Learn Adobe Illustrator CC for Graphic Design and Illustration: Adobe Certified Associate Exam Preparation

Learn Adobe Illustrator CC for Graphic Design and Illustration: Adobe Certified Associate Exam Preparation

by Dena Wilson, Peter Lourekas, Rob Schwartz
Released February 2016
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780134396842

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Book description

This study guide uses text integrated with video to help you gain real-world skills that will get you started in your career in graphics, design, or illustration, and lays the foundation for taking the Illustrator ACA exam. A mix of project-based lessons, practical videos, and regular assessments throughout prepares you for an entry-level position in a competitive job market.

Adobe conducted research to identify the foundational skills students need to effectively communicate using digital media tools. Based on feedback from educators, design professionals, businesses, and educational institutions around the world, the objectives cover entry-level skill expectations for each topic. The ACA exams have proved to be highly successful; Adobe reports that the total number of exams taken worldwide has reached one million since 2008.

To create this new product, Peachpit and Adobe Press have joined forces with team of outstanding instructors who have a great track record getting students certified: Rob Schwartz and his colleagues at BrainBuffet.com.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. About the Authors
  6. Contents
  7. Getting Started
    1. About This Product
    2. Conventions Used in This Book
      1. Operating system differences
    3. Installing the Software
      1. Checking for updates
    4. Accessing the Free Web Edition and Lesson Files
    5. Additional Resources
    6. Adobe Certification
    7. Resetting the Preferences to Their Default Settings
  8. Chapter 1. Introduction to Adobe Illustrator CC
    1. Illustrator CC Interface
      1. Application Frame
    2. Using the Main Interface Elements
      1. Application Bar
      2. Control Panel
      3. Tools Panel
      4. Create a Tearoff Toolbar
      5. Create Custom Tools Panels
    3. Panels
      1. Color Panel
      2. Swatches Panel
      3. Stroke Panel
      4. Appearance Panel
      5. Transform Panel
    4. Workspaces
      1. Create a Custom Workspace
      2. Save a Custom Workspace
  9. Chapter 2. Working with Documents
    1. Create a Document
      1. Create a New Document
    2. Artboards
      1. Add Artboards
      2. Resize Artboards
      3. Duplicate an Artboard
      4. Delete an Artboard
    3. Save a Document
    4. Navigating the Illustrator Interface
      1. Arrange Multiple Document Windows
      2. Document Tabs
      3. Change the Zoom Level
      4. Using the Status Bar
      5. View Different Areas of a Document
      6. Changing the Screen Mode
      7. Ending a Work Session
  10. Chapter 3. Creating Basic Shapes
    1. Basic Geometric Shapes
      1. Create Geometric Shapes
      2. Create a Rounded Rectangle
      3. Create Other Basic Shapes
    2. Reshape a Corner
    3. Move a Corner
      1. Move a Corner Point
      2. Remove a Point
  11. Chapter 4. Fill, Stroke, and Color
    1. Working with Fill and Stroke
      1. Change the Fill and Stroke Color
      2. Apply Stroke Attributes
      3. Apply Gradients and Patterns to Fills and Strokes
    2. Recolor Artwork
      1. Apply the Modified Colors
    3. Arrange Basic Objects to Create a Robot
      1. Create Multiple Copies Using Transform Again
  12. Chapter 5. Reshaping Objects
    1. A Primer on Paths and Selection
      1. Building Blocks of a Path
      2. Select or Transform an Entire Object
      3. Select and Modify a Single Point
    2. Draw a Face via Reshape and Transform
      1. Reshape an Oval to Make a Straight Hair Strand
      2. Transform Objects to Create Variation
    3. Draw a Second Face for an Advanced Reshape
      1. Reshape an Oval to Make an Eyebrow
