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Adobe Illustrator (G401)

Ever wondered how vector and raster graphics differ? Would you like to learn when to use CMYK color and when it's best not to? That and much more will be covered in Illustrator Level I. Designed for students with little or no knowledge of illustration programs, the course will cover the basics of computer illustration and its use in print and web-based media. Students will be introduced to the tools available in Adobe Illustrator, how to use them, how to work with objects, clip art, bitmaps (web-graphics), text, color and more.
Week 1 - Overview of illustration basics
  • Raster vs. vector graphics
  • Print vs. web
  • Creating new drawings and opening existing drawings
  • Page set up
    • Setting the rulers, grids and guidelines
    • Smart Guides Smart guide preferences
    • One last guide to set
  • Viewing your work - full screen previews, zooming
  • Gleaning information on your document (document info)
  • Illustrator's Design Tools
    • Grid
    • Artboard
    • Offsetting objects
  • Bounding Box
  • Navigation or 'Where did that drawing go?'
  • Setting preferences/customizing Exporting your file
Week 2 - Tools
  • Toolbars
    • Default toolbox
    • Flyouts
  • Let's Play
    • Drawing, selecting, moving and manipulating object center points
    • Drawing lines, curves, arcs
  • Pen Tool Paths
    • Straight segments
    • Smooth points
    • Non-continuous curve
    • Drawing an Ogee Curve
    • Video demonstration
  • Working with Anchor Points
    • Adjusting as you draw
  • Setting Line Measurements and Validating for Errors
    • Setting line measurements
    • Attributes Palette
    • Validating measurements
  • Manipulating lines
    • video demonstration
  • Filling and outlining
  • Symbols
  • The Pencil Tool Set
    • Pencil Tool
    • Smooth Tool
    • Erase Tool
  • The Brush Tool
    • Brush options
    • Brush types
    • Escaping brush mode
  • Undo the deed
  • Special Focus Lecture
    • Real Life Drawing Challenges
Week 3 - Transforming Objects
  • Copy and Duplicating
  • Transforming Objects
    • Scaling and Stretching
    • Rotating and Reflecting
    • Shearing
  • Pathfinder Palette
    • Combining shapes
      • Add
      • Subtract
      • Intersect
      • Exclude
      • Live Paint to Color Paths
      • Divide
      • Trim
      • Merge
      • Crop
      • Outline
      • Minus Back
  • Positioning objects
    • Aligning and Distributing
    • Stacking/Ordering objects
    • Nudging
  • Tying them together and Breaking them apart
    • Grouping and ungrouping
    • Locking and unlocking
    • Combining and breaking apart
    • Hiding and revealing
  • Hacking and A 'Hewin'
    • Scissors
    • Knives
Week 4 - Layers, Color, Type and Appearance
  • Layers
  • Working with color
    • A word about color
    • Color aspects
    • Special painting tools
    • Spot and process color
    • One last word
  • Working with text
    • Adding, selecting and manipulating text
    • Editing existing text
    • Formatting
    • Fitting text to a curve or line
    • Fitting text to a shape
    • Wrapping text
    • Symbols and special characters
    • Spacing, kerning and leading
  • Spell checking
  • Text special effects
  • Text to Outlines
  • Appearance Palette
  • Styles
Week 5 - Live Paint and Live Trace (CS2 and CS3 only)
  • Live Paint
    • Live Paint Paths
    • Live Paint Groups
    • Limits
    • Back to Paths
  • Converting Existing Objects into Live Paint Groups
  • Expanding or Releasing a Live Paint Group
  • Live Paint Bucket Options
  • Live Paint Selection Tool
    • Live Paint Selection Tool Options
  • Live Trace
    • Tracing raster art
    • Tracing options
    • Tracing presets
  • Expanding or Releasing a live trace
  • Converting a traced object to a Live Paint Group
Week 6 - ClipArt, 3D, Special Effects, and Working with Images
  • Working with clipart 3D Tips and Tricks
  • Filters and Effects
  • Light sources and drop shadows
  • Special Focus Lecture - Positioning Shadows
  • Special Focus Lecture - Using Version CS 3D Modeling Tools
  • Perspective
    • Final Words on Perspective
  • Working with images
    • acquiring images
    • linking
  • Special Effects
  • Distortion and Object Creation Tools
    • Envelopes
    • Liquify tools
Week 7 - Blends, Meshes, Masks and Libraries
  • Blends
  • Gradient Meshes
  • Masks
    • Transparency masks
    • Clipping masks
  • Libraries
    • Library Locations and Custom Libraries
    • Creating/Editing Custom Library Items
    • Working with Symbol Libraries
    • Few Final Words on Libraries
  • Actions
    • Action options
    • Creating a new action set
    • Recording an action
  • Scripting
  • Working with Image Maps
  • Slicing
Week 8 - Illustrator and The Web
  • Input
  • A Word on Output Types
    • Color Gamut
    • Output Types
    • Dithering
    • Anti-alias
    • JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, SVG and SWF
  • Sharing files with PhotoShop
  • Output Options
  • Working with Flash
  • SVG - A Closer Look
Prerequisites
Students should be comfortable with basic HTML in order to post their assignments to the web for download and grading.
Requirements
  • Software Requirements: Because of the length of the class, students must have a full version of Adobe Illustrator version CS2, CS3 or CS4 installed on their machines - a trial version will not offer sufficient time to complete the course. It's highly recommended that either CS3 or CS4 be used for the course as they offer capabilities not available in earlier versions of the software.
  • Other requirements: Lessons may be done in Illustrator version CS2, CS3 or CS4. Ideally, students will have webspace where they can post links to their assignments but other arrangements can be made for those who do not have webspace available.


