Status

Available

Released

Jan 27th, 2009

Learn to create vector art with seasoned technical author and 3D artist Kelly Murdock.

This tutorial is available!

Illustrator is the application you use to make objects for Photoshop and Flash. As a vector-based drawing application, Illustrator is a powerful tool for creating graphical objects, but it can be a bit confusing at the beginning - especially if you've never created vector graphics before.

In this 5-hour tutorial by seasoned technical author Kelly Murdock, you'll learn valuable tricks for working with vector art. Skills demonstrated in this Illustrator CS4 tutorial include how to use Illustrator's tools to draw objects and edit vector paths, grouping and organizing objects on layers, and working with Type to create text along paths and shapes. You'll also learn important tips for anti-aliasing vector graphics, working with color and gradients, and transforming objects to make intricate works of art.

This is a comprehensive tutorial, but you don't need to watch every video. Use the detailed menu structure and keyword search function to quickly find topics of interest. For a full list of this Illustrator tutorials topics, see the Table of Contents below.

• Illustrator CS4 101: Core Illustrator CS4
• Illustrator CS4 201: Deeper Into Illustrator

For a full list of the topics covered, see the Tutorial Outline
or click the button below to Preview this tutorial.

• Illustrator Basics
• The Illustrator Interface
• 00:51
  01. Introduction
• 04:37
  02. Interface Elements
• 00:47
  03. Switching Screen Modes
• 04:23
  04. Working with Panels
• 01:58
  05. Accessing Flyout Tools
• 01:44
  06. Changing Panel Display Options
• 02:07
  07. Changing Parameter Values
• 02:03
  08. Using Undo and Redo
• 03:07
  09. Selecting and Saving Workspaces
• 01:54
  10. Accessing Preferences
• 03:26
  11. Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
• 02:52
  12. Converting to CMYK, RGB, or Grayscale
• 01:27
  13. Arranging Documents
• Setting Up a New Document
• 03:52
  14. Creating a New Document and Selecting Templates
• 01:51
  15. Using the Welcome Dialog Box
• 02:28
  16. Using Document Setup and the Artboard Tool
• 01:33
  17. Navigating Between Artboards
• 01:09
  18. Using the Print Tiling Tool
• 02:04
  19. Changing Units
• Working with Files
• 04:24
  20. Saving Illustrator Documents
• 03:15
  21. Exporting to Image Formats
• 01:34
  22. Placing Art
• 04:09
  23. Saving Documents for the Web
• 01:47
  24. Printing Documents
• 03:06
  25. Using the Info and Document Info Panels
• Document Display Options
• 03:12
  26. Navigating about the Document Window
• 01:41
  27. Using the Navigator Panel
• 02:13
  28. Using View Grids
• 02:10
  29. Naming and Recalling Custom Views
• 02:15
  30. Viewing Rulers and Using the Measure Tool
• 02:05
  31. Working with Guides
• 02:27
  32. Using Smart Guides
• Working with Objects in Illustrator
• Drawing in Illustrator
• 02:54
  33. Understanding Paths
• 03:29
  34. Understanding Vector and Raster Lines
• 02:39
  35. Using the Pencil Tool
• 06:00
  36. Using the Pen Tool
• 03:12
  37. Drawing Rectangles and Ellipses
• 01:55
  38. Drawing Polygon and Star Shapes
• 02:21
  39. Drawing Lines, Arcs and Spirals
• 01:40
  40. Drawing Grids
• Painting and Using Brushes
• 01:32
  41. Using the Paintbrush Tool
• 02:26
  42. Using the Brushes Panel
• 03:26
  43. Creating Custom Brushes
• 02:29
  44. Painting with the Blob Brush
• Selecting Objects
• 03:05
  45. Using the Selection Tools
