Adobe Illustrator Tutorial for Beginners (2024)

Hey there, I'm Dan, and I'm not just a designer, but an Adobe Certified Professional and Adobe MAX Master Award winner. Join me as we embark on an incredible journey together learning Adobe Illustrator!

This course is tailor-made for those who are new to Illustrator and the world of design, as we start from scratch on our journey to becoming Illustrator superheroes! Together, we'll unravel the secrets and techniques that enable you to create anything your creative heart desires - from icons, logos, and postcards to beautifully hand-drawn illustrations.

Get ready to dive into the mesmerizing world of Adobe Illustrator, where we'll craft stunning looking graphics. But we won't stop at just learning the tools; we're about to unleash our creative powers by creating real-world, practical, and portfolio-ready projects. Together we will learn to:


  • • Master the art of drawing with simple shapes and lines.
  • • Unleash your creativity by combining and subtracting shapes using the Shape Builder.
  • • Create advanced custom logos and graphics.
  • • Explore the world of creative brushes, lines, and strokes to elevate your designs to the next level.
  • • Use the Width tool to enhance your lines and strokes adding a style.
  • • Conquer the pen, pencil, and curvature tools like a pro.
  • • Dive into the wonderful world of fonts and the art of mastering type.
  • • Use the intertwine feature to create interesting overlapping illustrations.
  • • Learn the art of masking images and graphics.
  • • Discover the magic of distorting, bending, warping, and liquefying illustrations.
  • • Select and use color combinations like a true master of design.
  • • Craft your own unique repeating patterns.
  • • Transform real drawings into captivating stencil-style images.
  • • Export your creations for print, web, social media, and more.
  • • Acquire the techniques used by professional graphic designers.
  • • Work with your own mini-brief - creating a unique Farmer's Market brand and bringing it to life.
  • • Harness the power of Adobe's Generative AI features to push your creative boundaries.
  • • Working with mood boards to gather inspiration.
  • • Create realistic mockups to enhance your designs even further.
  • • Engage in a wealth of class projects to put your skills to the test.
  • • Stay ahead with a handy printable PDF cheat sheet.
  • • Access downloadable exercise files to help you practice and refine your skills.
  • • Benefit from forum support provided by the BYOL Teaching Assistant Team.
  • • Discover professional workflows and shortcuts to work more efficiently.
  • • Gain access to a treasure trove of additional resources and websites to supercharge your career.

But that's not all! I'll unveil Illustrator's hidden gems that will transform you into a pro at discovering and utilizing breathtaking vector based graphics. We'll dive into the latest Illustrator tools, including the mind-blowing Generative AI features that allow us to craft illustrations that were once thought impossible.

Whether you've never even opened Illustrator or have struggled with it in the past, I'm here to show you the easy way to create breathtaking artwork and portfolio projects to be proud of. Join me as we go from Illustrator zeros, to Illustrator superheroes!

Requirements

• All you need is a copy of Adobe Illustrator, you can get a free trial from Adobe here to get started.

Who this course is for


  • • Absolutely no previous Adobe Illustrator experience is required.
  • • This course is designed for newcomers to Illustrator and design in general, so no prior design, drawing, or illustration experience is necessary.
  • • This is a relaxed, well-paced introduction, perfect for producing a wide range of drawings, illustrations, logos, and portfolio projects. Only basic computer skills are necessary - if you can send emails and surf the internet, you're more than capable of mastering this course.

What you'll learn

  • • Drawing with Shapes & Lines
  • • Drawing with the Shape Builder
  • • Creating a custom logo
  • • Working with Brushes
  • • Drawing with the pen, pencil & curvature tool
  • • Learn how to work with type & fonts.
  • • How to vectorise an image in Illustrator
  • • How to curve text in illustrator
  • • How to trace an image in illustrator
    • How to warp text in illustrator
    • How to embed images in illustrator
    • How to mask images & graphics.
    • How to distort, bend, warp & liquefy illustrations.
    • How to make 3D illustrations.
    • How to make your own repeating patterns.
    • How to create stencil style images from real drawings.
    • How to save, print & export for Print, web & social media.
    • Lots of real world exercises for you to practice.
    • Loads or class projects for you to complete.
    • Printable Cheat sheet.
    • You will get the finished files so you never fall behind.
    • Downloadable exercise files.
    • Techniques used by professional graphic designers.
    • Professional workflows and shortcuts.
    • A wealth of other resources and websites to help accelerate your career.
Adobe Illustrator Tutorial for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest way to learn Illustrator? ›

Books are a great way to learn Illustrator as they provide a self-directed option that lets you move at your own pace. Many Illustrator books are available to help you learn the skills you need. Some include step-by-step instructions while others explain more of the concepts and principles.

