Illustrator Tutorials
Illustrator Drawing Basics Tutorials
The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - Part 1
The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - Part 2
The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - Part 3
The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - Part 3A
The Anatomy of a Vector Illustration - Part 4
Working With Primitives
Keyboard Shortcuts For The Pen
Keyboard Shortcuts For The Pen - Examples
Practice Templates For Illustrator 7-9
Illustrator Tutorials
Creating Multiple Page Documents in Illustrator
A Rainbow of Gel Buttons in Illustrator 9 - 14-Part Series
Applying a Gradient Fill Across Multiple Objects - 2 Part Series
Using Live trace
Better Selecting in Adobe Illustrator
From Creativepro.com: "Selecting objects in a complex Illustrator file can sometimes be frustrating. George Penston shares his favorite techniques for homing in quickly on just the objects you need."
Blends
Learn how to create and work with blends in Illustrator 9.
Bounding Box
How to make the bounding box level again after rotating an object.
Brushes
Create a custom brush of grass using Illustrator 9.
Build Complex Designs Quickly With Symbols
From Adobe: "Build up repeating patterns easily with symbols. Want a more natural, random look? Use the symbolism tools to work some variety into the design. Edit the original symbol to update the design instantly." Version 10
Closing Paths
Learn how to close a path with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9.
Combine Objects Into Editable Compounds
From Adobe: "Use the Pathfinder palette to create a compound shape. In Illustrator 10, compounds are live--so you can edit the entire shape or modify the objects you used to build it." Version 10
Composition
A step-by-step tutorial for creating a scene using Illustrator 8.
Compounding the Situation
"Using the Exclude command in the Pathfinder palette of Adobe Illustrator, you can create compound paths out of a series of nested shapes." Requires QuickTime.
Corner Artifacts
"If an outlined line with sharp corners is divided, you end up with corner artifacts. Here's how to deal with them." Version 7
Creating Brushes
Learn how to create brushes with a star cutout using the pathfinder filters in Illustrator 8. Learn additional custom brush techniques in part 2 and part 3 .
Creating Multiple Page Documents
Adobe Illustrator does not have native functionality to support multi-page documents, but you can set up your artboard to print multiple pages using a custom page size and the tiling feature.
Creating Views
Learn how to work with views to make navigating your Illustrator work easier.
Creative Tools in Illustrator 9 - Part 1
From iBoost Journal: "This article will give you a sampling of the drawing tools that come with Illustrator 9 and how they give designers the power to create complex graphics."
Creative Tools in Illustrator 9 - Part 2
From iBoost Journal: Learn how you can edit, combine, subtract, and join various shapes into more complex objects.
Filters vs. Effects
Filters and Effects: they're both on the menu, and they both seem to offer the same things...so what is the difference?
Follow the Vectors
Learn how to move vector objects and paths from Illustrator to Photoshop and vice-versa.
Gradient Fill Text and Blends
Learn how to fill text with gradients and use blends to create graduated color fills.
Gradient Fills
Explore gradient fills and learn how to edit them with the gradient palette.
Gradient Mesh
Learn how to work with a gradient mesh with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9. In this example, create a bundle of brightly colored balloons.
Gradients
A overview of using gradients in Illustrator 8 and up.
Handles
Learn how to work with anchor handles to create a heart shape from an ellipse with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9.
Illustrator 9 Styles
Use styles to create railroad tracks with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9.
Illustrator Hints
Same random hints for working with Illustrator. Spiral tool effects, Knife tool tricks, moving between layers, and working with colors.
Masking
Learn how to mask photographic objects using the path tools in Illustrator 8 or higher.
Opacity Masks in Illustrator CS
By David Nagel "There are dozens of ways in Adobe Illustrator to combine objects to produce new shapes or effects. But one of the most creative--and probably least known--is the opacity mask. With this technique, you can combine an object with one or more other objects to define transparent areas of the shape. You can even use Opacity Masks to create image effects on live type."
Optimizing Web Bitmap Export
An overview of the Save for Web feature in Illustrator 9.
Paint Style Trick
Learn how to adjust all the colors in your image in relation to another color with this handy trick for Illustrator 6 or 7.
Path Basics
Learn how to create a basic object, select and move anchors, add, delete, and convert anchors, reshape objects with the pencil tool, and more.
Paths of Least Resistance
Techniques for getting the most out of Illustrators tools. Available in PDF format only.
Pattern Brush Anatomy 101
Making pattern brushes can be baffling. How do you get the pattern to go around corners the right way so you can use the brushes on shapes like squares, stars, and hexagons, or bending lines? This clears it all up and you'll be creating your own pattern brushes in no time! For Illustrator 9 and 10.
Patterns
Learn how to create patterns by editing the default swatches or from scratch with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9.
Printable Grids
How to make printable grids in in Illustrator 9.
Reshaping
See how basic shapes can be edited to create more elaborate shapes. Here simple rectangles and ovals are manipulated to form a paintbrush.
Resizing and Transformation Tricks
Several methods and tips for resizing, scaling, and transforming objects in Illustrator 9 and 10.
Saving Custom Styles
Want more Styles in Illustrator 9 or 10? You can make your own and save them to use later.
Scale, not Skew
"The scale tool is designed to work in perpendicular space, and when you try to scale a rotated object, you end up skewing it instead. What to do?" This clip from Total Illustrator will show you. Requires QuickTime.
Soft-Proof Your Colors
Learn how you can use the color management features in Adobe Illustrator 9 to manage and preview colors in your artwork.
Transforming Shapes
Learn how to modify and transform shapes in Illustrator 8 or higher.
Transforming
Learn how to transform objects with these illustrated step-by-step instructions for Illustrator 9. Here a simple teardrop shape is transformed into a flower and then a vase of flowers.
Transparent Gradients in Adobe Illustrator
"This technique allows you not only to create gradients that transition from a solid to transparent color, but to generate complex gradients as well in which the transparency gradient can cut across the color gradient."
Use Data-Driven Graphics To Streamline Design Work
From Adobe: "Find out how designers and developers can collaborate to generate highly formatted graphics automatically. In this new workflow, designers focus their time and talent on designing, rather than cutting and pasting, and developers control the links between a template and its content." Version 10
Using the New Rectangular Grid Tool in Illustrator 10
An overview of the new rectangular grid tool in Illustrator 10.
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