Illustrator CS4: Advanced

DESCRIPTION
Designed for those already familiar with Adobe Illustrator who need to get the most from this
benchmark graphics application, this is a two day 'power user' course.

This course covers Illustrator CS3's advanced features including creative text effects, advanced
drawing and path editing, using Live Colour, layering and masking techniques, transparency and
painterly effects and advanced use of symbols. This practical, hands-on course explores the most
efficient ways of producing professional artwork for both print and the web and has been designed to
enable you to realise your creative and productive potential.




DAY ONE

Advanced drawing and path editing

• Creating template layers
  
• Drawing complex bezier shapes
  
• Setting anchor point and handle display preferences
  
• Using the Control panel to edit paths
  
• Adding and deleting anchor points
  
• Manipulating paths, points and direction handles
  
• Converting anchor points
  
• Simplifying paths
  
• Cleaning up errant paths
  
• Outlining strokes
  
• Controlling eraser tool options
  
• Tips for drawing better curves
  
• Advanced LiveTrace options
  

Advanced use of colour

• Editing colours using menu commands
  
• Extracting colours from artwork
  
• Replacing and merging swatches
  
• Using the Colour Guide panel
  
• Using Live Colour
  
• Editing colours with Live Colour
  
• Modifying colour in artwork
  
• Finding colours with Kuler
  

Filters and effects

• Filters vs effects
  
• Document Raster Effect settings
  
• Illustrator and Photoshop filters
  
• Using the Scribble effect
  
• Using the Transform effect to create complex transformations
  

Understanding appearances

• Using the Appearance panel
  
• Targeting object attributes
  
• Adding multiple attributes
  
• Manipulating the stacking order
  
• Applying Live Effects
  
• Editing Live Effects
  
• Expanding appearances
  

Saving time with styles

• Applying styles
  
• Creating and modifying styles
  

Creating patterns

• Creating symmetrical patterns
  
• Creating complex patterns
  
• Saving pattern swatches
  

DAY TWO

Creating transparent art

• Displaying transparency
  
• Applying transparency to simple objects, groups and layers
  
• Applying transparency to individual object attributes
  
• Working with opacity masks
  
• Flattening transparency artwork
  
• Guidelines for successful output
  

Using clipping masks

• Working with clipping masks
  
• Modifying clipping masks
  

Advanced use of symbols

• Creating symbols
  
• Managing symbols
  
• Creating symbol libraries
  
• Symbols and Flash
  

Compound shapes and paths

• Understanding Compound shapes and paths
  
• Controlling transparency
  
• Editing compound paths
  

Working in 3D

• Creating custom 3D shapes
  
• Creating 3D type
  
• Using lighting effects
  
• Wrapping artwork onto 3D art
  

Working with imported images

• Placing vs embedding images
  
• Displaying layer comps
  
• Using the Links panel
  
• Applying spots to greyscales
  

Trimming artwork

• Creating crop and trim marks
  
• Using the Crop Area tool
  

Creating high resolution PDFs

• Creating PDFs
  
• Global PDF export options
  

Preparing for print

• Cleaning up your files
  
• Advanced printing concerns
  

Questions and answers

• Understanding image compression and optimization settings