Adobe Illustrator - Beginner to Pro Level With New AI

Explore vectors and learn how they differ from bitmap images, then master artboards and basic navigation of the Illustrator interface, including how to get tools and panels back.

Explore the difference between vector and bitmap graphics, and learn why Illustrator excels with vectors while bitmaps render photo details as pixel-based images.

Create your first artboard in Illustrator using print presets, start with artboard and add more later, with sizes like A3, A4, A5, or a business card via File > New.

Explore Illustrator’s panels and toolbars, organize your workspace with window layouts and reset essentials, customize typography layouts, and learn to hide panels with the tab key.

Learn to navigate Adobe Illustrator documents using the navigator panel, zoom tools, alt/option zoom, spacebar pan, and fit onto the screen shortcuts.

Discover the contextual taskbar in the latest Illustrator update, use edit path to switch tools, and explore the text to vector graphic option in the properties panel.

Learn to create simple shapes in Adobe Illustrator, rotate and scale ellipses and rectangles, round corners, and combine or subtract shapes to design a logo and icon with step-by-step guidance.

Learn to create basic shapes in Adobe Illustrator, apply fill and stroke colors, use the selection tools, and switch between outline and preview modes.

Master ellipse, polygon, star, and line segment tools in Illustrator; resize with shift, adjust polygon and star points with up and down arrows, and move shapes with the selection tool.

Master selecting and moving individual anchor points with the direct selection tool, and round corners with corner widgets on a rectangle.

Learn to edit circles in Illustrator with the Direct Selection Tool by selecting anchor points and adjusting linked handles to shape smooth curves between points.

Master shape building by combining rectangles and ellipses with the Pathfinder panel to create logos and icons, using unite, minus front, intersect, and exclude operations, and duplicating shapes with alt.

Explore the Shape Builder Tool in Illustrator to unite or subtract shapes by dragging over them, using alt to subtract, and compare it with the Pathfinder Tool for similar results.

Create an apple logo in Illustrator by drawing circles, shaping with the Direct Selection tool, and using the Shape Builder and Pathfinder to unite, subtract, and refine rounded bites.

Create a whale logo in Adobe Illustrator using circles, a square, and the Shape Builder Tool, with smart guides and fills to finish the design.

Move from basic shapes to complex forms in Illustrator using pencils, pens, and blob brush, tracing photographs—like a guitar for a festival poster.

Master the pen tool to create vector shapes by placing anchor points, forming lines, and switching between corners and curves with the anchor point tool and direct selection tools.

Learn to master the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator by drawing curves with click-and-drag, manage fill and stroke, and refine shapes with the anchor point tool to create simple flowers.

Use the pen tool to draw a fish shape with two control points, locking guides, then adjust anchor points and handles, apply fill and stroke, and add an eye.

Learn to create precise curves with the pen tool by adding a handle at each end, and break the second handle with the alt/option key to gain full curve control.

learn to draw a simple sailing boat with the pen tool using three points, alt-drag to adjust handles, lock the waves, and color the boat and mast behind the sail.

Learn to create a ragged sail edge by adding anchor points with the add anchor point tool, adjusting handles, and switching between advanced toolbars, outline, and preview modes in Illustrator.

Learn to delete anchor points using the delete anchor point tool, clicking points to remove them and flatten curves, with experimental practice on your artwork.

Learn to use the curvature tool in Illustrator, hold the alt key to place points for straight segments, then click and drag to shape curves.

Master the pencil tool to freehand draw and redraw shapes along lines, edit curves without creating new shapes, and color balloon and string details.

Smooth paths with the Pencil Smooth Tool, erase with Path Erase Tool, and refine a closed path with the Pencil Tool. Freehand mouse drawing is tough; use a Wacom tablet.

Explore erasing and cutting techniques in illustrator by using the eraser, scissor, and knife tools; learn to create straight lines with alt, shift keys, and assemble puzzle pieces.

Learn to join points and shapes in Illustrator using the shape builder, average position, and join tool, and compare their effects on paths and corners.

Explore the paint brush and blob brush in Illustrator, compare strokes and fills, and learn blob brush settings like fidelity and size, plus pressure sensitivity and smoothing for clean edges.

