This document provides an overview of Adobe Illustrator's interface and basic tools. It demonstrates how to draw and manipulate vector shapes, apply strokes and fills, duplicate and transform objects, add text, and save files in Illustrator. Key tools and concepts covered include the selection tools, drawing tools like rectangle and ellipse, styling tools, the pen tool for drawing paths, and using layers, guides and the scissors tool.

1. Adobe Creative Suite
Crash Course: Illustrator
1 2 3
Illustrator InDesign Photoshop
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2. Illustrator’s primary purpose is to
draw and manipulate vector-based shapes.
In a vector-based program,
In a raster-based program,
this circle is made up of a center point
this circle is made up of
and four outer points connected by edge
thousands of pixels.
lines.
Illustrator
Interface
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3. Illustrator’s primary purpose is to
draw and manipulate vector-based shapes.
Illustrator Illustrator is also great for creating
Interface illustrations, diagrams, and charts.
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4. Illustrator’s primary purpose is to
draw and manipulate vector-based shapes.
Illustrator For example, you can easily enhance a
Interface drawing with different fills and strokes.
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5. basic properties artboard
of currently selected objects (current print
3 7 page size) 4
menus for
object
properties
1
tools that
cover
most
Illustrator
capabilities 6 5
2 drawing area layers panel
object
fill color
& stroke
color
Illustrator
Interface
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6. To Zoom To Zoom To Move
In Out Around
Hold down the
CTRL + CTRL - Spacebar.
(PC) (PC)
⌘+ ⌘- Click & Drag.
(MAC) (MAC)
Illustrator
Interface
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7. Selection
Tool
1
2
3
1. Use the Selection 2. In the Layers panel, 3. Right click on the
Illustrator Tool (V) to select find the buildings layer buildings in the
objects in the and delete the drawing area and
Selecting Objects drawing area. Clipping Mask. Ungroup.
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8. Direct
Selection
Tool
2
1. Use the Direct 2. Click on the corner or
Illustrator Selection Tool (A) to side of a building to
Selecting Objects select parts of objects adjust the shape.
(Anchors / Paths).
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9. 1
Stroke
2Menu
3
1. Click on a building. Select > 2. In the Stroke Menu, 3. Align Stroke
Illustrator Same > Fill & Stroke to select all adjust the line Weight to to Inside of the
Styling Objects the same type of object. 1 pt. objects.
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10. Rectangle
Tool
2
1
1. Using the Rectangle 2. Double-click on the 3. Select Color in the
Illustrator Tool, draw a few shapes on object Fill to bring up the gradient field to change
Drawing Objects top of a building. Color Picker. the object fill.
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11. Ellipse
Tool 3
2
3
1
1. In the 2. Double-click on the 3. Using the Ellipse TIP: Hold Shift while
Illustrator Layers Menu, layer to bring up Layer Tool, draw several drawing to create
Create New Options. Rename the layer circles by the park. objects with equal
Drawing Objects to “trees.”
Layer. aspect ratios.
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12. Eyedropper
Tool
1
3
2
1. Select all your trees 2. Using the Eyedropper 3. In the Transparency
Illustrator by clicking on the Tool, click on the green Menu, change the object
radio button on that space to make your trees transparency to Multiply.
Transparency layer. the same color.
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13. Rotate
Tool
1
2/3
1. Copy (CTRL+C) and Paste 2. Scale the new trees down 3. Using the Rotate Tool
Illustrator (CTRL+V) to create more trees, by holding Shift and (R), click and drag around
Duplication or by clicking and dragging dragging in / out the corners the axis point to rotate
while holding Alt. of the bounding box. the new trees.
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14. Pen
Tool
1
1
2
3
1. Using the Pen Tool, create a 2. Remove Fill by clicking 3. In the Stroke Menu,
Illustrator line: click once to create the first None on the Tool Panel. add Arrowheads and
Anchor Point. Click again to Change the Stroke color click the Dashed Line
Drawing Lines create a second Anchor Point. to red. box.
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15. Add
Anchor
Point
1
2
3
2
1. Using the Pen Tool, create another 2. You can manipulate 3. Create more anchor
Illustrator line. BUT, this time, when you draw the curve by playing with points on an existing line
the second Anchor point, click-hold- the Handles of the using the Add Anchor
Drawing Lines drag to create a curve. Anchor point. Point Tool.
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16. Rulers
Scissors
Tool
3
2
1. CTRL+R 2. Click and drag down from 3. Using the Scissors
Illustrator (Command+R in the top Ruler to the new Tool, cut the first line
Mac) adds the Rulers Anchor point on the line to where it intersects with
Using Guides to your window. the Guide.
create a horizontal Guide.
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17. 4 4
Text
Tool
Line
Tool
2 1
3
1. Lock all other layers by 2. Use the Line Tool 3. Using the Text 4. Using the options
Illustrator click-dragging down the to create a short line Tool, draw a on the Properties
Toggles Lock boxes in textbox. Inside, bar, change text
Adding Text the Layer Menu.
pointing up. Add an
Size and Font.
Arrowhead. type “N” for north.
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18. 2. Checking Preserve Illustrator
Illustrator 1. File > Save As... > Format Capabilities will allow you to reopen
Saving the file in Illustrator.
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