Adobe Illustrator CC – Advanced Training Course

Generate a unique design brief for your Illustrator Advanced course, using a Granada donut shop as a local hipster client and a random project generator to build portfolio-ready pieces.

Create three or more Illustrator graphics styles for a class project, using the brief and three inspiration images, then upload and share your work.

Generate patterns in Illustrator using text to vector, exploring floral and abstract options and color controls with swatches. Manage patterns as swatches, edit vectors, and learn about credits and limits.

Learn to use generative recolor in Adobe Illustrator to guide AI with prompts and select colors; refine results by adjusting brightness, saturation, and swatches.

Use the join tool to connect separate path ends, and compare its results with the shape builder and pathfinder. Tidy joins by adjusting anchor points with the direct selection tool.

Master advanced pen tool tricks in Illustrator: use shortcuts, break and convert anchor points with option/alt, drag handles, spacebar to nudge while drawing, and average anchors for precision.

Learn advanced width tool techniques combined with the pen tool and curvature tool to create elegant curls and blobs, adjusting strokes, caps, and anchor points for a polished flourish.

Design a custom text flourish for your initials using Illustrator or hand sketch, explore calligraphy-inspired variants, and share before-and-after work with peers for constructive critique.

Learn to master corner widgets and live shapes in Illustrator, using direct selection and the transform panel to customize rounded, pointed, or flat corners on rectangles and stars.

Learn to smooth hand drawn artwork in Illustrator using the path smooth and smooth brush tool, adjust auto smooth, refine with image trace thresholds, and clean up anchor points.

Learn to create repeating grids in Illustrator using grid, radial, and mirror options, adjust overlap and flips, and work as a live effect before committing to swatches.

Create a hero image for a small business using a radial repeat and repeating grid background, replace graphics with your text vectors, add a call to action, and upload screenshot.

Create a randomized season-themed background graphic for social media by drawing a simple season icon, pulling colors from reference images, and masking and cropping the composition.

Apply a gradient to a stroke in Illustrator with the gradient panel and swatches. Set linear or radial gradients and rotate with the rotation tool to center effects.

Learn to apply a single gradient across multiple shapes by turning them into a compound path, then use the gradient tool to drag and refine the fill across all objects.

Learn to add a gradient to text in Illustrator using the appearance panel and apply a fill to the type, using the gradient tool and swatches.

Explore the recolor panel to generate cohesive color schemes by linking colors, using libraries like baroque or metal, and pulling palettes from images with the color theme picker.

Create a postcard for your small business with a heading, body copy, and a masked image inside a giant letter. Experiment with blending modes and share your final choice.

Master advanced Illustrator workflows: clean up stray paths and empty text with path cleanup, use transparency grid, work with dual windows, and create custom toolbars and templates.

Master advanced typography in Illustrator by using the character panel, glyphs, open type features, and variable fonts. Align, size, and manage area type for polished results.

Design a branded monogram by placing your initials as text inside a logo and weaving an industry-appropriate image inside that text, using advanced Illustrator techniques.

Create compelling text for your audience using an offset stroke technique in Illustrator, and experiment with offset paths and the Pathfinder Add function to turn text into a graphics style.