Master Adobe Illustrator from Scratch - Free Course!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. My Journey to Becoming a Graphic Designer
3. Why I Chose Adobe Illustrator
4. Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator
   1. Opening Adobe Illustrator
   2. Creating a New Document
   3. Saving Your Document
   4. Understanding the Workspace
5. Using the Selection Tools
6. Working with the Pen Tool
7. Mastering the Curvature Tool
8. Adding Text to Your Designs
9. Creating Basic Shapes
   1. Using the Rectangle Tool
   2. Working with Rounded Rectangles
   3. Creating Ellipses
   4. Using the Polygon and Star Tools
10. Drawing with the Paintbrush Tool
11. Creating Realistic 3D Shapes with the Mesh Tool
12. Adding Depth with Gradients
13. Selecting Colors with the Eyedropper Tool
14. Blending Objects with the Blend Tool
15. Helpful Tools for Your Workflow
    1. The HAND Tool
    2. The Zoom Tool
    3. Changing Screen Modes

My Journey to Becoming a Graphic Designer

Hey guys, my name is Elena and I'm a graphic designer. In this article, I want to share my journey to becoming a graphic designer and the tools I use to Create stunning designs. As a non-native English speaker, please bear with me if I make any mistakes. Let's get started!

Introduction

I've been working as a graphic designer for over 10 years now and I want to take this opportunity to share my story with You. I started my career in a completely different field, but my passion for graphic design led me to switch paths. In this article, I will walk you through my journey and the tools I use for creating designs.

My Journey to Becoming a Graphic Designer

I Never studied graphic design in university or took any formal courses. It all started when I was studying to become a railway broker, a career that was chosen for me by my parents. However, deep down, I knew that graphic design was my true passion. It was my boyfriend, who is now my husband and also a developer, who introduced me to the world of graphic design. He showed me the works of talented graphic designers and encouraged me to pursue it as a profession.

Without any formal education or training, I took it upon myself to learn graphic design. I turned to the internet and discovered Adobe Illustrator, a powerful design software used by professionals. I spent countless hours watching tutorials, experimenting with different tools, and honing my skills.

After just three months of self-study, I started earning my first money as a graphic designer. Within a year and a half, I was already making $800 per month. It was an incredible transformation from someone without any professional background in design to a successful graphic designer.

Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator

Now that you know a bit about my journey, let's dive into the world of Adobe Illustrator. In this section, I'll guide you through the basics of getting started with the software.

Opening Adobe Illustrator

To begin, you'll need to open Adobe Illustrator on your computer. Make sure you have the latest version installed. Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of features for creating stunning designs.

Creating a New Document

Once Adobe Illustrator is open, you'll need to create a new document to start working on your design. This is where you specify the size, orientation, and color settings for your artwork. Adobe Illustrator offers various units of measurement, but for graphic design, pixels are generally the most common unit.

Saving Your Document

Before you start creating your design, it's essential to save your document. Saving your work regularly ensures that you don't lose any progress and allows you to easily revisit and edit your file in the future. When saving your document, choose a location on your computer where you can easily access it.

Understanding the Workspace

Adobe Illustrator has a user-friendly interface, but it can be overwhelming for beginners. Familiarizing yourself with the different panels and tools will greatly enhance your workflow. The workspace consists of various essential tools such as the Selection Tool, Direct Selection Tool, Magic Wand Tool, and many more. These tools allow you to manipulate and create stunning designs.

Using the Selection Tools

One of the essential tools in Adobe Illustrator is the Selection Tool. This tool allows you to move, resize, and rotate objects in your design. It's the go-to tool for making simple edits to your artwork. With the Selection Tool, you can easily select and manipulate shapes, paths, and text in your design.

Another useful tool is the Direct Selection Tool. This tool allows you to select and manipulate individual anchor points and path segments in your design. It gives you precise control over the Shape of your objects. This tool is particularly helpful when you want to refine the curves and lines of your design.

Working with the Pen Tool

When it comes to creating intricate shapes and designs, the Pen Tool is your best friend. It allows you to draw straight lines, curves, and complex shapes with precision. With the Pen Tool, you can create custom illustrations, logos, and other graphic elements. Although it may take some time to master, the Pen Tool is an indispensable tool for any graphic designer.

