Illustrator Training Class in Sacramento

Creating Logos Using Simple Shapes

Adobe Illustrator is frequently used to create logos. Logo design is a complex process requiring proper knowledge of tools. In this training section, students learn how to use the Adobe Illustrator interface and create a custom workspace suitable for their needs. Students then establish appropriate settings for new documents and use simple shapes to create a basic logo.

Enhancing Logos

Designers can enhance logos through custom formatting and text. Class attendees learn how to embellish logos using object formatting, placement, rotation and size. Students also learn how to add text and specify its font, size and placement. Course attendees learn how to use various application tools including the character palette, navigator, swatches, brushes and transform palette.

Using Custom Paths To Create Logos

Designers can draw custom paths with the pen tool to create custom-shaped objects with a good deal of precision. Designers can also modify existing shapes to create new ones. Using these techniques, students modify their logo to give it a more unique appearance. When creating logos, clients frequently request several versions of the same logo with minor alterations. Designers can accomplished this easily by duplicating object and style effects. They can also use style effects to update multiple object formatting within a group to simplify management. In this class, students learn how to duplicate objects and apply style effects.

Creating a Logo with Type Special Effects

Adding text with special effects can enhance graphics and attract viewer attention. Using the gradient tool, designers can add gradients to both objects and text, improving its visual appeal. One can also align text with a curved path or apply effects like stair step, gravity, skew and envelope. In this course, students learn how to apply special effects to text using all the above techniques.

Creating an Advertisement

In this training section, students learn how to create an advertisement by importing and managing graphics, using the align palette to line-up objects, apply spot colors to objects, wrap text around graphics and export an advertisement into a graphics file format. Students also learn about the various graphic formats and file types available for export.

Manipulating Body Type

Text is often stored in different document formats including various word processing applications. Designers may want to reuse this content in their Illustrator work. In this training section, course attendees learn how to import and position text, format paragraphs and apply character styles, spell check, find and replace text, and insert typographic characters.

Managing Assets with Adobe Bridge

Illustrator use over time can lead to the accumulation of files – from images to Illustrator-specific. To better manage and locate these, Adobe includes the Adobe Bridge. The Adobe Bridge is a centralized management area. Using one single interface, Adobe Bridge lets you create and manage folders or add and edit meta data. You can also preview, rotate, delete and move files. In this training section, students learn how to use the Adobe Bridge to organize their important electronic files.

Creating Complex Illustrations

Students may need to design and format custom shapes and objects when creating complex illustrations. It is difficult, however, to create custom shapes and objects using only the drawing tools. In this section, students learn how to create and manage elements of complex illustrations. Students also gain a solid understanding of pathfinder commands, compound paths, offset paths, effects, filters, symbols, pattern brushes and global colors.

Providing Support for PSD and PDF Files

Adobe Illustrator supports many of the same file formats used in other Adobe applications. Inevitably, students will encounter some, if not all, of these file formats. In this training section, course attendees learn how to work with Layered Photoshop Documents (PSD) and the Portable Document Format (PDF).

Creating a Vector Version of a Raster Graphic

Though common, a raster graphics image has many drawbacks, picture quality not being size independent. Image conversion from raster graphics to vectors can help in overcoming this challenge. In this training section, students learn how to trace raster images manually, trace automatically using Live Trace command, set tracing options, save custom tracing presets and convert tracing objects to paths.

Coloring Artwork using Live Paint

Designers can add color to vector graphics using Live Paint. However, a gap in the traced object can sometimes lighten paint color into areas you did not intend to color. In this class, students learn how to correct gaps in objects and color vector graphics.

Creating a Poster

Poster graphics must be prepared in a way that grabs viewer attention. For instance, designers can mask the company name with its logo and blend colors for an eye-catching effect. In this section, instruction includes path simplification, mask clipping, 3D effects and blending.

Exporting Graphics to the Web

Illustrator graphics and colors don’t always appear the same on the Web as they do on the computer screen. Additionally, web graphics are downloaded and, thus, should be small in size to expedite download time. Designers can speed download by slicing images. In this section, students learn about web safe colors, slices, interactive SVG files and web graphic export from Illustrator.

Applying Color Management

Color management is important, especially when working with several different designers. When using color management, designers can ensure that color reproduction is consistent across various computers. In this section, class attendees learn how color management works and the ideal times to use it.

Outputting Documents

Designers must ensure that color appearance is accurate in the printed material when printing documents on a commercial printer. Printing files on a basic office printer won’t guarantee accurate, commercial print quality. To rectify this issue, ensure optimal print quality and avoid reprint, designers can choose appropriate settings. In this section, students learn how to create composite proofs for office printers and color separations for commercial printers.

Prerequisites:

Basic Macintosh or Windows skills including copy/paste, right-click (contextual menus), file location, program toggling and window navigation

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