Learn to smooth and simplify vector paths in Illustrator using the smoothing pen tool and path > simplify, with auto simplify and show original options to refine outlines.

Create a print-ready poster in Illustrator, from setup to final export, using an A4 portrait with 3 mm bleed, CMYK, and tracing a placed photo with the pen tool.

Learn to add guitar details in Illustrator with the pen and curvature tools, adjust handles with the white arrow, and split the guitar with the knife tool into color halves.

Learn to color a guitar poster using swatches and libraries, build shapes with the shape builder, add type, and export AI and PDF with bleed and printer marks.

Explore repetition in Illustrator to design patterns, logos, and t-shirts by duplicating elements like halves and circles, using the repetition tool in practical projects.

Learn to create repeating shapes in Illustrator by alt-dragging copies and using control and D to repeat, then rotate and scale copies with copy options for precise patterns.

Move the rotation point from the center to an edge with the rotate tool and alt key; set 10 degrees. Scale around a point to 80 percent and copy.

Explore transforming multiple objects together in Illustrator with the transform each command to scale, move, and rotate in one go, then apply clipping masks to constrain artwork.

Learn to align and distribute objects in Adobe Illustrator using the selection tool, line to selection, line to key object, or line to artboard, and apply distribute spacing.

Master scaling, rotation, shearing, and mirroring in Adobe Illustrator, using the scale and rotate tools with anchor points, uniform and non-uniform options, exact percentages, and reflect and shear capabilities.

Create a t-shirt logo for Green Design using overlapping leaf shapes, ellipse and rotate tools, then divide with Pathfinder, color, and group.

Design a t-shirt logo in Adobe Illustrator by shaping a pencil with grid snapping, anchor points, and curvature, then finish with strokes, fills, and rotated text.

Create a symmetrical t-shirt logo in Illustrator by drawing the shirt with the pen tool, then reflect and join shapes, refine the neck with anchor points.

Create an infographic by building a speedometer dial to measure effectiveness, using Instagram-friendly 1080x1080 size, RGB color, and precise guides, rulers, and alignment in Illustrator.

Color and detail an infographic in Adobe Illustrator by using swatches, creating color groups, duplicating and darkening hues, and adding rotated arrow dials with subtle drop shadows.

Explore creating an infographic in Illustrator, adding a drop shadow and a background, arranging layers, applying text with two styles, kerning and placeholders, and saving as legacy versions.

Export your infographic for social media in Illustrator using export for screens, set 1080 by 1080 pixels and JPEG 80, then preview in a browser before posting.

Harness radial repeat in Adobe Illustrator to create dynamic pattern repeats by adjusting repetition count, rotation, spacing with handles, and overlap control for quick, scalable designs.

Select the shape and apply grid repeat, then use handles to scale and move the pattern. Open properties panel to adjust grid type and offsets, and flip rows or columns.

Learn to create mirrored designs in Adobe Illustrator using the mirror tool: set the mirror point, rotate with handles, draw within the mirror area, and return to normal mode.

Build a character in Illustrator by mirroring eyes and ears with the repeat mirror tool, using spheres and shape build, then rotate around the registration point for precise alignment.

Create a tiki mask in Illustrator by using the mirror option and repeat, drawing non mirrored shapes, adding leaves, veins, eyes, nose, mouth, and teeth, then group and refine.

Learn to arrange artwork with precision in Illustrator using rulers, guides, alignment, distribution, and layered groups, applied to a map project and adaptable to any artwork.

Arrange artwork by moving objects to the front or back with the object menu range, or use the layers panel to drag items to the top.

Master object stacking order in Illustrator using the Layers panel and cut and paste options. Paste in place, paste in front, paste in back, and paste on all outboards.

Group objects quickly in Illustrator by selecting them and choosing group, then double-click to enter isolation mode and edit items within the group. Exit isolation by double-clicking elsewhere.

Learn how to work with nested groups and isolation mode in Illustrator, grouping shapes, rotating copies around a center, and editing individual inner objects while preserving the overall grouped structure.

Organize artwork by creating new layers, renaming them, and moving text, logo, and color elements into their respective layers while locking the background to prevent accidental edits.

