Course Information

Duration: Two-Day Course
Platform: Windows and Macintosh
Fee: $765 CDN (+HST)

This class is limited to eight people.

*Note: As of February 2011 DPA Communications will offer Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, Premiere, After Effects, Dreamweaver, Flash and Flash Catalyst courses on version CS5 (Creative Suite 5).

If you are currently using previous versions see the CS4 version of this course outline for any differences in training course content. Please contact DPA for more details or to have an instructor contact you.

Course Overview

In this class you will learn to edit and create complex artwork using the advanced tools in Illustrator. You will begin by learning to customize Illustrator Preference settings. You will work with the advanced text features to produce creative text styles. Also covered are the automated re-colour features, live trace, the perspective grid and working with 3D images. Creating illustrator files with layers, placing Photoshop files with layers and optimizing graphics for the web will also be covered.

Course Content

Application Overview

• Review of preference settings
• Overview of Multiple Art boards: panel, printing, saving and exporting
• Creating a custom workspace
• Document set-ups
• Adding crop marks to your artwork
• Using the normal, behind objects and inside objects drawing modes

Working with Colour

• Using Live Paint to colour objects
• Using the Recolour feature
• Creating custom colour groups
• Using the Kuler colour panel and extension
• Saving, exporting and loading custom swatches for use in other Adobe programs, such as InDesign
• Creating and editing a pattern swatch
• Working with gradient meshes to reproduce realistic shading effects

Creating Complex Illustrations

• Working with the shape builder, blob brush and width tool
• Working with the appearances Panel to create multiple fills, strokes and effects for text and objects
• Working with the symbols tool to create and edit symbols
• Using compound and offset paths to build up borders and complex edges
• Using the liquefy tools to create custom frames and clipping paths for objects
• Creating Offset Paths and Outline Paths on objects
• Using the pixel-based transparency effects (drop shadows, glows and blurs) and adjusting settings
• Working with transparency on multiple objects and groups
• Using transparency effects: opacity and blending modes
• Using brushes and brush modes to produce realistic painting effects
• Using the perspective drawing grid and the perspective selection tool
• Modifying perspective grid settings
• Using the perspective grid to draw and transform objects and text
• Creating a style from two or more styles
• Using the warp options on images and text
• Using the pathfinder panel

Working with text

• Creating Paragraph and character type styles
• Warping text – using the envelope distort options
• Working with the options to create text on a path
• Threading Text between frames
• Creating glyphs
• Using the appearance panel to create stylish type headings
• Using text as a clipping path with images
• Creating Offset Paths and Outline Paths on text

Working with Images and Layers

• Rasterizing vector artwork
• Using the Live Trace feature
• Placing Adobe Photoshop files
• Working with Adobe Photoshop files in Adobe Illustrator
• Using the separations preview panel
• Saving for the Web and mobile devices
• Exporting an Adobe Illustrator file with layers as a PDF for Adobe Acrobat