Training Vancouver

Adobe Illustrator has always been a reliable, capable product and its relatively gentle learning curve lets users realize their ideas quickly and easily. Illustrator has set the standard for vector graphic production in both print and the web for years. We’ll teach you how to use its array of powerful tools.

Illustrator 101 2 days | $795 + HST

Illustrator is an incredibly powerful application with a TON of unique features. So many, in fact, that it's impossible to teach them all in one course. So our Illustrator 101 course teaches the basics - the essentials. With this knowledge as a foundation, you can start using the application to create logos, illustrations, floorplans, posters, banners, etc., with confidence. Prerequisite: familiarity with computer/mouse and proficiency in at least one software application.

• the Workspace
• the work area
• the toolbar
• the palettes
• creating a new artboard
• creating several artboards
• navigating around your artboards
• preview vs outline mode
• preferences
• Illustrator Essentials
• drawing simple line art and basic shapes
• resizing objects
• selecting artwork
• adding a fill or stroke colour
• outline vs preview mode
• using layers
• cloning objects
• Adding Colour
• creating colours
• using Live Paint
• adding a symbol to your artwork
• expanding the symbol
• selecting same colour objects
• creating a colour group
• using the Colour panel
• adding Pantone colours
• adding effects
• the Appearance panel
• Using Effects and Transparency
• applying Effects
• the Appearance panel
• editing Effects
• using graphic styles
• working with transparency
• working with multiple opacity
• working with blending modes
• Working with the Drawing Tools
• the Pen tool
• drawing straight, and curved lines
• manually tracing images
• placing an image as a template
• the Line Segment and Arc tools
• the Pencil, Smooth, and Path Eraser tools
• editing existing paths
• cutting and joining paths
• working with Live Trace
• combining shapes - the Pathfinder panel
• Exploring Additional Colour Options
• creating gradients
• customizing an existing gradient
• creating and using patterns
• Working with and Formatting Text
• placing type
• formatting type
• paragraph and character styles
• advanced techniques with text
• text on a path
• warping text
• text in a shape
• creating outlines
• check spelling
• find and Replace
• Organizing your Illustrations with Layers
• the Layers panel
• using layers to organize your illustrations
• moving items between layers
• paste remembers layers

Advanced Illustrator 1 day | $475 + HST

This course teaches techniques that will make you work faster and smarter. This course includes instruction and practice on all the advanced features that make it much easier to create illustrations, graphs, 3D comps, info graphics, floor plans, fashion templates, or architectural elevations. Prerequisite: Illustrator 101 or equivalent experience.

• Review of selection techniques
• creating difficult selections
• selecting items based upon attributes
• saving selections
• Advanced drawing tools
• taking advantage of Live Trace
• advanced Pen tool techniques
• the Perspective Grid feature
• defining the grid
• changing the plane
• Working with Symbols
• Using the Symbol library
• creating Symbols
• editing Symbols
• editing nested Symbols
• replacing Symbols
• 3D Objects
• converting artwork to 3D
• revolve, rotate and extrude
• lighting 3D objects
• mapping art to 3D objects
• Advanced colour techniques
• using Live Paint
• using the Color Guide panel
• using Recolor Artwork
• saving a layered PDF
• Advanced Blending Techniques
• using the Blend tool
• Blend options
• gradient mesh
• using the Mesh tool
• New Features
• pattern creation
• image tracing
• perspective drawing
• Working with images
• advanced masking techniques
• advanced Live Trace
• embedding images
• making a template layer
• Photoshop tutorial (making your images look great)
• Working with graphs
• entering data
• graph styles
• editing graphs
• applying art to graphs
• exporting graphs
• Exporting and Saving Files
• the AI, EPS and PDF formats
• expanding appearance
• exporting for Photoshop

Illustrator for Production + Packaging 1 day | $475 + GST

This course is designed for advanced users who wish to use Illustrator for prepress and packaging production.

• crop marks
• dielines
• registration colour
• spot colours
• overprinting
• colour separations
• outlining fonts
• embedding vs linking images
• press quality PDFs
• production colour modes
• logo production
• graphics for production + packaging
• using layers effectively
• bleed and trim sizes