Illustrator 9

Illustrator 9 : Intermediate

Course Description

Overview: In this course, you will use Adobe Illustrator 9.0 to create dynamic graphics using advanced drawing and editing tools, path editing techniques, filter effects, and masks. You will also take advantage of the latest features added to Illustrator, including the Transparency palette, live effects, and the Appearance palette, to create effects that were unattainable in previous versions.

Prerequisites: To ensure your success, we recommend you first take the following Element K course or have equivalent knowledge:

Illustrator 9.0: Introduction

Performance-Based Objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Draw with advanced object drawing tools and dynamically change their settings.
Use advanced path editing techniques such as the Pathfinder commands, the Scissors and Knife tools, the Lasso selection tools, the Align palette, Compound paths, and guides.
Perform exact transformations to move, rotate, reflect, and shear visually or in precise increments.
Convert vector images to raster and apply specialized filters.
Copy and paste live effects and dynamically edit the vector images that use them.
Use the Appearance palette to manage the application of effects and styles.
Create and edit exciting graphics using a gradient mesh and blends between objects.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Advanced Drawing Tools
          Topic 1A: Advanced Drawing Tools
                   Task 1A-1: Setting Preferences
                   Task 1A-2: Using the Polygon Tool
                   Task 1A-3: Using the Star Tool
                   Task 1A-4: Using the Spiral Tool
                   Task 1A-5: Changing Settings Dynamically

Lesson 2: Advanced Path Editing
          Topic 2A: Combining with the Pathfinder
                   Task 2A-1: Combining with the Unite Pathfinder
                   Task 2A-2: Using the Divide Pathfinder
                   Task 2A-3: Using the Minus Front Pathfinder
          Topic 2B: Splitting Paths
                   Task 2B-1: Using the Scissors Tool
                   Task 2B-2: Using the Knife Tool
                   Task 2B-3: Using the Slice Command
          Topic 2C: Duplicating Paths
                   Task 2C-1: Dragging Between Windows
                   Task 2C-2: Paste Remembers Layers
                   Task 2C-3: Using the Move Command
                   Task 2C-4: Transform Again
                   Task 2C-5: ALT Dragging
                   Task 2C-6: Offset Path Command
          Topic 2D: Simplifying Paths
                   Task 2D-1: Simplify Command
          Topic 2E: Aligning Objects
                   Task 2E-1: Aligning with the Align Palette
                   Task 2E-2: Distributing
                   Task 2E-3: Ruler Guides
          Topic 2F: Nesting Layers
                   Task 2F-1: Nesting
          Topic 2G: Nesting Layers
                   Task 2G-1: Creating Objects and Editing Paths

Lesson 3: Gradients and Blends
          Topic 3A: Gradient Mesh
                   Task 3A-1: Creating a Gradient Mesh
                   Task 3A-2: Manually Adjusting a Gradient Mesh
          Topic 3B: Blends
                   Task 3B-1: Blending Paths
                   Task 3B-2: Smooth Color Blending

Lesson 4: Transforming
          Topic 4A: Scaling
                   Task 4A-1: Scaling Numerically
          Topic 4B: Rotating
                   Task 4B-1: Rotating Visually
                   Task 4B-2: Rotating Numerically
          Topic 4C: Reflecting
                   Task 4C-1: Reflecting Visually
                   Task 4C-2: Reflecting Numerically
                   Task 4C-3: Using the Average Command
          Topic 4D: Shearing
                   Task 4D-1: Shearing Visually
                   Task 4D-2: Shearing Numerically
          Topic 4E: Transform Each
                   Task 4E-1: Transform Each
          Topic 4F: Transform Each
                   Task 4F-1: Gradient Mesh, Blends, and Transforming

Lesson 5: Compound Paths
          Topic 5A: Compound Paths
                   Task 5A-1: Cutting Holes in Paths
                   Task 5A-2: Compounding Overlapping Paths
                   Task 5A-3: Type Compounds and Outlines
                   Task 5A-4: Group Selection and Compounds
          Topic 5B: Compounding
                   Task 5B-1: Creating a Gradient across Multiple Paths

Lesson 6: Raster Images and Filters
          Topic 6A: Converting Vector Graphics to Raster
                   Task 6A-1: Vector Filters
                   Task 6A-2: Using the Rasterize Command
          Topic 6B: Applying Filters to Raster Objects
                   Task 6B-1: Raster Filters

Lesson 7: Live Effects and Appearance
          Topic 7A: Applying Live Effects
                   Task 7A-1: Adding a Drop Shadow
                   Task 7A-2: Feathering
                   Task 7A-3: Using the Punk & Bloat Filter
                   Task 7A-4: Rounding Corners
                   Task 7A-5: Adding Arrowheads
          Topic 7B: Editing Live Effects
                   Task 7B-1: Editing Vectors with Live Effects
                   Task 7B-2: Copying Live Effects
          Topic 7C: Using the Appearance palette
                   Task 7C-1: Editing Effects with the Appearance palette
                   Task 7C-2: Creating a Second Stroke
                   Task 7C-3: Editing Stroke and Fill Separately

Lesson 8: Masking
          Topic 8A: Layer Masks
                   Task 8A-1: Creating a Layer Mask
          Topic 8B: Editing Masks
                   Task 8B-1: Editing Clipping Masks
          Topic 8C: Editing Masks
                   Task 8C-1: Compound Paths, Filters, and Masks