The Curvature Tool is another useful tool for creating smooth, flowing shapes. It allows you to draw shapes effortlessly by simply placing anchor points and manipulating the curve handles. With the Curvature Tool, you can easily create organic shapes and curves in your designs.

Adding Text to Your Designs

Typography plays a crucial role in graphic design. Adobe Illustrator provides a range of options for adding and formatting text in your designs. The Type Tool allows you to create text boxes and input text. You can customize the font, size, color, spacing, and alignment of your text to create visually appealing typography. Whether you want to create a logo, a poster, or a Website banner, the Type Tool is essential for adding impactful text to your designs.

Creating Basic Shapes

In addition to the Pen Tool, Adobe Illustrator offers various shape tools that make it easy to create basic shapes for your designs. The Rectangle Tool allows you to draw rectangles and squares with precision. With the Rounded Rectangle Tool, you can create shapes with rounded corners. The Ellipse Tool enables you to draw perfect circles and ellipses. Other shape tools, such as the Polygon Tool and the Star Tool, offer even more possibilities for creating unique shapes and Patterns.

Drawing with the Paintbrush Tool

Want to add a hand-drawn touch to your designs? The Paintbrush Tool is a fantastic tool for creating freehand strokes and lines. It simulates the look of traditional brush strokes and can be used to create beautiful illustrations and sketches. The Paintbrush Tool offers various brush presets, which you can customize to achieve the desired effect. Whether you want to create realistic textures or add artistic Flair to your designs, the Paintbrush Tool is an excellent choice.

Creating Realistic 3D Shapes with the Mesh Tool

If you're looking to take your designs to the next level, the Mesh Tool is a must-have. This tool allows you to create realistic 3D shapes and objects by manipulating points and lines on a mesh GRID. With the Mesh Tool, you can add depth, texture, and dimension to your designs. It's perfect for creating lifelike illustrations, product mock-ups, and complex artwork.

Adding Depth with Gradients

Gradients are a powerful tool for adding depth and visual interest to your designs. Adobe Illustrator offers a range of gradient options, including linear gradients, radial gradients, and freeform gradients. With gradients, you can smoothly Blend two or more colors, creating eye-catching effects. Whether you want to create a subtle shading effect or a vibrant background, gradients are a versatile tool that can bring your designs to life.

Selecting Colors with the Eyedropper Tool

Colors play a vital role in graphic design, and selecting the right colors is essential for creating visually appealing designs. The Eyedropper Tool allows you to easily select colors from your artwork or other sources. Whether you want to match a color from an image or sample a color from existing objects in your design, the Eyedropper Tool makes it simple. This tool is invaluable for maintaining color consistency and ensuring a Cohesive design.

Blending Objects with the Blend Tool

The Blend Tool is a powerful tool for creating smooth transitions between objects. It allows you to easily blend two or more objects together, creating a seamless effect. With the Blend Tool, you can create smooth color gradients, blend shapes, and even animate objects. This tool is great for creating realistic shadows, gradients, and other blended effects in your designs.

Helpful Tools for Your Workflow

In addition to the essential design tools, Adobe Illustrator provides several tools that can greatly enhance your workflow and make your design process more efficient.

The Hand Tool allows you to navigate your artwork easily. It's particularly useful when working on large or complex designs. By dragging the Hand Tool across the canvas, you can move your design around without affecting the objects within it.

The Zoom Tool allows you to zoom in and out of your artwork, giving you a closer look at the details or a broader view of your design. Whether you need to fine-tune small elements or get an overview of the entire composition, the Zoom Tool is an indispensable tool for any graphic designer.

Changing screen modes can also improve your workflow. Adobe Illustrator offers different screen modes, such as full-screen mode and normal mode. Full-screen mode allows you to focus on your artwork without any distractions, while normal mode provides access to all the panels and tools in the workspace. Choosing the right screen mode can help you work more efficiently and create designs with precision.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed my journey to becoming a graphic designer and explored the essential tools in Adobe Illustrator. From the selection tools to the Pen Tool, each tool offers unique capabilities for creating stunning designs. Additionally, we explored features like gradients, the Blend Tool, and helpful tools for your workflow. Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool that opens up endless possibilities for creativity. With practice and dedication, you too can become a skilled graphic designer. So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring Adobe Illustrator and unleash your creativity!