      2. Reshape an Oval to Make an Eyelid
      3. Reshape an Oval to Bend Its Curve
      4. Reshape an Oval to Make a Facial Shape
      5. Reshape an Oval to Make a Wavy Hair Strand
      6. Transform Objects to Create Variation and Symmetry
    4. Layers Panel (First Look)
      1. Create New Layers on the Layers Panel
      2. Move Selected Objects to a New Layer
      3. Move Unselected Objects to a New Layer
      4. Restack Objects within a Layer
  13. Chapter 6. Create a Logo
    1. Precise Alignment of Objects
      1. A Primer on Guides
      2. Align Two Circles with Precision
      3. Create a Second Small Circle
      4. Create Two Smaller Circles
    2. Use the Shape Builder Tool
      1. Unite Portions of Separate Objects
      2. Remove Areas Using the Shape Builder Tool
      3. Shape Builder Tool Options
    3. Stack an Object Behind
      1. Create a Border Around the Circular Logo
  14. Chapter 7. Complexity via Combination and Effects
    1. Reshape via Transformation
      1. Understand the Scale tool vs. the Free Transform Tool
    2. Combine via Pathfinder Options
      1. Shape Modes: Two Different Results
      2. Pathfinder Options
    3. Apply Effects to an Object
      1. Edit an Effect
      2. Save Effects as Styles
  15. Chapter 8. Hand-drawn Look Applied to Shapes
    1. Create Spirals
    2. Distortion Tools
    3. Variable Line Widths
      1. Apply a Width Preset
      2. Reshape a Stroke Manually
      3. Create a Custom Width Profile Preset
    4. Group Objects
      1. Isolate a Group
    5. Selection Commands
      1. Select Same Options
      2. Select Similar Options
    6. Scale Options for Strokes
  16. Chapter 9. Live Paint
    1. Create a Live Paint Group
    2. Use Gap Options in a Live Paint Group
    3. Live Paint Bucket Tool
    4. Add New Paths to a Live Paint Group
      1. Edit Paths in a Live Paint Group
    5. Apply Color to Edges
    6. Expand or Release a Live Paint Group
  17. Chapter 10. Cut Objects and Apply Gradients
    1. Draw Shapes by Cutting
    2. Create Compound Paths
      1. Release a Compound Path
    3. Add Gradient Fills
      1. Apply a Gradient as a Fill
      2. Apply a Gradient to a Stroke
    4. Create a Custom Gradient
    5. Save a Custom Gradient as a Swatch
      1. Save a New Gradient
      2. Modify an Existing Gradient Swatch
    6. Edit a Gradient via On-Object Controls
      1. Modify a Linear Gradient via the Annotator
      2. Modify a Radial Gradient via the Annotator
  18. Chapter 11. Creating Blends
    1. Blend Two Objects
    2. Specify Blend Options
    3. Edit a Blend
      1. Edit the Start or End Object
      2. Transform the Entire Blend
    4. Release a Blend
    5. Create Shading Using Blends
      1. Add Line Shading
      2. Add Color Shading
  19. Chapter 12. Symbols
    1. Open Symbol Libraries
    2. Place a Single Symbol
    3. Place a Set of Symbols
      1. Add Instances to the Current Set
      2. Remove Instances from the Current Set
    4. Replace a Symbol
    5. Create a Symbol
    6. Edit a Symbol
    7. Symbolism Tools
      1. Symbolism Tool Options
    8. Symbolism Tool Specifics
      1. Symbol Shifter Tool
      2. Symbol Scruncher Tool
      3. Symbol Sizer Tool
      4. Symbol Spinner Tool
      5. Symbol Stainer Tool
      6. Symbol Screener Tool
      7. Symbol Styler Tool
    9. Unlink or Expand Instances
    10. Save a Custom Symbol Library
  20. Chapter 13. Pen and Pencil Tools
    1. Draw with the Pen Tool
      1. Straight-Sided Paths
      2. Curved Paths
      3. Non-Smooth Curved Paths
      4. Add Segments
    2. Convert Points
      1. Convert Using the Direct Selection Tool
      2. Convert via Anchor Point Tool
    3. Add or Remove Points
    4. Cut and Join Paths
      1. Cut a Path
      2. Join Two Endpoints
    5. Manually Trace a Raster Image
    6. Draw with the Pencil Tool
      1. Set Pencil Tool Options
      2. Reshape Using the Pencil Tool
  21. Chapter 14. Brushes
    1. The Brushes Panel
