HOTKEYS Hot keys are quick keyboard combinations or single keys that access features of a software application. Learn and use these hotkeys.
Fit all in window (View menu) - Alt + Ctrl + 0 (zero) Fit art board in window (View menu) - Ctrl + o Hand to pan a document (Tools bar) - H or h Zoom to zoom in and out of a document (Tools bar) - Z or z. Use Alt to zoom out. Selection to select an object in an art board (Tools bar) - V or v.
CREATE AND EDIT SHAPES
There are videos that teach: drawing simple shapes, creating lines, combining shapes, tracing to make shapes. Again there is a set of practice files to download.
TASK Go to Create and edit shapes After finishing the tutorials make a simple artwork using shapes.
CHALLENGE JPG vs SVG Click the SVG link and find out what SVG stands for. Make the battery image in Photoshop and save it as a JPG file i.e. BatteryJPG Using the same image size make the battery image in Illustrator and save it as a SVG file i.e. BatterySVG Now open both files and try zooming in. Which can be zoomed further without distortion?
TRACING TO MAKE A SHAPE AND ADD TO ANOTHER IMAGE
The process of tracing a raster (bitmap) image and changing it into a vector image is very useful. Try adding these wacky warriors to the svg 'rolling green hills' image.
TASK Make a 'Trace image' folder in your Illustrator folder. Copy the "GameCharacterImages' jpg file to your folder. Download the 'plain-grass-and-sky' file as well. Try adding the different characters to the plain-grass-and-sky backgound svg image.
MORE TUTORIALS CLICK HERE FOR A LOT MORE TUTORIALS ON ILLUSTRATOR
CREATE YOUR OWN ICON TUTORIAL CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TUTORIAL
ICON TASK
TASK You need to create an icon the represents an interest or your culture. If that doesn't appeal try making a new Emoji. If you need some ideas do some Google searches. Save it in your Illustrator folder. Give it a name that describes the contents of the file.
DESIGN A TSHIRT TUTORIAL CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TUTORIAL