Description:       This course covers the fundamentals of Illustrator CS4, which is used primarily to work with vector-based graphics. After getting familiar with the Illustrator CS4 environment, students will learn how to create a simple illustration by creating and manipulating shapes and by drawing and editing paths. Students will also learn how to apply color, gradients, and transparency. They will then learn how to work with text and layers.

 Days:                1

 Prerequisites:   Windows XP: Introduction or equivalent experience

 Unit 1: Getting started

 Topic A: The Illustrator environment

·         Exploring the Illustrator interface

·         Exploring panels

·         Exploring the Tools

·         Managing files with Adobe Bridge

Topic B: Navigation

·         Using Views

·         Using the Navigation tools

 Topic C: Adobe Help

·         Using Help

Unit 2 : Creating a simple illustration

 Topic A: Create a New Document

·         Creating a new document

·         Changing document  setup

Topic B: Basic Shapes

·         Creating basic shapes

·         Drawing shapes precisely

Topic C: Manipulate Shapes

·         Selecting and scaling shapes

·         Duplicating shapes

·         Aligning and Distributing shapes

·         Using the Add to Shape Area command

·         Grouping shapes

·         Rotating Shapes

·         Adjusting stacking order

Topic D: Export an illustration

·         Adding metadata in Illustrator

·         Adding metadata in Bridge

·         Exporting an illustration

Unit 3: Applying basic color

 Topic A: Apply Color

·         Using the Swatches panel

·         Using the Color panel

·         Storing colors

Topic B: Stroke Options

·         Setting basic stroke options

·         Creating a dashed line

 Topic C: The Eyedropper tool

·         Using the Eyedropper tool

Unit 4: Drawing Paths

 Topic A: Raster Images

·         Importing a raster image

Topic B: Basic Drawing

·         Using the Pencil and Smooth tools

·         Using the Pen tool

·         Creating complex paths

·         Adjusting direction handles while drawing complex paths

 Topic C: Select and edit paths

·         Editing anchor points

·         Joining paths with the Average and Join commands

·         Cutting paths with the Scissors tool

Unit 5: Working with text

 Topic A: Adding text

·         Creating text

·         Importing text

Topic B: Altering text

·         Using the Area Type tool

·         Positioning type on a path

·         Converting text to outlines

Unit 6: Layers

 Topic A: Layers

·         Creating a new layer

·         Changing layer stacking order

·         Hiding and locking layers

Topic B: Manipulate layers

·         Organizing layer content

·         Duplicating a layer

Unit 7: Working with fills and colors

 Topic A: Swatch libraries

·         Importing swatches from other documents

·         Adding swatches from a spot color library

·         Saving a swatch library

Topic B: Gradients

·         Creating a new gradient

·         Adjusting a gradients

Topic C: Transparency

·         Setting transparency

Unit 8 : Adjusting typography

Topic A: Flow type

·         Linking type containers

·         Updating legacy text

·         Wrapping text

Topic B: Format text

·         Setting tabs

·         Inserting typographic characters

·         Using  character styles

·         Using paragraph styles

Topic C: Edit text

·         Proofing text

·         Finding and replacing text

·         Managing font usage