating or flipping one side.
Class Project 26 - Established Flag Warp
Completed - Class Project 26 - Established Flag Warp13:11
How to convert a sketch into vector and color it in illustrator5:03
How to vectorize an image in illustrator6:10
How to convert photo into a stencil Silhouette in Illustrator4:23
How to make a Anaglyph effect in Illustrator2:23
Duplicate the silhouette to create three copies and align them. Switch colors to cyan and pink, adjust brightness, and move layers to form the vector anaglyph effect.
Class Project 27 - Live Trace2:13
Class Project 27 - Live Trace

Requirements

Any version of Adobe Illustrator, preferably the CC (Creative Cloud) version.
No prior knowledge or experience with Illustrator is required

Description

Are you frustrated trying to teach yourself Adobe Illustrator?! This course will quickly allow you to start getting paid for your Illustrator skills.

Hey there, I'm Dan, and I'm not just a designer, but an Adobe Certified Professional and Adobe MAX Master Award winner. Join me as we embark on an incredible journey together learning Adobe Illustrator!

Jane: "It's just a GREAT course! I LOVE IT! And I will advise this course to everyone who wants to learn Adobe Illustrator! Daniel is a great teacher... no! Daniel is the perfect teacher! Thank you, Daniel, for this awesome course!"

Create logo design, icons, characters, textures, text-based graphics, illustrations & full graphic design skills in Adobe Illustrator CC!

This course was designed for the complete beginner, with practice files and fun projects to get you taking action. Throughout this Illustrator CC course, you'll be designing your own real-world projects that are professional and inspire you to do even more!

Keith: "This course is outstanding! I stayed away from Illustrator for many years because I was intimidated by it. Now, I am excited by it and what it can do and am finding the lessons to be very informative and educational. Am definitely looking forward to finishing this course and seeing where I can go from here..."

This course is tailor-made for those who are new to Illustrator and the world of design, as we start from scratch on our journey to becoming Illustrator superheroes! Together, we'll unravel the secrets and techniques that enable you to create anything your creative heart desires - from icons, logos, and postcards to beautifully hand-drawn illustrations.

Get ready to dive into the mesmerising world of Adobe Illustrator, where we'll craft stunning looking graphics. But we won't stop at just learning the tools; we're about to unleash our creative powers by creating real-world, practical, and portfolio-ready projects.

Together we will learn to:

Master the art of drawing with simple shapes and lines.
Unleash your creativity by combining and subtracting shapes using the Shape Builder.
Create advanced custom logos and graphics.
Explore the world of creative brushes, lines, and strokes to elevate your designs to the next level.
Use the Width tool to enhance your lines and strokes adding a style.
Conquer the pen, pencil, and curvature tools like a pro.
Dive into the wonderful world of fonts and the art of mastering type.
Use the intertwine feature to create interesting overlapping illustrations.
Learn the art of masking images and graphics.
Discover the magic of distorting, bending, warping, and liquefying illustrations.
Select and use color combinations like a true master of design.
Craft your own unique repeating patterns.
Transform real drawings into captivating stencil-style images.
Export your creations for print, web, social media, and more.
Acquire the techniques used by professional graphic designers.
Work with your own mini-brief - creating a unique Farmer's Market brand and bringing it to life.
Harness the power of Adobe's Generative AI features to push your creative boundaries.
Working with mood boards to gather inspiration.
Create realistic mockups to enhance your designs even further.
Engage in a wealth of class projects to put your skills to the test.
Stay ahead with a handy printable PDF cheat sheet.
Access downloadable exercise files to help you practice and refine your skills.
Benefit from forum support provided by the BYOL Teaching Assistant Team.
Discover professional workflows and shortcuts to work more efficiently.
Gain access to a treasure trove of additional resources and websites to supercharge your career.

But that's not all! I'll unveil Illustrator's hidden gems that will transform you into a pro at discovering and utilizing breathtaking vector based graphics. We'll dive into the latest Illustrator tools, including the mind-blowing Generative AI features that allow us to craft illustrations that were once thought impossible.

Whether you've never even opened Illustrator or have struggled with it in the past, I'm here to show you the easy way to create breathtaking artwork and portfolio projects to be proud of. Join me as we go from Illustrator zeros, to Illustrator superheroes!

Requirements

All you need is a copy of Adobe Illustrator, you can get a free trial from Adobe.

Who is this course for?

Absolutely no previous Adobe Illustrator experience is required.
This course is designed for newcomers to Illustrator and design in general, so no prior design, drawing, or illustration experience is necessary.
This is a relaxed, well-paced introduction, perfect for producing a wide range of drawings, illustrations, logos, and portfolio projects. Only basic computer skills are necessary - if you can send emails and surf the internet, you're more than capable of mastering this course.

What you'll learn

Drawing with Shapes & Lines
Drawing with the Shape Builder
Creating a custom logo
Working with Brushes
Drawing with the pen, pencil & curvature tool
Learn how to work with type & fonts.
How to vectorise an image in Illustrator
How to curve text in illustrator
How to trace an image in illustrator
How to warp text in illustrator
How to embed images in illustrator
How to mask images & graphics.
How to distort, bend, warp & liquefy illustrations.
How to make 3D illustrations.
How to make your own repeating patterns.
How to create stencil style images from real drawings.
How to save, print & export for Print, web & social media.
Lots of real world exercises for you to practice.
Loads or class projects for you to complete.
Printable Cheat sheet.
You will get the finished files so you never fall behind.
Downloadable exercise files.
Techniques used by professional graphic designers.
Professional workflows and shortcuts.
A wealth of other resources and websites to help accelerate your career.

Our Happiness Guarantee

If you aren't happy with your purchase, we have a 30-day 100% money back guarantee. There's literally no reason to hesitate!

Enrol now, and we'll see you inside the course!

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to start using Illustrator in their career & get paid for their Illustrator skills.
Newbies, amateurs, graphic designers, motion graphics artists and any creatives who want to design their own graphics from scratch.

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Getting Started4 lectures • 19min

Drawing12 lectures • 1hr 53min

Artificial Intelligence2 lectures • 8min

Pen & Curvature Tool15 lectures • 2hr 2min

Stroke, Pencil & Brushes14 lectures • 1hr 26min

Type & Fonts16 lectures • 1hr 26min

Color10 lectures • 54min

Images & Masking7 lectures • 33min

Artboards2 lectures • 11min

Effects13 lectures • 56min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: