Lynda.com Illustrator CS5 Essential Training

Author: Mordy Golding
Duration (hr:min): 10:37
Released on: 4/30/2010
Exercise files: Yes
Software works on: Mac and Windows

In Illustrator CS5 Essential Training, author Mordy Golding explains the core concepts and techniques that apply to any workflow in Illustrator, whether designing for print, the web, or assets for other applications. This course includes a detailed explanation of the elements that make up vector graphics—paths, strokes, and fills—and shows how to use each of Illustrator's drawing tools. Also demonstrated are techniques for combining and cleaning up paths, organizing paths into groups and layers, text editing, working with color, effects, and much more. Exercise files accompany the course.

Topics include:

• Setting up a new document based on the output destination
• Using rules, guides, and grids
• Making detailed selections
• Drawing and editing paths with the Pen and Pencil tools
• Creating compound vector shapes
• Understanding the difference between point and area text
• Applying live effects
• Creating color swatches
• Transforming artwork with Rotation, Scale, and Transform effects
• Placing images
• Working with masks
• Printing, saving, and exporting artwork

Content:

Introduction - 03:35

    Welcome - 1:18 - 6.7 MB
    What is Illustrator CS5? - 1:46 - 6.4 MB
    Using the exercise files - 0:31 - 0.5 MB

1. Key Concepts - 12:37

    What are vector graphics? - 6:03 - 6.8 MB
    Path and appearance - 3:42 - 4.0 MB
    Stacking - 2:52 - 2.2 MB

2. Creating New Documents - 32:06

    The Welcome screen - 2:23 - 3.0 MB
    Creating files for print - 6:07 - 6.3 MB
    Creating files for the screen - 2:55 - 3.6 MB
    Using prebuilt templates - 2:40 - 2.9 MB
    Adding XMP metadata - 4:18 - 4.1 MB
    Exploring the panels - 6:33 - 6.6 MB
    Using the Control panel - 3:11 - 2.9 MB
    Using workspaces - 3:59 - 3.9 MB

3. Working with Documents - 43:44

    Navigating within a document - 9:15 - 11.0 MB
    Using rulers and guides - 7:26 - 8.6 MB
    Using grids - 3:06 - 3.7 MB
    Using the bounding box - 3:37 - 5.7 MB
    Using Smart Guides - 5:56 - 6.3 MB
    The Hide Edges command - 3:22 - 3.5 MB
    Various preview modes - 3:47 - 4.4 MB
    Creating custom views - 4:03 - 4.8 MB
    Locking and hiding artwork - 3:12 - 3.5 MB

4. Making Selections - 28:46

    Using the basic selection tools - 8:50 - 9.6 MB
    Using the Magic Wand tool - 5:22 - 6.8 MB
    Using the Lasso tool - 2:28 - 2.6 MB
    Selecting objects by attribute or type - 3:37 - 3.7 MB
    Saving and reusing selections - 2:15 - 2.4 MB
    Selecting artwork beneath other objects - 2:13 - 2.3 MB
    Exploring selection preferences - 4:01 - 5.7 MB

5. Drawing and Editing Paths - 01:16:19

    The importance of modifier keys - 1:52 - 1.7 MB
    Drawing closed path primitives - 11:38 - 10.7 MB
    Drawing open path primitives - 5:47 - 5.9 MB
    Understanding anchor points - 3:43 - 2.9 MB
    Drawing straight paths with the Pen tool - 7:37 - 6.7 MB
    Drawing curved paths with the Pen tool - 9:47 - 8.9 MB
    Drawing freeform paths with the Pencil tool - 5:33 - 5.4 MB
    Smoothing and erasing paths - 3:08 - 2.9 MB
    Editing anchor points - 7:21 - 8.1 MB
    Joining and averaging paths - 10:09 - 9.5 MB
    Simplifying paths - 4:55 - 4.6 MB
    Using Offset Path - 2:17 - 2.3 MB
    Cleaning up errant paths - 2:32 - 2.3 MB

6. Building Shapes - 48:26

    The Draw Inside and Draw Behind modes - 7:34 - 7.7 MB
    Creating compound paths - 5:56 - 6.1 MB
    Creating compound shapes - 8:00 - 8.1 MB
    Using the Shape Builder tool - 10:28 - 11.4 MB
    Using Pathfinder functions - 8:06 - 7.5 MB
    Splitting an object into a grid - 1:16 - 1.1 MB
    Using the Blob Brush and Eraser tools - 7:06 - 6.8 MB

7. Working with Text - 49:05

    Creating point text - 4:02 - 4.1 MB
    Creating area text - 8:13 - 8.7 MB
    Applying basic character settings - 7:44 - 7.9 MB
    Applying basic paragraph settings - 4:28 - 5.6 MB
    Creating text threads - 8:25 - 9.6 MB
    Setting text along an open path - 6:29 - 7.8 MB
    Setting text along a closed path - 6:24 - 6.2 MB
    Converting text into paths - 3:20 - 2.9 MB