Learn how to select objects in Illustrator by using the layers panel, unlock layers, and click the colored circles to quickly identify and select items across layers.

Save selections in your Illustrator layers, the new feature, by selecting items, naming the saved groups (beak and face; feathers; eye), and reusing or editing them later.

Copy artboards to create variations of your artwork, adjust backgrounds and colors, and save all boards together or as separate files for posters and business cards.

Open the artboards panel, rename each artboard, and rearrange their numerical order to determine how posters, cards, and other layouts appear in the final PDF.

Create realistic mockups on artboards with the new mesh tool, placing artwork on hats, tees, and cars using embedded images and the object mark up workflow.

Explore how Illustrator libraries store vectors, photos, colors, and styles and share them across Adobe apps. Create libraries, add items or styles, place copies or links, and collaborate with others.

Create a new web document (1920x1080, rgb), place the jpeg map, lock the linked image, and dim it for easier tracing with the pen tool.

Draw roads in Adobe Illustrator with the pencil tool, applying a black stroke and no fill; adjust smoothness, then shape circles with ellipse and increase stroke to about 24 points.

Draw rivers on a map in adobe illustrator using the pencil tool with no stroke and a blue fill, then adjust points with the direct selection tool to refine corners.

Draw color parks with the pencil to create top and bottom-right areas on the map, adjust edges to sit behind the road, and restack objects using arrange for proper layering.

Create a map scene in Adobe Illustrator by adding a colored background, organizing elements into layers (background graphics, text, trees, buildings), and formatting, duplicating text, and adjusting typeface and size.

Align names, roads, and rivers on layers, adjust and rotate text, then drag the finished linked file to the bottom layer, and save the map as an illustrator file.

Import a color library via swatches to color map elements like rivers and roads, then use a clipping mask to define the design area and lock the background.

Create stylized trees on the map using rectangles for trunks and ellipses for canopies. Adjust fills and strokes, duplicate to form variations, and group shapes for easy reuse.

Create quick 3d building visuals in Adobe Illustrator using premade 3d effects, color blocks, and careful layering, duplicating windows and adjusting strokes and colors.

Export your artwork as a high-quality jpeg and verify it in a browser. Unlock layers, delete stray points to fix margins, then re-export for maps and icons.

Explore masking in Illustrator, including clipping and opacity masks, and apply techniques from scratch to blend photos and vectors for ready-to-share social media visuals.

Mask vectors and photos with clipping masks in Adobe Illustrator, using shape selections, a rectangle crop, and the object menu to make and release clipping masks.

Learn to restore and view clipping mask outlines in Adobe Illustrator, create clipping masks from selections, and edit contents inside a clipping group by using layers and double-clicking.

Apply clipping masks in Illustrator to crop a photo into a circle, using an ellipse, top object as the mask, and double-clicking to edit inside the clipping group.

Learn the basics of opacity masks in Adobe Illustrator by combining multiple black-to-white shapes to reveal a photo, using the transparency panel, and distinguishing masks from clipping masks.

Master opacity masks in Illustrator by applying white, grey, and black to control transparency, then experiment with blur effects like Gaussian blur to create soft, adjustable edges.

Learn to create an Instagram post by placing two images, locking layers, and applying an opacity gradient mask to blend them, with text interacting with the masked photo.

Create a refined Instagram post in Adobe Illustrator by duplicating artboards, applying a dot-pattern mask from the symbols library, adjusting colors with the eyedropper, arranging layers, and exporting as jpeg.

Export Illustrator art as JPEG or PNG for social media, choosing high quality and using all artboards, then save to desktop for browser preview and reuse as an Illustrator file.

Explore color in Illustrator by understanding color differences, spot colors, and creating your own palettes. Learn to pick harmonious colors and generate quick variations to present clients multiple options.

Learn rgb and cmyk color modes—rgb uses red, green, blue for screens, cmyk uses cyan, magenta, yellow, black for print—and how to convert between modes with Illustrator swatches.

Create color sets by grouping swatches into color groups. Explore library color books, including earth tones and impressionism sets, and drag colors into the working swatch.

