An introductory tutorial about the

graphic editing program known as

Adobe Illustrator.
What is it used
for?
Post editing a vector image is easier
because, as seen in the graphic above,
the vectors are always editable.
Therefore, the image has a better overall
uality when completed in a vector
based format because it will never lose
detail.
When working as an architect and using
primarily lines and curves, the vectors
allow constant customi!ation without
losing uality.
Illustrator is a vector based program.
"nlike photoshop, which is a raster
based program.
The di#erence between the two formats
is that a raster image is made up of
pi$els while a vector image is made up
of vectors.
%oth formats have their advantages
and disadvantages, but when working
with vectors, the ob&ect can be scaled
to any dimension without losing uality.
If a raster image was scaled up, the
pi$els would scale resulting in a fu!!y
image, while the vector would stay
sharp.
'etting
(tarted
illustrator )le. As if there are multiple pages of paper
waiting to be edited or drawn on. The advantage to
art boards is that you can work on various images or
drawings while staying within one main )le.
*ptions +enu
bars are essential for
Interfac
e
+ain +enu
,urrent Pro&ect Title
Tool +enu
-$tension
The tool menu
Toolbars
has various di#er.
The e$tension tool
ent tools used to
select, create,
/or every tool selected, there are
editing your work.
color, erase, draw,
options for the item you will manipu.
here are the various
and various other
late. The options for the various tools
types of windows
elements.
and changes that can be made are
that can be opened
located here.
to
make your life easier. Things such as various color palettes, symbols, char.
acters and di#erent options are available to edit work *ne of the most
essential workspace toolbars is the 0ayers tab. The layers are important
for keeping a drawing organi!ed. Whenever a new element is brought into
the drawing it will be visible here. Within this menu, items can be locked,
hidden, or deleted to help make the drawing more accessible.
Tool
+enu
1o matter what
operation that
will be done in
illustrator, the
tool menu will
need to be used.
(election Tools. These tools are used to select an ob&ect. The select tool will
select the entire ob&ect while the direct selection will allow you to manipulate
parts of the ob&ect.
,reation Tools. 2ere you will be able to draw, type, or erase an element on
the drawing.
Transformation Tools. These tools are used to transform or guide your
drawing.
+anipulation Tools. These tools will alter or edit the drawing. (uch as the
eye dropper that will select and edit a color chosen and the gradient tool
which will then create a color gradient on the drawing.
3iew Tools. To move around or !oom into the drawing you will need to use
these tools.
,olor %ar. The two bo$es are the current selected colors. The suare bo$ is
the )ll color while the outline bo$ will be the stroke color.
0ayer +enu. 2ere you can ad&ust whether you are drawing in front, on top, or
between another element.
*utput
*nce the drawing is completed as
desired, illustrator has many di#erent
options for output. %ecause of the vector
format, Illustrator can format the )le to
work with various other programs easier
than raster programs such as photoshop
can.
The most common output from illustrator
will be an Adobe P4/. The P4/ )le format
is easy for most computers to use and can
be easily be saved in the save as tab.
If a simple &peg of png image format is
desired, the save for web 5 devices tab is
what will need to be used.
3arious other formats can actually be
derived from a vector illustrator drawing.
/or e$ample, in the e$port tab the )le can
be saved as a .dwg in order to open in
autocad.
6eyboard
(hortcuts
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s
-ven though illustrator
seems like a program
lacking creativity and
abilities to do abstract
work, do not let it fool
you. Illustrator has the
same potential to
create inspiring and
stunning art work that
is usually achieved via
photoshop. 2owever,
with illustrator the
uality is never lost via
vectors.
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s
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s