Understand the 4 main concepts needed for becoming an Illustrator expert.

1. REUSABLE AND EDITABLE
CONTENT IN ILLUSTRATOR
Illustrator for beginners
and experts alike
Matt Sullivan
training and development specialist
Adobe Certified Instructor

2. GOALS
demystify Illustrator for beginners
four concepts necessary to become an
Illustrator expert
 deconstruct Illustrator docs into manageable
components
 organize for maximum editability and reuse

3. ILLUSTRATOR FOR BEGINNERS
Top-notch vector drawing tool
Resizable, controllable artwork
Intimidating

4. 4 KEY PARTS OF ILLUSTRATOR
Solid vs. Hollow arrow
Path tool
Layers panel
Appearance panel

5. Solid vs Hollow
selection tools
Solid arrow selects entire
object/group
Hollow arrow selects portion
of object/group
Option/Alt-clicking with hollow
arrow selects entire
object/group

6. Path/Pen tool
Use modifiers to access Path
submenu of tools
Rule of 2/3’s: Control handles
should approximate 2/3’s the
length of the path

7. UNDERSTAND ANCHOR POINT
OPTIONS
Straight to Straight path
Straight to Curved path
Curved to Curved (smooth)
Curved to Curved (change dir)

8. Layers panel
(typical)
No naming
No organization
Creates greater chance of
mistakes in editing

9. Layers panel
(better)
Rename by 2x clicking
objects
Group with Cmd/Ctrl-G
shortcut
No need to name
everything
Nested elements
Allows intuitive
selections and
editing
InDesign allows
show/hide of highest level
layers

10. Appearance panel
Quick access to formatting
applied to object
Shows relationships and
order of formatting
Allows multiple strokes and
fills

11. MODIFIER KEYS
 Shift key  Option/Alt key
Constrains Subtracts
adds to selection invokes dialog
“turbo” when using arrows
 Cmd/Ctrl key
 Space Bar Temporary access to
Pan tool arrow tool

12. FAVORITE SHORTCUTS
 Cmd/Ctrl-Spacebar  Alt-click with hollow arrow
Activates the Pan tool Select entire object/group
 Cmd/Ctrl key  Tab/Shift-Tab
Activates last-selected Arrow Show/hide panels
tool
 Up/Down arrows
 Cmd/Ctrl-0 Moving artwork, changing values
Fit in Window in dialogs
 Cmd/Ctrl- + or –  Preview buttons
Zoom in or out in dialogs

13. CS6 HIGHLIGHTS
Interface now matches other CS apps
(like Photoshop
Pattern Options panel
Image Trace replaces Live Trace
64-bit

14. TRAINING/DEV
www.mattrsullivan.com
matt@mattrsullivan
714 960-6840
Publicly scheduled, private, hourly
Onsite, virtual, recorded available
CV: Google “mattrsullivan” (quotes
included)