• 01:24
  46. Accessing Selection Tools when Drawing
• 03:20
  47. Using the Magic Wand Tool
• 03:39
  48. Selecting Objects with Similar Properties
• 01:26
  49. Creating a Selection Set
• 01:40
  50. Working in Isolation Mode
• 01:54
  51. Locking and Hiding Selected Objects
• Editing Paths
• 01:09
  52. Smoothing Curves with the Smooth Tool
• 01:12
  53. Selecting and Editing Segments
• 01:26
  54. Erasing and Dividing Paths
• 00:59
  55. Using the Scissors Tool
• 01:57
  56. Simplifying Paths
• 01:43
  57. Offsetting Paths
• 02:12
  58. Adding, Deleting and Converting Anchor Points
• 02:08
  59. Working with Handles
• 02:12
  60. Duplicating Objects
• 01:43
  61. Deleting, Connecting and Cutting Points
• 02:27
  62. Using Snap to Point
• 01:10
  63. Using the Knife Tool
• 01:18
  64. Extending Paths with the Pen Tool
• 01:55
  65. Removing Stray Points and the Cleanup Command
• Organizing Objects
• 03:25
  66. Grouping Objects
• 03:15
  67. Aligning and Distributing Objects
• 03:03
  68. Understanding Stacking Order
• 03:25
  69. Introducing Layers
• 01:15
  70. Moving Objects Between Layers
• 02:04
  71. Hiding and Locking Layers
• 01:51
  72. Combining Layers
• 01:41
  73. Creating Template Layers
• 03:47
  74. Creating Animations with the Layers Panel
• 03:29
  75. Targeting Layers to Receive Effects
• Transforming Objects
• 01:51
  76. Moving and Nudging Objects
• 03:04
  77. Scaling and Rotating Objects
• 02:03
  78. Repeating Transforms Multiple Times
• 02:12
  79. Using the Transform Each Dialog Box
• 02:05
  80. Using the Transform Panel
• 01:07
  81. Using the Reflect Tool
• 01:25
  82. Using the Reshape Tool
• 01:15
  83. Using the Shear Tool
• 02:34
  84. Using the Pathfinder Features
• 02:22
  85. Using the Flare Tool
• 02:02
  86. Using Clipping Masks
• Color, Gradients, Patterns and Transparency
• 01:52
  87. Changing Fill and Stroke Colors
• 02:54
  88. Choosing Colors
• 02:43
  89. Using the Swatches Panel
• 01:29
  90. Reapplying Color with the Eyedropper Tool
• 02:26
  91. Using the Strokes Panel
• 01:23
  92. Outlining Strokes
• 02:52
  93. Expanding Objects to Add a Fill to a Stroke
• 02:14
  94. Using Preview and Outline View Modes
• 03:46
  95. Using Live Paint
• 03:56
  96. Recoloring Artwork
• 02:23
  97. Shifting Colors with the Recolor Artwork Dialog Box
• 04:21
  98. Applying Gradients
• 01:59
  99. Using the Gradient Tool
• 02:26
  100. Using the Mesh Tool
• 01:24
  101. Creating Custom Patterns
• 01:06
  102. Rotating Patterns
• 01:06
  103. Transforming Patterns
• 02:24
  104. Setting Transparency
• 03:17
  105. Using Opacity Maps
• 02:34
  106. Rasterizing Objects
• 02:59
  107. Understanding Anti-Aliasing
• Text in Illustrator
• Working with Type
• 02:01
  108. Using the Type Tool
• 01:30
  109. Fitting Type to a Custom Area
• 02:23
  110. Wrapping Text Around an Object
• 00:54
  111. Adding Type to a Path
• 02:02
  112. Using Type on a Path Style Options
• 01:47
  113. Threading Paragraphs of Type
• 01:36
  114. Selecting and Formatting Type
• 02:58
  115. Accessing Glyphs
• 01:37
  116. Checking for Spelling Errors
• 01:49
  117. Adding Words to a Custom Dictionary
• 03:43
  118. Finding and Replacing Text
• 02:20
  119. Setting the Character Format Options
• 02:02
  120. Setting Paragraph Formatting Options
• 01:50
  121. Using the Vertical Type Tools
• 00:52
  122. Changing Type Orientation
• 02:30
  123. Converting Type to Outlines
• 00:42
  124. Conclusion

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