Day 1

Objectives

General objectives

  • Students will be comfortable with the Illustrator interface and know its purposes
  • Students will be able to create and edit basic vector shapes

Specific learning outcomes

  • Introduction
    • Students will be able to describe differences between raster and vector imaging and uses for both
    • Students will understand the capabilities of Illustrator and alternative programs
    • Students will be able to comfortably navigate Illustrator
    • Students will properly use the terminology of paths, anchors, handles, fills, and strokes
  • Create shapes
    • Students will be able to create basic shapes (rectangles, ellipses, polygons, stars, and lines)
    • Students will be able to use the selection and direct selection tools to modify shapes
  • Basic panels
    • Students will be able to make simple changes in the properties panel (fill, stroke, stroke weight)
    • Students will be able to reorder objects in the layers panel

Practice files: https://files.learnsoftware.org/illustrator/

Outline

Intro/Hook [Illustrator examples (1).ai]

  • Example Questions: Why are you interested in learning Illustrator? What sort of projects do you plan to complete in Illustrator?

Raster and Vector Images

  • Differences, pros and cons
    • Use raster-pixels-vs-vectors.jpg (in Day 1 files) to demonstrate
    • Raster is pixel-based (photos), Vector is path-based (graphics, icons, logos)
    • Example Question: What are the pros and cons of vector images?

Navigation

Shape Basics

  • Demonstrate these tools in a blank file and have the students follow along
  • Rectangle, ellipse, line
    • (shift) to constrain proportions
    • (alt/option) to draw from center
    • (space) to move while drawing
    • (cmnd/ctrl) to draw ellipse from point instead of center
    • Example Question: What key allows you to constrain the proportions of the shape while you’re drawing it?
  • Polygon and star
    • (up and down arrows) to increase number of sides on polygon & points on star
    • (shift) to snap to 90 degree grid
    • (cmnd/ctrl) to adjust solely points on star
    • Example Question: What keys do you use to increase or decrease the number of sides/points of a shape?
  • Selection tools and path terminology
    • Selection tool and direct selection tool functions & differences
      • Selection tool used to select and edit the whole shape (resize, change fill/stroke)
      • Direct selection tool used to select and edit anchor points of a shape
    • (shift) to select multiple objects/anchor points, or click and drag a box around desired objects/anchor points
    • Example Question: When would you want to use the direct selection tool vs. the quick selection tool?

Basic Panels

  • Properties Panel
    • Fill and stroke (including stroke weight & opacity)
    • Resize document
    • Briefly introduce align & transform options
  • Example Question: When would you want a shape with a fill and no stroke? A stroke and no fill?
  • Layers
    • Creating new layers
    • Arranging order of layers
    • Locking layers
    • Hiding layers
  • Example Question: What is the benefit in creating multiple layers? Locking layers?

Conclusion

  • Recap
    • Raster vs. vector
    • Navigation
    • Shape Basics
    • Basic Panels
  • Next time
    • Organizing and combining shapes
  • Badges

Example Activities

Create a simple object using shape and selection tools

Have the students create something simple (like a snowman) using all of the tools they learned (shape & selection tools, panels)

Icons.ai

This file can be used on day 2 to teach the shape builder tool, so using it to build shapes on day 1 may provide some extra continuity. Challenge students to create all the shapes they will need to build some of these icons.