Setting Up Adobe Illustrator CS6 CC For Maximum Productivity

Set up Adobe Illustrator CS6/CC to make you a more productive graphic artist. Beginners to Experts welcome!

Created byDouglas Butner

Last updated 3/2020

English

What you'll learn

You will understand and be able change the unit of measurement, color mode, and user interface in Illustrator CS6.
You will be comfortable using artboards, and will learn to quickly render multiple versions of your works.
You will customize your workspace to show the tools and panels you actually use.
You will incorporate elements like your logo, symbols, favorite fonts etc. into a reusable template that will kick-start any new design or project

Course content

6 sections • 18 lectures • 1h 32m total length

New Document Dialogue5:43
New Document Shortcut: Command+N

Summary: Keep RGB colorspace, Don't be scared by Picas, Feel free to use multiple artboards.

Note: The options may seem confusing, but just focus on what you need and be on your way! You can change almost everything later!

Check out Resources for more information!
Editing Document Setup3:53
Document Setup Shortcut: Command+Option+P

Summary: Adjust the Grid Color, and easily change the units of your document.

Note: Take some time to

Check out Resources for more information on Flattening, etc!
Editing Preferences Part 12:23
General Preferences Shortcut: Command+K

Units Preferences Shortcut: Command+,

Summary: You can remove isolation mode, Check out Use Preview Bounds,

NOTE: Setting Constrain Angles will affect the way you move any object. You will not be able to move objects in a straight line if you set an angle here.

Check out Resources for more information regarding Smart Guides, etc!
Editing Preferences Part 25:58
General Preferences Shortcut: Command+K

Units Preferences Shortcut: Command+,

Summary: You can remove isolation mode, Check out Use Preview Bounds,

NOTE: Setting Constrain Angles will affect the way you move any object. You will not be able to move objects in a straight line if you set an angle here.

Check out Resources for more information regarding Smart Guides, etc!
Format and Appearance Resources1:13

Fun With The Artboard Tool5:22
Artboard Tool Shortcut: Command+O

Summary: Double click objects with artboard tool to make custom size art boards, Use multiple artboards, set different sizes for render

NOTE: You can double click objects with artboard tool to make a same size art board (forgot to mention in this take). Also, having one art board for each size of render will be sufficient, I used 3 which really is overkill.

Check out Resources for a more detailed account!
Artboards For Maximum Productivity5:46
Artboard Resources0:55

Exploring The Workspace8:48
Summary: Vertical panels dock vertical, horizontal panels dock horizontal. You can make a panel wide, an icon, or a title and icon. You can drag out expandable Tools from the Tools Panel, but they operate slightly different.

Note: You overwrite a workspace by clicking "New Workspace" under the workspace switcher menu, then typing the name again.

Check out Resources for a COMPLETE account of panels and tools in the tools panel and more resources!
Owning Your Workspace(s) For Maximum Productivity7:20
Summary: Find panels under "Window". Arrange these panels until you find something that works! Vertical panels dock vertical, horizontal panels dock horizontal. You can make a panel wide, an icon, or a title and icon. You can drag out expandable Tools from the Tools Panel, but they operate slightly different.

Note: You overwrite a workspace by clicking "New Workspace" under the workspace switcher menu, then typing the name again.

Check out Resources for a COMPLETE account of panels and tools in the tools panel and more resources!
Workspace Resources1:51

Template Basics2:32
Summary: Template files have the same capabilities as regular .ai files.

Note: You can save swatches (patterns, colors, etc) in a template file for later use. If you can't find the template folder search your machine for "japanese templates" and then open the location of that folder.

Check out Resources for more information!
Templating For Success Part 1: Gather Resources8:00
Summary: Gather commercial free fonts, free dingbat fonts, and free vectors. Wikimedia, free vector sites, and fontspace.com are great resources.

Note: Fontspace also allows you to type a specific word in to see how it is displayed!!

Check out Resources for my Fontspace profile, links, the article provided, and more free resources.
Templating For Success Part 2: Altogether Now9:54
Summary: Separate layers. Use commercial free fonts, vectors, and use dingbat fonts to get LOTS of symbols quickly. Save fonts and other linked resources in a folder. Keep it all in the cloud so you can have it anywhere!!

Note: I meant to say "Awesome Workspace AND Template" in the beginning ;) Do not forget to include patterns and swatches!

Feel free to send me your finished product for critique: sirdouglasfresh.com@gmail.com

Check out Resources for my Fontspace profile, links, the article provided, and more free resources!
Template Resources2:04

Requirements

Adobe Illustrator CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6, or CC

Description

This video series will teach you how to set up Adobe Illustrator CS6 to make you a more productive graphic artist. Learn how to set up Illustrator for exactly what you want to do, and create effective templates that you will use in all of your future projects.

This course covers:

New Document Creation
Document Setup
Preferences
Artboards
Workspaces
Components of the Workspace
Templates
Finding Free Resources

Who this course is for:

Beginner to Expert Illustrator Users
Graphic Designers
Anyone Wanting to Work Faster

Setting Up Adobe Illustrator CS6 CC For Maximum Productivity

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Format and Appearance5 lectures • 19min

Working With Artboards3 lectures • 12min

Setting Up Your Workspace3 lectures • 18min

Template For Success4 lectures • 23min

Complete Resources1 lecture • 5min

Bonus Lessons2 lectures • 16min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: