Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator for Beginners Tutorial

Name: Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator for Beginners Tutorial
Uploaded: 2020-03-21T17:26:36.000Z
Duration: 52 min 30 s

Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator

In this video, the basics of getting started with Adobe Illustrator are covered. The instructor emphasizes that although Illustrator may seem intimidating at first, it becomes easier to use with practice.

Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

When opening Illustrator, the intro screen displays presets for file sizes and recently opened files.

To change the artboard size or canvas space, there are options to select more presets or manually enter width and height values.

The artboard or canvas size in Illustrator is not crucial as you can work outside of it.

Alternatively, you can go to File > New or use keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+N for PC, Command+N for Mac) to create a new document.

Adjusting Artboard Size

To change the size of the artboard while working on a document, go to Document Setup in the top menu and click Edit Artboards.

In the Edit Artboards dialog box, you can modify the width and height of the artboard. There is an option to link them together or edit them independently.

Using Properties Window

The Properties window is essential for controlling various effects and styles in Illustrator.

If you don't see the Properties window on your screen, go to Window > Properties. Ensure there is a checkmark next to it.

The Properties window allows you to control effects based on what you have selected in the tool.

Creating Basic Elements

The Type Tool (T icon) in the toolbar is used for creating text elements.

Clicking once on the screen with the Type Tool selected adds placeholder text (lorem ipsum).

Use the Selection Tool (black arrow icon) to select and manipulate text elements.

To adjust font properties like size and typeface, select text and access Character section in Properties window.

Timestamps provided above are associated with the corresponding parts of the video transcript.

New Section

This section covers how to adjust the size of text and edit it in Adobe Illustrator.

Adjusting Text Size and Scaling Fonts

To adjust the size of text, select the text box and use the up or down arrow keys to make it larger or smaller. Alternatively, type in a new value and hit enter.

When selecting the black arrow tool, you can stretch out the type by clicking and holding any corner of the text box.

Hold shift while scaling to maintain proportions and prevent distortion.

Double-click on the selected text with the arrow tool to enter edit mode. Alternatively, select the type tool (T) and click anywhere on the text box to edit.

Additional options for adjusting font size, letting (distance between lines), tracking (spacing between letters), alignment, and justification can be found in the properties window.

New Section

This section explains how to move objects within Adobe Illustrator, copy and paste objects, as well as different ways to paste them.

Moving Objects and Copy-Pasting

Hold down spacebar to convert the selection tool into a hand tool for moving around your workspace.

Use Ctrl+C (Command+C on Mac) to copy an object and Ctrl+V (Command+V on Mac) to paste it.

Use Ctrl+F (Command+F on Mac) to paste an object in place, exactly where it was copied from.

New Section

This section introduces using shape tools in Adobe Illustrator.

Creating Shapes

The shape tool is located below the type tool in the toolbar.

Clicking on it will activate a default shape like a rectangle. Press "M" on your keyboard as a shortcut for selecting this tool.

Click, hold, and drag to create a rectangle. Hold shift while dragging to create a perfect square.

Holding Alt (Option on Mac) while drawing will make the shape draw from the center point.

New Section

This section covers advanced techniques for creating shapes in Adobe Illustrator.

Advanced Shape Drawing

While drawing a shape, hold Alt (Option on Mac) to make it draw from the center point.

Releasing Alt (Option) will make it draw from a side.

These techniques work for any shape created using the shape tool.

The transcript is already in English, so there is no need to respond in another language.

Using the Selection Tool and Removing Shapes

This section explains how to use the selection tool to interact with shapes in Illustrator.

Using the Selection Tool

Press "V" on your keyboard or click on the black arrow in the toolbar to activate the selection tool.

Click on a shape to select it.

To delete a shape, press "Delete" or "Backspace".

To duplicate a shape, hold down "Alt" (PC) or "Option" (Mac), click and drag with the selection tool, then release.

Removing Shapes

Select a shape using the selection tool.

In the toolbar, click on "Shapes".

Click on either "Delete" or "Backspace" to remove the selected shape.

Changing Colors of Shapes

This section covers how to change colors of shapes in Illustrator.

Changing Fill Color

Select a shape.

In the toolbar, use color swatches to choose a fill color. Alternatively, double-click on the fill box to open a color picker and select a color from there.

Other options for changing colors include HSB, RGB, CMYK modes, and hex values.

Changing Stroke Color

Double-click on the stroke box in the toolbar.

Choose a color for stroke from the color picker that appears.

If stroke becomes white after changing it, double-click again and select another color.

Zooming In and Out & Adjusting Stroke Thickness

This section explains how to zoom in and out in Illustrator as well as adjust stroke thickness.

Zooming In and Out

To zoom in, press Ctrl + "+" (PC) or Command + "+" (Mac).

To zoom out, press Ctrl + "-" (PC) or Command + "-" (Mac).

Adjusting Stroke Thickness

Select a shape using the selection tool.

In the properties window, go to the appearance section.

Locate the stroke option and adjust the thickness using the up and down arrows or by typing in a specific size.

Removing Fill or Stroke

This section explains how to remove fill or stroke from shapes in Illustrator.

Removing Fill or Stroke

In the toolbar, below the color options, click on "None" to remove either fill or stroke.

Clicking on "None" will remove fill if fill is currently selected. If stroke is selected, it will remove stroke.

Even if there is no visible shape after removing fill or stroke, it still exists on the screen. Use undo (Ctrl + Z / Command + Z) to revert changes.

Rounding Corners of Shapes

This section demonstrates how to round corners of shapes in Illustrator.

Rounding Corners

Select a shape with rounded corners using the selection tool.

Click, hold, and drag inward on the little circle-like icons at each corner to round them.

Dragging outward will make corners less rounded until they become perfect squares again.

To round only one corner, click once on that corner and drag inward.

To round multiple corners simultaneously, click one corner, hold Shift, then click another corner and bring them both inward.

The transcript provided does not include any further sections.

Drawing Shapes and Using the Pen Tool

In this section, the speaker demonstrates how to draw shapes in Adobe Illustrator using the polygon tool and how to customize their properties. They also explain how to use the direct selection tool to manipulate specific points in a shape and introduce the pen tool for more advanced drawing techniques.

Drawing Shapes with Polygon Tool

The polygon tool in Adobe Illustrator can be used to draw shapes such as hexagons or triangles.

By clicking once on the screen after selecting the polygon tool, a dialog box appears allowing you to set the number of sides or radius for the shape.

Scaling and resizing shapes can be done by using the selection tool and dragging over corners while holding shift for maintaining proportions.

Rotating and Rounding Corners

To rotate a shape, select it with the selection tool and click and hold on one of its corners until an arc-shaped cursor appears. Then, drag to rotate.

Holding shift while rotating snaps the shape to perfect 45-degree angles.

Most shapes can have their corners rounded easily by selecting them and adjusting their properties.

Direct Selection Tool

The direct selection tool (white arrow) is used for selecting specific points within an object instead of selecting the entire object.

Clicking on a point with the direct selection tool allows you to adjust that point's position.

Deleting a point opens up an object, making it no longer fully enclosed. Points can be deleted by selecting them once and pressing delete/backspace.

To enclose an open edge after removing a point, select both points adjacent to it using the direct selection tool, right-click (or control+click) and choose "join" from the menu.

Introduction to Pen Tool

The pen tool is used for creating custom paths in Adobe Illustrator.

Clicking on an open anchor point with the pen tool closes the shape.

The pen tool can also be used to draw new shapes by clicking once or closing existing shapes by clicking on an open point and selecting the circle icon below the pen tool.

The pen tool is a complex tool that requires further exploration. Additional resources are recommended for mastering it.

Timestamps have been associated with each bullet point based on the provided transcript.

Paintbrush Tool and Blob Brush Tool Overview

In this section, the speaker demonstrates how to use the paintbrush tool and blob brush tool in Adobe Illustrator. These tools allow users to draw lines, shapes, and filled-in objects.

Paintbrush Tool

The paintbrush tool functions similarly to a paintbrush in other programs.

Clicking, holding, and dragging with the paintbrush tool allows you to draw lines.

Holding the Alt key (PC) or Option key (Mac) while clicking, holding, and dragging creates enclosed shapes automatically.

The fill color of the shape can be changed by selecting it and choosing a different color.

Blob Brush Tool

The blob brush tool is similar to drawing in Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop.

It draws filled-in shapes instead of individual points or dots.

Changing the stroke color of the shape is possible by double-clicking on it and selecting a new color.

Adjustments such as zooming in or changing stroke size can be made using the properties window.

Arranging Objects Overview

This section covers how to arrange objects in Adobe Illustrator. It explains how to bring an object to the front or send it behind another object.

Bringing Objects Forward/Sending Objects Backward

To bring an object forward, right-click (or control-click without a second mouse button), go to Arrange, and select Bring to Front.

To send an object backward, right-click (or control-click without a second mouse button), go to Arrange, and select Send to Back.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to check out their channel for more tutorials on Adobe Illustrator. They also invite viewers to like the video if they found it helpful and leave comments for any questions or suggestions for future content.