Additional information:

Your place in the course is confirmed by your payment. Introductory courses are intended for students with no experience in the subject matter and are seeking beginner level training.

Refund Policy: Please read our Terms and Refund Policy before registering for this course.

Additional Cost: Book and software might be required for the course. Read the Requirements and Book section for more information. Course fee does not include the book and software cost .

How eClasses Work:Instructors post lectures (text-based, no video or audio), reading selections, and hands-on assignments once a week in the online classroom. Students can discuss the assignments with the instructor and amongst themselves in the classroom area. This format has no set meeting time, which allows students to attend class at a time most convenient to them, yet still provides logically organized communication between class participants. Students can apply for the completion certificate after finishing the class.

Adobe Illustrator
Price: $220.00
Item No.: G401
Instructor: Peggi Rodgers
Co-instructor/TA: Marcy Scire
CEUs: 4
Duration: 8 weeks
Open Courses:
Start Date: May 10, 2010
(Register by: May 13, 2010 )
 
Start Date: Jul 19, 2010
(Register by: Jul 22, 2010 )
 
Start Date: Sep 13, 2010
(Register by: Sep 16, 2010 )
 
Start Date: Nov 8, 2010
(Register by: Nov 11, 2010 )
 
Testimonials
Instructor's ProfileInstructor
With over ten years of web and graphic design experience, Peggi owns and operates Misty Canyon Designs. With a major focus on new site design and specializing in the management of large websites, Peggi is contracted with several public and private-sector entities for the design and maintenance of their websites. Peggi is currently the contracted webmaster for six national forests across the nation.
Before you register for this class, please read the Outline, Prerequisites, Requirements, Books, and Refund Policy sections carefully.
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Testimonials

Rating

  • "Peggi is a great instruction. The lesson plans challenged you to stay focus on mastering the concepts and the assignment ensured that you mastered the concepts. The Camtasia application Peggi used help me to get a handle on the pen tool. I never thought I would be able to use the pen tool. I am looking forward to Illustrator II." - Cyndi Richards

  • "The task of teaching such an extensive program as illustrator in an exhaustive manner is impossible for a 6-week course. Peggi did a masterful job of selecting the most appropriate features and useful tools for this course. She not only taught the basics, she also engaged us with the most common features used by professionals. In this way, she was able to teach a good deal of valuable information while avoiding an un-neccessary level of complexity." - Joshua Rowe

  • "Peggi was always encouraging. She clearly empathizes with her students when they struggle with learning a new tool. (My strife was with the scissors and knife.) Because the projects allowed one to be creative, I enjoyed looking at the other students' work to see what they did. Peggi's video clips are a nice touch, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a moving picture ...." - Thomas Blum

  • "There were some very challenging aspects to the course. Peggi's limitless patience and clear responses to questions and concerns made it a worthwhile learning experience. She fostered the fun aspects while focusing on tools that we need to use Illustrator. Excellent course with a superb instructor!" - Susan Bellomo

  • "As an instructor, Peggi was wonderfully enthusiastic, informed and always there with a kind encouraging word. Her lectures were heart-stoppingly long but chockful of amazing tips that worked well. And her videos helped me accomplish things I probably wouldn't have through just written instructions. I can't say enough good things about her and only wished she'd offer to teach Illustrator Two!" - Debbie Dine

  • "Peggi Rogers knows the program backwards and forwards and is always willing to answer any questions. The class was fun and she was always encouraging and supportive. I've been using Illustrator for years, but completely ignored many of the wonderful techniques that I now feel more comfortable trying to work into my graphic design business. " - Laurie Mugan

  • "Great class. The lectures add up to a book. I highly recommend this class. " - Faye Cragin

  • "The Adobe Illustrator course exceeded my expectations. I began with almost no skill and ended with a good bit of confidence using most of the features contained in Adobe Illustrator. The reading was extensive and promptly posted. Peggi Rodgers always answered my questions without any delay and with the patience of an exceptional teacher. I’m sure a live classroom would have made some of the points easier to grasp, but struggling with the steps put me in the swing of the program. I plan to take more courses from eClasses." - John Andrews

  • "Great course. Really helped me get my head around AI. As a heavy photoshop user, there were a lot of things about vector graphics I never learned. This course, with Peggi's guidance gave me the basics I needed to work in Illustrator." - Kim Davis

  • "Peggi was very helpful and very knowledgeable!! Also, fun to work with! :)" - Fawna Berger