


Learn the in's and out's of how Illustrator works!
Master zoom and pan in Illustrator CS5 by dragging with the zoom tool, using the spacebar to scroll, and shortcuts for 100% and fit.
Learn to select and move objects in Illustrator CS5, group items, and resize proportionally or from the center using shift and alt, plus copy while dragging.
choose the document profile for print or web, select CMYK for printing, set the artboard size (980 by 600 for web, 612 by 792 points for print), and adjust units.
Master drawing basic shapes in Adobe Illustrator CS5 using rectangles, circles, ellipses, rounded rectangles, polygons, and stars from the left toolbar. Constrain with shift and adjust with arrow keys.
Practice time teaches you to plan web layouts with wireframes before drawing, using boxes to map menu placement, images, and features, then start a new file to sketch.
Learn to apply fill and stroke colors in Adobe Illustrator CS5 using swatches and the color panels. Master selecting shapes and switching between fill and stroke to explore color options.
Learn to turn off and on the line and fill in Illustrator CS5 using the selection tool, set the line color to none, and move or select objects precisely.
Explore the color picker and swatches, input color numbers in RGB, CMYK, or hex, mix hues, and adjust brightness to create precise colors.
Learn how to create and save colors as swatches in Adobe Illustrator CS5, use the swatches panel and pulldown to name new swatches, and export swatches for use across documents.
Explore how the color guide in Adobe Illustrator CS5 maps a base color to hundreds of harmonious hues based on wavelength, improving color decisions and the design workflow.
Select shapes in the same color, open the color guide panel, and use the pull-down menu to apply harmonious color rules and explore tints, shades, warm or cool options.
Explore using Adobe color (Kuler) in Illustrator cs5 by accessing the color extension, browsing community palettes like hazy summer, adding swatches, and applying cohesive colors across your design.
Export illustrator swatches as a swatch library to reuse in new documents, then save and open them from user defined libraries or via Adobe swatch exchange.
Group objects in Illustrator CS5 to move and resize them as a unit. Use Object > Group or Ctrl/Cmd+G, double-click to enter or exit a group, and Ungroup when needed.
Learn to create clean designs by aligning elements using Illustrator CS5's smart guides and align panel, with left, right, top alignment and evenly spaced distribution.
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 crop photos in Illustrator with clipping masks, using any shape such as circles or rounded rectangles. Move content inside the mask and adjust vector points to refine edges.
Use the direct selection tool to select and edit vector points and handles, shaping curves and refining masks and clipping masks. Align points precisely with the align panel.
Use the pen tool to add or remove points, editing them with the direct selection tool. Convert curved or straight points with the convert anchor point tool and adjust handles.
Master the pen tool in Illustrator CS5 to draw vector shapes, edit anchor points and handles with direct selection, and practice finishing shapes before applying fills.
Trace images with the pen tool to create masks and clipping masks. Edit curves and points with the direct selection tool to refine vector edges.
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.
Learn to add basic text in Illustrator CS5 using the text tool, choose fonts and sizes, and understand how point text versus text boxes affect resizing and layout.
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.
Learn how to expand the appearance in Illustrator CS5 to break apart pre-built objects, convert brushes to editable vectors, and recolor individual elements with the direct selection and eyedropper tools.
Draw half of a shape, copy and paste it, flip it, and join the edges to create a symmetric design in Illustrator CS5.
Learn to cut and pull apart vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator CS5 using the eraser, scissors, and knife tools to expand objects and edit paths with precision.
Learn to create patterns in Illustrator CS5 by drawing motifs and dragging them into swatches. Fill shapes with the patterns and resize using Object > Transform > Scale, patterns checked.
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.
Place text on a path to curve text around shapes in illustrator cs5. Move and flip the text along the path; use two circles to keep color.
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.
Convert text into vector outlines in Adobe Illustrator CS5 to enable gradient fills and punching out shapes. Learn how to manage fonts when sharing files between computers.
Create smooth gradients in Illustrator CS5 using the blend tool to fade between shapes and colors, avoid outlines that distort the gradient, and tweak with the direct selection tool.
Create and customize gradients in Adobe Illustrator CS5 using the gradient panel, choosing radial or linear gradients and adjusting color markers, opacity, and angle with the gradient tool.
Master the gradient mesh tool by drawing a shape, applying a wireframe, and coloring points or swatches to create smooth gradients and a 3-d appearance.
Explore advanced stroke options in Adobe Illustrator CS5, including inside and outside strokes, multiple strokes around shapes, adjustable caps and corners, and adding arrowheads.
Explore the Pathfinder to merge shapes into one, subtract the top from the bottom, keep only the intersecting area, and chop out nonintersecting parts, then outline text and expand brushes.
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 how to convert bitmap images to vectors with Illustrator's live trace, choose presets, expand, and edit vector paths, colors, and details using path fitting, minimum area, and corner angle.
Use the live paint bucket in Adobe Illustrator CS5 to fill crossed shapes with swatches, cycle colors with arrow keys, and finalize colored vector art via live trace and expand.
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.
Learn how to use Illustrator to slice a flat image for the web, creating image slices and code for web pages, while optimizing with a minimal number of slices.
Learn to save for the web in Adobe Illustrator CS5 by exporting and naming slices, removing transparency, and saving JPEGs with quality, then choose tables or cascading style sheets outputs.
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.
Award winning teacher David Lieberman leads you through all levels of Adobe Illustrator CS5 through these Illustrator CS5 tutorials. His trademark style is fun, but he also makes things easy to understand. David is a real designer, so he gives tips that cover how to use Illustrator, and how to use it well.
These Illustrator CS5 tutorials also include real-world "homework" assignments to help you practice your new skills. Don't worry; you don't have to turn anything in.
Adobe Illustrator CS5 is the design tool for designing websites, brochures, business cards, fliers, and any other print or screen design. You will dig it.
This Illustrator CS5 tutorial based course covers all levels of Adobe Illustrator CS5. Anyone can learn all levels.