Is Adobe Illustrator easy to use for beginners? ›

The learning curve for Adobe Illustrator is relatively gentle for beginners. The program has a wide range of tutorials and resources available online and in-app, making it easy to get started. Additionally, the interface is relatively intuitive, and the tools are well-organized, making it easy to find what you need.

Is it difficult to learn Adobe Illustrator? ›

Adobe Illustrator is an accessible, user-friendly program that students can learn the basics of within a few hours, opening them up to experiment with the program. However, students wanting to use the program professionally will need much more training to master Illustrator. Of course, this depends on several factors.

How long does it take to learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator? ›

Learning Adobe Illustrator is a process that can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your prior experience and the amount of time you are able to dedicate to learning the software.

How can I teach myself Illustrator? ›

5 best ways to learn Illustrator
  1. Take a live online course. ...
  2. Register for an illustrator class in a classroom with a live instructor. ...
  3. Consider online tutorials for learning illustrator. ...
  4. Learn Illustrator with training books. ...
  5. Learn Illustrator with private training. ...
  6. Illustrator CC 2022 MasterClass.
Feb 5, 2023

Can I learn Illustrator by myself? ›

Can I learn Adobe Illustrator basics by myself or is it necessary to take some courses? Of course you can! I'm self-taught, have never had a course in it. But I've been using Illustrator for years, and yes it does come with a bit of a learning curve.

Which is more difficult to learn Photoshop or Illustrator? ›

Most experts agree that Illustrator has a steeper learning curve than Photoshop, so it's recommended that people learn Photoshop first; with similar interfaces and tools, familiarity with Photoshop will make Illustrator easier to master.

Can I learn Illustrator without drawing skills? ›

In fact, drawing – or illustrating – free hand is not necessary (so no, you really don't have to be good at art to use Adobe Illustrator), as there are many simple tools that can be utilised in this vastly expansive program, some of which this article will reveal.

How do I become an Illustrator with no experience? ›

How to Kick Start Your Career as an Illustrator
  1. Think about what kind of work you'd like to do. Most people I know start off in editorial illustration. ...
  2. Get drawing. ...
  3. Create a portfolio website. ...
  4. Set your business up. ...
  5. Share your work on social media. ...
  6. Start hustling. ...
  7. Make friends with other illustrators. ...
  8. Get organised.

Can I learn Illustrator without learning Photoshop? ›

The best program to learn first depends on your specific needs and goals. If you're interested in photo editing and retouching, then Photoshop is the better choice. If you're more interested in creating vector graphics and illustrations, then Illustrator is a better choice.

What is the hardest Adobe program to learn? ›

After Effects is a complex application and the most difficult of the Creative Cloud tools to learn. The application has a steep learning curve that new users may find overwhelming, even after they feel comfortable navigating the interface.

What is the hard skill for Illustrator? ›

For an illustrator, hard skills might include the various types of artwork you produce, the media you work in and the software you might use, such as: Accurate pencil and charcoal drawings.

What should I learn first Illustrator or Photoshop? ›

Should I learn Illustrator or Photoshop first? Illustrator is best to learn first for users focusing on image creation and print designs. Photoshop is best to learn first for users focusing on image editing and digital designs.

How to learn illustration step by step? ›

Here Is The Step-by-Step Guide For Illustrations That Designers Should Follow To Create Amazing Illustrations
  1. Step 1: Get Some Inspiration. ...
  2. Step 2: Organize Your Ideas. ...
  3. Step 3: Make Sketches. ...
  4. Step 4: Complete The Drawing. ...
  5. Step 5: Refine Your Idea. ...
  6. Step 6: Make It Stand Out. ...
  7. Step 7: Think of Details, Depth, and Framing.
Jul 24, 2020

Can I learn Illustrator without knowing Photoshop? ›

First, Illustrator and Photoshop are completely different all the way to their core. Illustrator uses vector graphics and Photoshop uses raster graphics. So, knowing (or not knowing) one doesn't affect your ability to learn the other.

Which is harder to learn Photoshop or Illustrator? ›

Most experts agree that Illustrator has a steeper learning curve than Photoshop, so it's recommended that people learn Photoshop first; with similar interfaces and tools, familiarity with Photoshop will make Illustrator easier to master.

References

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