    2. Apply Brushes
      1. Paint a Brush Stroke
      2. Remove a Brush Stroke
    3. Edit Brushes
      1. Edit a Calligraphic Brush
      2. Edit a Scatter Brush
      3. Edit an Art Brush
      4. Edit a Pattern Brush
      5. Create a Watercolor Wash Effect
    4. Create a Custom Brush
      1. Create the Brush
      2. Save Custom Brushes as a Library
    5. Use the Blob Brush
      1. Create an Object with the Blob Brush
  22. Chapter 15. Type
    1. Create Point Type
    2. Style Point Type
      1. Style a Single Character or Word
    3. Apply Effects to Type
    4. Control Text Flow
      1. Thread Overflowing Text
      2. Wrap Text Around Art
    5. Place Type on a Path
      1. Reposition Type on a Path
    6. Create Area Type
      1. Fit Area Type
    7. Create Outline Type
    8. Flow Type on a Circle
  23. Chapter 16. Advanced Drawing
    1. Place Bitmap Images as Embedded Objects
    2. Place Bitmap Images as Links
    3. Manage Linked Images
      1. Use the Links Panel
      2. Use the Control Panel
    4. Create a Clipping Mask
      1. Edit the Contents of a Clipping Mask
      2. Release a Clipping Mask
    5. Use Image Trace
    6. Expand a Tracing
    7. Fit an Object into a 3D and Perspective Drawing
      1. Use the Shear Tool
      2. Envelope Distort
      3. Art Brush
      4. 3D Mapping
    8. Use Perspective Grid Feature
      1. Draw a Two-Point Grid
      2. Attach Objects to the Perspective Grid
      3. Create an Interior Using Perspective
  24. Chapter 17. Output
    1. Prepare Artwork for Print Output
      1. Document Color Mode
      2. Artboard Size
      3. Bleed
      4. Spot Color
      5. Separations Preview Panel
      6. Resolution for Rasterized Effects
    2. Print Dialog Box Settings
    3. Prepare Artwork for Web Output
      1. Document Color Mode
      2. Artboard Size
      3. Align to Pixel Grid
      4. Pixel Preview
      5. Resolution for Rasterized Effects
    4. Export Artwork
      1. Export to JPEG or PNG Format
      2. Export to SVG Format
    5. Place as a Smart Object in Photoshop
      1. Place Method
      2. Copy and Paste Method
      3. Creative Cloud Libraries
  25. Chapter 18. Working with Outsiders
    1. Who You’re Talking For and Who You’re Talking To
      1. Single Voice, Single Message
      2. Ideal Ivan and Danielle Demographic
      3. The Golden Rule for Client Projects
    2. Copyrights and Wrongs
      1. Copyright Happens
      2. Placing a Copyright Notice in Digital Content
      3. Playing Fair with Copyrighted Material
      4. Uncopyrighting
      5. Licensing
    3. Think Like a Boss
      1. Project Management
      2. Learn
      3. Think
      4. Do
    4. Conclusion
  26. ACA Objectives Covered
  27. Glossary
  28. Index
  29. Chapter 19. Leveling Up with Design
    1. Creativity Is a Skill
      1. Getting a Creative Workout
      2. Prepping Your Mind-set
    2. The Design Hierarchy
      1. Applying the Design Hierarchy
      2. Wrapping Up the Design Hierarchy
    3. The Elements of Art
      1. The Element of Space
      2. Space as Your Canvas
      3. The Element of Line
      4. The Element of Shape
      5. The Element of Form
      6. The Elements of Texture and Pattern
      7. The Element of Value
      8. The Element of Color
      9. The Element of Type
      10. Wrapping Up the Elements
    4. The Principles of Design
      1. The Principle of Emphasis or Focal Point
      2. The Principle of Contrast
      3. The Principle of Unity
      4. The Principle of Variety
      5. The Principle of Balance
      6. The Principle of Proportion or Scale
      7. The Principles of Repetition and Pattern
      8. The Principles of Movement and Rhythm
    5. Conclusion

Product information

  • Title: Learn Adobe Illustrator CC for Graphic Design and Illustration: Adobe Certified Associate Exam Preparation
  • Author(s): Dena Wilson, Peter Lourekas, Rob Schwartz
  • Release date: February 2016
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780134396842