Overview
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How to draw vector artwork in Illustrator without having to think about technical concepts.
Syllabus
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Introduction
- Welcome
- The evolution of vector drawing
- Getting the most out of this training
- Using the exercise files
- Plotting points vs. drawing paths
- Drawing artwork vs. building artwork
- The keyboard shortcuts you HAVE to know
- Groups and layers really do matter
- Taming Smart Guides and the Bounding Box
- Do you need a drawing tablet?
- To sketch or not to sketch?
- Setting up a template layer for your sketch
- Optimizing default settings for drawing
- Using the primitive shapes tools
- Mastering the modifier keys
- Mastering the transform tools
- Creating curves with the Reshape tool
- Using the Smooth tool
- Using Simplify to create smooth paths
- Recording an action for the Simplify command
- Mirroring art for speed and accuracy
- Deconstructing the Pathfinder panel
- Using the Shape Modes functions
- Using the Pathfinder functions
- Understanding how compound shapes work
- Understanding why compound shapes exist
- Exploring additional Pathfinder options
- Why Live Paint was created
- Creating a Live Paint group
- Using the Live Paint Bucket tool
- Using Live Paint with open paths
- Detecting gaps in Live Paint groups
- Adding paths to a Live Paint group
- Using the Live Paint Selection tool
- Releasing and expanding Live Paint groups
- Understanding how Live Paint works
- Why the Shape Builder tool was created
- Focusing on the big three: Add, Subtract, and Divide
- Using the Shape Builder tool to add and subtract artwork
- Using the Shape Builder to divide artwork
- Building and coloring artwork at the same time
- Using Gap Detection with the Shape Builder tool
- Understanding how variable widths work
- Modifying width points along a path
- Saving time with width profiles
- Turning variable width strokes into filled paths
- Understanding how the Pen and Pencil tools differ
- Adjusting the behavior of the Pencil tool
- Using the Path Eraser tool
- Drawing with the Calligraphic Brush tool
- Drawing with the Blob Brush tool
- Using the Eraser tool
- Looking at the VectorScribe plug-in
- Next steps
