Illustrator Level 1 beginner class in St. Paul
Course Description:

This class is focused on those needing to compose vector and raster elements for print, web and video.

This course will get you started with the basic concepts of Illustrator, but give you a path to continue your mastery of the application. This is a great primer for those seeking their Adobe certification.

After taking this class you will be able to:

• Create Basic Shapes
• Create custom color swatches
• Import and apply Pantone colors
• Create Custom Patterns
• Use the new Width and Shape Builder tools
• Draw with the Pen Tool
• Transform Objects
• Work with Type
• Work with Layers

This is a great introduction to one of the most used drawing tools on the market. Illustrators, fine artists, graphic designers, print professionals, web designers and video editors will all be able to take advantage of the power behind Adobe Illustrator.

Illustrator Level 1 beginner class in St. Paul

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Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Getting to Know the Work Area

• Getting started
• Understanding the workspace
• Changing the view of artwork
• Navigating multiple artboards
• Using the Navigator panel
• Finding resources for using Illustrator
• Checking for updates
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 2: Selecting and Aligning

• Getting started
• Selecting objects
• Aligning objects
• Working with groups
• Object arrangement
• Hiding objects
• Applying selection techniques
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 3: Creating and Editing Shapes

• Getting started
• Creating a document with multiple artboards
• Working with basic shapes
• Combining and editing shapes
• Using Live Trace to create shapes
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 4: Transforming Objects

• Getting started
• Working with artboards
• Transforming content
• Positioning objects precisely
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 5: Drawing with the Pen and Pencil Tools

• Getting started
• Creating straight lines
• Creating curved paths
• Creating the violin illustration
• Drawing curves
• Editing curves
• Drawing with the Pencil tool
• Finishing the violin illustration
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 6: Color and Painting

• Getting started
• Understanding color
• Creating color
• Painting with patterns and gradients
• Working with Live Paint
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 7: Working with Type

• Getting started
• Working with type
• Understanding text flow
• Formatting type
• Saving and using styles
• Exploring on your own

Lesson 8: Working with Layers

• Getting started
• Creating layers
• Locking layers
• Viewing layers
• Pasting layers
• Creating clipping masks
• Merging layers
• Applying appearance attributes to layers
• Exploring on your own

Our outlines are a guide to the content covered on a typical class. We may change or alter the course topics to meet the objectives of a particular class.

Illustrator level 2 advanced class in St. Paul
Course Description:

This course, Advanced Adobe Illustrator, will help you customize your work environment and increase your illustration productivity with great tips and tricks. Projects include advanced selection techniques, perspective grids, using the gradient mesh tool, advanced brush techniques, graphs and patterns. We also recommend this course for those planning to obtain the Adobe Certified Expert status.

We highly recommend attending the Adobe Illustrator beginner level class before taking this class. If you have significant experience with Illustrator including good skills with the pen tool, previous attendance is not required. We also recommend that you have the Adobe Illustrator software before starting the class. You can purchase the software or obtain a trial version of it from the Adobe website.

After taking this class you will be able to:

• Concepts and Ideas
• Analog Tools
• Refine your Drawings
• Clockwork Method
• Shape-Building Method
• Colors and File Naming
• BetterHandels Plug -in

Illustrator level 2 advanced class in St. Paul

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Course Outline:

Lesson 1 - Your Creative Workspace

• Organizing Your Workspace
• Mastering Object Management
• Managing Multiple Artboards
• Digitizing a Logo: Learning to Use a Template Layer
• Basic to Complex: Starting Simple for Creative Composition
• Guides for Arcs: Designing with Guides, Arc, and Pen Tools
• Nested Layers: Organizing with Layers and Sublayers
• Basic Appearances: Making and Applying Appearances
• Auto-Scaling Art: Apply Effects and Graphic Styles to Resize

