Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Beginning, Intermediate, & Advanced)

Place photos in Illustrator using copy-paste or place, understand web versus print resolution, and embed or link images, keeping high-resolution stock photos from Bigstockphoto or iStockphoto in the project folder.

Learn to draw shapes, set fill and stroke colors, and use the color guide in Illustrator CS5. Save and reset a custom workspace by docking panels and managing swatches.

Explore how to use transparency in Illustrator to fade elements into the background by adjusting opacity, applying transparency to shapes and photos, and adding texture without crowding the design.

Apply shadows and glows from the appearance panel in Illustrator CS5 to make text stand out, edit effects in place, and explore stylize and distort options with memory-aware caution.

Explore advanced stroke techniques in Illustrator CS5, drawing and shaping lines, adjusting stroke width with the width tool, and creating dynamic curves using brushes, spiral, and grid tools.

Learn to create and apply fancy brush strokes in Adobe Illustrator CS5, open brush libraries, try different brush packs, customize strokes, and download or create your own brushes.

Discover how to create custom brushes in Adobe Illustrator CS5, including pattern, art, and scatter brushes, by drawing shapes and adjusting scale, spacing, and randomness.

Master layer management in illustrator by locking and hiding layers, adjusting stacking order, and naming paths to prevent accidental selections during design.

Master advanced font editing in Adobe Illustrator CS5 by using the character panel to adjust font size, leading, tracking, kerning, baseline shift, and apply underline or strikethrough for typography.

Learn font comping in Illustrator CS5 by duplicating font layers, testing multiple typefaces on a business card, adjusting spacing, and selecting the best font mix.

Learn to wrap text around an image in Illustrator CS5 using object > text wrap, adjust the offset with preview, and switch sides or release the wrap as needed.

learn to create multiple strokes and fills with the appearance panel, control inside and outside options, and save graphic styles to apply gradients, patterns, and looks to shapes and text.

Learn to use Adobe Illustrator CS5 symbols, access the symbol library, create custom symbols, and spray and edit them with the symbol sprayer, shifter, and stainer tools for natural-looking artwork.

Convert images to CMYK at 300 dpi and resize without resampling for print. Save as a high-quality JPEG and apply one-eighth inch bleed to ensure edge coverage.

Save your illustrator cs5 designs as print-ready pdfs by choosing a preset in the save as dialog, use press quality for professional printers, and avoid the smallest file size.