8. Quick Project: Building a Logo - 18:55

    Create a logo mark - 11:26 - 10.7 MB
    Add type to your logo - 7:29 - 7.7 MB

9. Applying Appearances and Effects - 42:42

    Using the Appearance panel - 8:21 - 7.4 MB
    Targeting object attributes - 4:42 - 4.1 MB
    Adding multiple attributes - 4:25 - 4.2 MB
    Applying Live Effects - 5:18 - 5.1 MB
    Expanding appearances - 4:42 - 4.3 MB
    Appearance panel settings - 4:33 - 4.1 MB
    Copying appearances - 4:51 - 4.5 MB
    Saving appearances as graphic styles - 5:50 - 5.6 MB

10. Using Color in Illustrator - 34:00

    Applying color to artwork - 5:57 - 6.3 MB
    Creating process and global process swatches - 8:54 - 8.3 MB
    Creating spot color swatches - 3:19 - 3.0 MB
    Loading PANTONE and other custom color libraries - 4:49 - 4.7 MB
    Organizing colors with Swatch Groups - 3:31 - 3.3 MB
    Finding color suggestions with the Color Guide panel - 4:24 - 4.3 MB
    Loading the Color Guide with user-defined colors - 3:06 - 2.9 MB

11. Applying Fills and Strokes - 50:23

    Creating gradients with the Gradient panel - 8:12 - 9.1 MB
    Modifying gradients with the Gradient Annotator - 4:37 - 5.4 MB
    Applying and manipulating pattern fills - 5:33 - 7.2 MB
    Defining your own custom pattern fills - 9:13 - 9.4 MB
    Applying basic stroke settings - 5:22 - 5.5 MB
    Creating strokes with dashed lines - 3:41 - 3.8 MB
    Adding arrowheads to strokes - 2:45 - 3.1 MB
    Creating variable-width strokes - 4:35 - 5.7 MB
    Working with width profiles - 2:36 - 3.1 MB
    Turning strokes into filled paths - 3:49 - 4.3 MB

12. Using Groups and Layers - 32:46

    Creating and editing groups - 8:18 - 8.4 MB
    Adding attributes to groups - 12:17 - 12.2 MB
    The importance of using layers - 5:09 - 4.8 MB
    Using and "reading" the Layers panel - 7:02 - 6.9 MB

13. Managing Multiple Artboards - 12:13

    Creating and using multiple artboards - 7:52 - 7.2 MB
    Modifying artboards with the Artboards panel - 2:02 - 2.3 MB
    Copy and paste options with Artboards - 2:19 - 2.3 MB

14. Transforming and Positioning Art - 31:10

    Moving and copying artwork - 3:55 - 3.8 MB
    Scaling or resizing artwork - 6:47 - 6.8 MB
    Rotating artwork - 2:44 - 2.9 MB
    Reflecting and skewing artwork - 2:34 - 2.5 MB
    Using the Free Transform tool - 2:15 - 2.9 MB
    Repeating transformations - 3:39 - 3.8 MB
    Performing individual transforms across multiple objects - 2:10 - 2.1 MB
    Aligning objects and groups precisely - 4:27 - 4.2 MB
    Distributing objects and spaces between objects - 2:39 - 2.5 MB

15. Working with Images - 35:40

    Placing pixel-based content into Illustrator - 5:14 - 4.8 MB
    Managing images with the Links panel - 4:49 - 5.3 MB
    Converting pixels to paths with Live Trace - 8:44 - 8.2 MB
    Making Live Trace adjustments - 6:09 - 7.0 MB
    Controlling colors in Live Trace - 6:04 - 6.6 MB
    Using Photoshop and Live Trace together - 4:40 - 4.9 MB

16. Working Efficiently with Symbols - 14:42

    Managing repeating artwork with symbols - 4:38 - 5.0 MB
    Modifying and replacing symbol instances - 3:08 - 3.1 MB
    Using the Symbol Sprayer tool - 6:56 - 11.9 MB

17. Working with Masks - 16:57

    Cropping photographs - 1:59 - 1.9 MB
    Clipping artwork with masks - 3:22 - 3.4 MB
    Clipping the contents of a layer - 3:31 - 3.4 MB
    Defining masks with soft edges - 8:05 - 8.1 MB

18. Drawing in Perspective - 26:02

    Defining a perspective grid - 7:48 - 12.4 MB
    Drawing artwork in perspective - 8:46 - 10.0 MB
    Moving flat art onto the perspective grid - 9:28 - 11.6 MB

19. Printing, Saving, and Exporting - 25:08

    Printing your Illustrator document - 3:26 - 3.8 MB
    Saving your Illustrator document - 6:39 - 7.0 MB
    Creating PDF files for clients and printers - 7:30 - 8.3 MB
    Exporting Illustrator files for use in Microsoft Office - 1:04 - 1.2 MB
    Exporting Illustrator files for use in Photoshop - 2:31 - 2.7 MB
    Exporting artwork for use on the web - 3:03 - 3.9 MB
    Exporting high-resolution raster files - 0:55 - 1.1 MB

Conclusion - 02:18

    Additional Illustrator learning resources - 1:36 - 2.2 MB
    Goodbye - 0:42 - 0.6 MB