Adobe Illustrator Course for Beginners

Learn vector graphics and illustration in this Adobe Illustrator Course for Beginners. Adobe Illustrator is one of five face-to-face Adobe Creative Cloud short courses we offer in Sydney.

Graphics are all around you. Adobe Illustrator, the industry-standard vector graphics software, lets you create everything from web and mobile graphics to logos, icons, book illustrations, product packaging and billboards. With Adobe Illustrator, you can turn shapes and colours into logos and icons, create typography effects, draw freehand, digitise images, and recolour graphics. Adobe Illustrator is vector-based, so your artwork stays crisp even when you scale it up to stadium size. 

This Adobe Illustrator course will introduce you to the industry-standard vector graphics software that is used worldwide by designers of all types.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Adobe Illustrator course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate and use the main tools of Adobe Illustrator in Creative Cloud
• Apply design skills in Adobe Illustrator to colour, create and manipulate graphics, for various purposes including infographics, advertising, character design and more
• Create publish-ready files for print and web.

Course content

What will be covered in this Adobe Illustrator course?

Introduction

• Understanding vector graphics
• The Illustrator workspace
• Creating a document
• Understanding page sizes
• Understanding File formats

The Interface

• Understanding panels
• Understanding workspaces
• Working with the control panel
• Tools palette and their functions
• Working with layers
• Pen tool
• Navigating with the hand tool
• Using the zoom tool
• Creating and using custom views

Working with objects, layers & shapes

• Understanding paths and selection tools
• Selecting with the selection tool
• Understanding layers and sublayers
• Creating basic shapes
• Understanding shape manipulation
• Understanding drawing with the pen tool

Working with colour and colour options

• Understanding colour
• Understanding fill, stroke & opacity
• Exploring colour palettes
• Understanding gradients & blend modes

Typography

• Understanding type capabilities in illustrator
• Typing on a path and inside a shape
• Exploring type distortion options

File Management & Publication

• Understanding save and export options
• Publishing to print & web
• File backups & archiving
• Packaging a document

Intended audience

Who is this Adobe Illustrator course for?

This course is for anyone looking to develop their design skills, interested in or familiar with Adobe programs, or interested in creating digital artwork. 

Basic competency with computers is assumed before enrolling, and proficiency in other Adobe software is helpful but not essential for a successful completion of this course.

Course materials

Please bring to your class:

• Your Own Laptop or Computer: A reliable device capable of running Adobe After Effects smoothly.
• Subscription or Free Trial to Adobe Adobe After Effects: Ensure you have access to the software before your first session.
• Optional: HDMI Cable: In case you would like to set up a dual monitor display to follow along with the instructor while working on your projects.

Additional information

Please note the following:

This course is now delivered online, offering the same high-quality instruction and hands-on learning experience as our in-person classes. Adobe Illustrator works similarly on both Windows and Mac operating systems, with only minor differences in keyboard shortcuts and file locations. Make sure your device meets the system requirements for Adobe Illustrator to optimise your learning experience.

For an Adobe Illustrator subscription or a free trial, visit the Adobe website.