Lesson 2 - Designing Type & Layout

• Types of Type
• Working with Threaded Text
• Wrapping Area Type Around Objects
• Formatting Text
• Converting Type to Outlines
• Using the Eyedropper with Type
• Using the Appearance Panel with Type
• The Glyphs Panel
• Working with Legacy Text
• Advanced Features of Multiple Artboards
• Create an Identity: Working Efficiently with Multiple Elements
• For Client Review: Creating Presentations for Artboards
• Book Cover Design: Illustrator as a Stand-Alone Layout Tool
• Curvaceous Type: Fitting Type to Curved Paths
• Moving Your Type Setting: Setting Type on a Curve and Warping Type
• Arcing Type: Transforming Type with Warps & Envelopes
• Brush Your Type: Applying Brushes to Letterforms

Lesson 3 - Rethinking Construction

• The Eraser tools & the Blob Brush
• Shape Builder tool
• Working with Live Paint
• Using Live Trace
• Aligning, Joining, and averaging
• Draw Behind and Draw Inside
• Compound Shapes & Compound Paths
• Combining Paths: Basic Path Construction with Pathfinders
• Coloring Line Art: Using Live Paint for Fluid Productivity
• Blob to Live Paint: From Sketch to Blob Brush and Live Paint
• Rapid Reshaping: Using Shape Builder to Construct Objects
• Interlock Objects: Using the Pathfinder Panel & Live Paint
• Drawing Inside: Building with Multiple Construction Modes

Lesson 4 - Expressive Strokes

• Width Tool
• The Expanded Stroke Panel
• Brushes
• Symbols
• Brushes & Washes: Drawing with Naturalistic Pen, Ink & Wash
• Pattern Brushes: Creating Details with the Pattern Brush
• Symbolism Basics: Creating and Working with Symbols
• Painterly Portraits: Painting in Layers with Bristle Brushes

Lesson 5 - Color Transitions

• Gradients
• Gradient Mesh
• Live Color
• Custom Coloring: Creating Custom Colors & Color Groups
• Color Guidance: Inspiration from the Color Guide Panel
• Scripting Colors: Tools for Adding and Editing Colors
• Kuler Colors: Using Kuler, Live Trace, & Live Color
• Unified Gradients: Controlling Fills with the Gradient Annotator
• Folding Gradients: Simulating Paper Folds with Gradients
• Contouring Mesh: Converting Gradients to Mesh and Editing
• Recolor Black: Using Live Color to Replace Blacks
• Reducing Color: Going Monochromatic with Live Color
• Transparent Mesh: Molding Transparent Mesh Layers Going

Lesson 6 - Reshaping Dimensions

• Wraps and Envelopes
• 3D Effect
• The Perspective Grid
• Wrap & Distort: Bending Forms to Create Organic Variations
• 3D with a 2D Twist: Using 3D Effects to Achieve 2D Results
• One Perspective: Simulating a One-Point Perspective View
• Amplified Angels: Creating Details with Two-Point Perspective
• Modifying a Photo: Inserting Photographs in Perspective
• Establishing Perspective: Aligning Grids & Planes to an Architectural Sketch

Lesson 7 - Mastering Complexity

• Transparency
• Opacity Masks
• Blends
• Clipping Masks
• Roping in Paths: Using Masks and Pathfinders for Shapes
• Floating Type: Type Objects with Transparency & Effects/li>
• Adding Highlights: Using Transparency to Create Highlights
• Opacity Masks 101: Transparency Masks for Blending Objects
• Simple Masking: Applying the Basics of Clipping Masks
• Blending Elements: Using Transparency to Blend and Unify
• Warping Blends: Creating and Warping 3D Blends
• Moonlighting: Using Transparency for Glows & Highlights
• Creating Depth: Gradients Add Dimension in Space

Lesson 8 - Creatively Combining Apps

• Linking vs. Embedding in Illustrator
• Moving Illustrator files to other Programs
• Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop
• Illustrator and InDesign
• Illustrator, PDF, and Adobe Acrobat
• Illustrator & 3D Programs/li>
• Web Graphics
• Creating Animation with Layers

Our outlines are a guide to the content covered on a typical class. We may change or alter the course topics to meet the objectives of a particular class.