Course Overview

Walk through the advanced features in Adobe Illustrator. Learn helpful techniques for tracing pixel-based images, working with the Appearance panel, using dynamic effects, and more.

Course Circullum

Introduction

Welcome to One-on-One

16. Tracing a Pixel-Based Image

Auto-tracing in Illustrator
Opening an image to embed it
Placing an image to create a dynamic link
Auto-tracing and resolution
Upsampling in Photoshop for better results
Adjusting the Threshold value
The advanced tracing options
Expanding and simplifying traced paths
Scaling your vector-based tracing
Tracing lines with uniform strokes
Tracing both strokes and color fills

17. Pathfinder Operations

The world of complex path interactions
Introducing the four shape modes
Building dynamic compound shapes
Exclude and the compound path
Mixing and matching shape modes
Adding paths to a compound shape
The six static Pathfinder operations
Working with unfilled and open paths
Additional Pathfinder options
Repeating the last Pathfinder operation

18. Layers and Stacking Order

The legend that is the Layers panel
Hiding, showing, and creating layers
Moving objects between layers
Lock, isolate, and preview a layer
Adjusting the stacking order
Expanding the contents of a layer
Naming and arranging objects
Containers: Compound paths vs. groups
Targeting and formatting a group
Targeting an entire layer

19. The Appearance Panel

The Layers panel for fills and strokes
Assigning multiple fills and strokes
Transforming fills and strokes
Clearing and duplicating appearances
Creating a Transform sequence
Stupid Appearance panel tricks
Applying appearances to editable type
Assigning patterns to fills and strokes
Turning hexagons into honeycomb
Stacking attributes and effects
Building up depth with offset strokes
Drop Shadow and Gaussian Blur

20. Scaling and Rotating

Introducing the Scale tool
The benefits of static transformations
Setting the transformation origin
Introducing the Rotate tool
Creating transformation guides
Using the Scale tool to create primitives
Uniting and rotating the primitives
Introducing the Shear tool
Skewing one path to match another
Power-duplicating the petals of the star logo
Offset Path: A different way to scale
Adding skewed gradient shadows
Transforming partial path outlines
Using the Reflect tool
Using the Reshape tool
The Transform Each command

21. Aligning and Distributing

How alignment and distribution work
Snapping and smart guides
Aligning a group to the artboard
Distributing objects across the artboard
Aligning to a fixed “key” object
Distributing by a specified amount of space
Using the Align options as positioning tools
Adding extruded edges to your artwork
Aligning the backs of your extruded letters
Casting shadows from faux 3D objects

22. Gradients and the Gradient Tool

The joy of custom gradients
Assigning and modifying a gradient
Introducing colors into a gradient
Adjusting color stops
Adding transparency to a gradient
Using the Gradient tool and annotator
Working with radial gradients
Assigning a gradient stroke
Making the most of linear gradients
Combining gradients with effects
Creating a custom emoji
Variable-width gradient strokes
Combining multiple gradient fills
Exporting your emoji as a PNG file

23. Object Blends and Clipping Masks

Illustrator’s oldest dynamic functions
Creating a dynamic object blend
Redirecting a blend by editing its spine
Creating a custom shape gradient
Adding texture to your custom gradient
Meet the Reverse Front To Back command
Creating a clipping mask
Masking the contents of an entire layer
Fixing problems with the Blend tool
Aligning your intervals to the spine
Moving objects into a clipping mask
Blending between groups
Blending the colors of sequential paths

24. Live Paint and Interwoven Objects

Coloring overlapping areas
Introducing Live Paint
Modifying Live Paint strokes
Using the Live Paint Selection tool
Coloring traced or freeform line art
Automatic gap detection
Merging Live Paint objects
Filling a region with a gradient
Introducing the false Möbius strip
Drawing a ribbon using an object blend
Violating all laws of stacking order
Sneak peek: Recolor Artwork
Shading a Live Paint object with gradients
Tailoring your gradients to fit your art

25. Placing Photographs

Introducing the pixel-based image
Placing a photograph into your artwork
Working with linked images
Scaling and cropping with the bounding box
Drawing a border around an image
Cropping an image using a clipping mask
Using the Mask and Crop Image buttons
Creating dynamic crop marks around your art
Placing an image with transparency
Placing a photograph into editable type
Adding stroke effects behind photo type
Packaging all linked images and fonts

26. The Color Guide Panel

Generating colors using harmony rules
Introducing the Color Guide panel
The color models: RGB, CMKY, and Lab
The 23 color harmony rules, diagrammed
Mixing and matching color harmonies
Using a color group as a harmony rule
Loading a predefined swatch library
Introducing the Edit Colors dialog box
Mastering the Edit Colors controls
Constraining colors to a swatch library
Sharing swatches between documents
Making your swatch libraries persistent

27. Recoloring Your Artwork

Changing lots of colors all at once
Introducing the Recolor Artwork command
Editing colors in the Lab color wheel
Locating specific colors in your artwork
Recoloring artwork using a color group
Reducing your art to three spot colors
The five color reduction methods
Recoloring a repeating tile pattern

28. Dynamic Effects

My favorite features in all of Illustrator
Applying and expanding a dynamic effect
Drawing an orthogonal cube
Creating a dynamic cube of cubes
Busting up and coloring the cubes
Adding glows and shadows with Outer Glow
Targeting the contents of a group
Clipping effects inside objects
Creating flower petals with Pucker & Bloat
Scale, rotate, and duplicate in one operation
Document Raster Effects Settings
Alternating the colors of repeated objects
Creating an origami effect with Zig Zag
Duplicating effects between fills
Swapping out colors in dynamic art

29. Saving Effects as Graphic Styles

Saving attributes and effects
Introducing the Graphic Styles panel
Creating your own graphic style
Assigning a style to an entire layer
Updating graphic styles
Experimenting freely without penalty
Combining multiple styles
Utterly mastering graphic styles
Refining a Pucker & Bloat effect

30. Printing Your Document

Illustrator’s elaborate print engine
Printing to colored paper stock
Adding a bleed for borderless printing
The Separations Preview panel
Working with Pantone spot colors
Troubleshooting and overprinting
Introducing the Print command
Adding trim and printer’s marks
Exporting color separations

Conclusion

Until next we meet

Deke McClelland

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