Create custom colors in Illustrator using RGB or CMYK values, then save them as swatches or add to your library, and rename as needed.

Learn how spot colors add extra inks for precise printing, and how to select, search, and drag spot swatches (brand Paignton) into your artwork while noting potential print costs.

Learn how global colors in Illustrator work, switch on global settings, and how changing a swatch affects all uses in your artwork, while non-global swatches stay local.

Save swatches as a reusable library to use in other documents, saving as an Illustrator library or exchange file for use in Photoshop or InDesign.

Explore the Illustrator color guide to choose harmonious color sets from a base color, view complementary harmonies, and save swatches with tints, shades, and warm or cool variants.

Open a completed poster, unlock layers, and copy trimmed artwork to create three color variations. Use recolor artwork with swatches and color harmonies, adjust hues, and preview in trim view.

Recolor artwork by sampling colors from a photograph to match a brochure color scheme. Use the recolor artwork feature in Illustrator to apply palette from images and create client-friendly variations.

Edit colors on vector artwork using the generative recolor feature, guided by a prompt to create vivid warm oranges, then refine with sliders for quick color variations.

Explore gradients, blends, and meshes in Illustrator to create an infographic banner, using a mesh to craft a visually engaging banner and a large step-by-step project.

Explore creating and editing gradients in Illustrator, adjust gradient angles, apply gradients across multiple shapes, and access additional presets from swatch libraries and gradient options.

Create your own gradients in Adobe Illustrator by dragging colors into the gradient panel to add or replace color stops, remove stops, and see live updates on the object.

Explore radial gradient options in Illustrator, switching to a circular gradient and adjusting the aspect ratio to flatten or stretch the gradient for creative control.

Learn to create transparency in gradients by adjusting opacity on gradient stops in linear or radial gradients, using colors at each stop and setting stop locations from 0% to 100%.

Explore the freeform gradient in Illustrator by adding and moving color dots on a shape, then adjust colors and dot positions for a live gradient.

Save linear and radial gradients to the current document by dragging from the appearance panel into swatches, and save gradients as a swatch library for future documents.

Explore the blend tool basics in Illustrator, creating gradients between shapes, adjusting blend options like specified steps (up to 200), and refining with group and direct selection tools.

Master the blend tool in Adobe Illustrator by blending multiple shapes, adjusting the spine, and tweaking blend options with live preview for dynamic color transitions.

Use blends to create repeated sprocket holes for a film strip in Adobe Illustrator. Adjust the specified steps in blend options, lock selections, and apply color changes for gradients.

Create realistic color blends using the gradient mesh tool in Illustrator by shaping an ellipse balloon, placing mesh points, and adjusting colors.

Create a gradient mesh on an ellipse from the object menu, set rows and columns, choose color options, and then use the direct selection or lasso tool to adjust points.

Create cyberpunk inspired web banners using the blend tool to generate mirrored shapes, gradient strokes, and layered colors on a 1000x300 web document, then export two final JPEG banners.

Create a new Illustrator document for a web infographic, import pre-made gradient swatches, and apply bright gradients to infographic arrows using the swatches panel and gradient libraries.

Organize colors by selecting swatches, draw three unfilled rectangles with the rectangle tool, add an arrowhead with the pen tool, and duplicate into a vertical arrow sequence.

Apply color gradients to infographic arrows in Illustrator by assigning gradient fills, removing strokes, and using the direct selection and scaling tools to create depth and a stepped perspective.

Use direct selection and isolation mode to adjust infographic arrows in Illustrator, moving points without reshaping angles. Double-click to isolate a path, edit lengths precisely.

Add a subtle background and layered gray rectangles to create depth behind arrows, then build a nuanced shadow using layered ellipses and a 200-step blend, adjusting opacity and stacking order.

Create a subtle white glow behind the arrows by duplicating ellipses, scaling a second copy, and applying a 200-step blend, then position the glow behind the arrows.

Create four electric-vehicle icons for an infographic using vector shapes, the Pathfinder, and shape builder, then refine with subtract, rounded corners, and wheels.

Export your Illustrator project for screens as a web bitmap at 1920 by 1080 pixels, using 1x scale and png or jpeg.