How to Use Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is graphic-driven software used primarily for creating vector graphics. Developed along side with Adobe Photoshop as a companion product, Adobe illustrator is used for creating logos, graphics, cartoons and fonts for the photo-realistic layouts of Adobe Photoshop. Currently the updated software, Adobe Illustrator CS to CS5 opened new features to the software such as adding three dimensional applications and realistic brushes. If you’re interested to know the basic functions and uses of Adobe Illustrator, here is a tutorial that can briefly show you how.

Steps

1A good place to start is by designing a poster in Adobe Illustrator. Here you can learn how to create a starter document, do some basic text and color editing, and generate a product.



2After you’ve made a poster, you can try to make a brochure in Adobe Illustrator which requires a more skilled understanding of height, width, sizing, and layout.

3If however your plan is to create graphics that could be transported to Photoshop, you can start by learning how to use first the most basic tool for drawing on the software and that is the Pen Tool. Use the pen tool to start drawing a simple shape to creating a complex logo. So that you won’t be confused also on using the tool, make your fill white and your strokes black. Leave the effects, gradients and colors for a while and concentrate on drawing your graphic.

4Once you’re skilled at the pen tool, you can try to draw something from start to finish.

5The next step is to learn how to use the Shape and Pathfinder Tool. If you’re using the Pen Tool for drawing shapes and find that your shapes aren’t perfect enough, you can also use the Shape Tool. Use the Shape Tool to create ellipses, rectangles, rounded rectangles, triangles and stars.

6You can also test your ability to use the Pathfinder Tool through this tutorial about making shapes. This tool helps when you’re creating complex shapes and objects.

7After learning how to draw on Illustrator, learn how to use adobe illustrator swatches and colors. Begin by playing and changing the colors of the fills or strokes of your drawing by using your color swatches.

8You can also apply a gradient by using the Mesh Tool. The basic idea is to use your color swatches if you’re aiming for a flat or 2D artwork, gradients to make your graphics more three-dimensional and then the Mesh Tool if you want your graphics to be more realistic.

9Test your ability to use the color tools by drawing a hamburger from start to finish in this tutorial: Draw a Hamburger in Adobe Illustrator

10To wrap up everything you have learned you can go ahead and create your own personal logo and business card. From following the tutorials on each of the step, you can essentially now start drawing a logo and prepare a simple layout. If however you’re still having trouble figuring out the software, you can follow the tutorial below on how to create a logo.

11If you want even more of a challenge, try to live-trace a picture. This is a great introduction into some of the more advanced tools in Adobe Illustrator.