LESSON 2.1
INTERFACE TOUR
DURATION 3 LESSONS
Pre-homework:
Watch this video about the interface.
Socrative quiz:
Quiz 2.1: The Interface
In this set of lessons we will be introduced to the graphical user interface (GUI). This layout will become very familiar, as all of the Adobe suite follow a similar organizational layout. We will look at the location of tools and navigate the basic interface, pointing out important concepts and tools along the way.
Once we have been familiarized with a few tools, you will create a composition using what we have learned and post the output files on your portfolio website.
In-class activity 2.1: Interface tour / creating shapes
For this introductory activity, we will look at the way Illustrator is laid out, and how to move around the software. Then we will be creating some basic shapes, learning to transform shapes, modify their properties, arrange their stacking order, and sub-select elements.
INTRO 1
Welcome to Illustrator: this tutorial is our introduction to the interface. Re-watch this before a quiz, or to remind yourself of concepts.
CONCEPTS: Resetting your workspace, palettes, artboard, opening/creating a file, fill/stroke colour, menus, contextual menu, colour picker, selecting/deselecting objects, eye dropper tool
TOOLS: Shape tools, colour picker
KEYBOARD SHORT CUTS:
<cmd> N new file
<cmd> O open file
<cmd> W close file
<cmd> + zoom in
<cmd> + zoom out
<cmd> 0 fit to screen
<spacebar> hand tool (temp)
<shift> contrain proportions
INTRO 2
Following on from Intro 1, we continue our tour around the interface, learning some basic tools and concepts.
CONCEPTS: Copy, paste, duplicating objects, selecting and deselecting objects, stacking order, arranging objects, layers, grouping objects, and anchor points.
TOOLS: Direct selection tool, the Layers palette
KEYBOARD SHORT CUTS:
<cmd> C copy
<cmd> V paste
<option> drag duplicate
<cmd> [ and <cmd> ] arrange forward or backwards
<shift> constrain proportions
PATHFINDER
Another in-class lesson outlining some basic tools and processes to efficiently create artwork.
CONCEPTS: Segments (lines/strokes) and anchor points, creating complex shapes (uniting /subtracting /dividing shapes), group/ungroup
TOOLS: Pathfinder, Shape Builder
KEYBOARD SHORT CUTS:
<cmd> + Y: toggle outlines/preview
Navigation/UI:
The menu bar, menu items, panels, stroke/fill, zoom tool, control panel, contextual menu, fly-out menus, palettes (layers, align, colour, essentials workspace) and layers.
Workflow Concepts:
Saving authoring files (.ai) and exporting output files (.png/.jpg)
constrain modifier, right-click menu, organizing and naming layers, selecting and arranging objects, outlines, edit mode, bezier/control handles, shift modifier, gradients
Key tools:
Shape (rectangle etc) tools, direct select, selection tool, corner radius, anchor points,
arrange/stacking order,
pathfinder, shape builder, brush/blob brush tool, pathfinder, shape builder
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Upload answers as a blog on your website.
Title this blog entry "2.1 - Illustrator Review questions"
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What does resetting the workspace do?
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What does the small triangle next to some of the tools in the tool bar mean?
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What is the difference between the select tool and the direct select tool
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How are the shape builder tool and the pathfinder palette related?
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What is the constrain proportions keyboard modifier key?
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What is the copy/duplicate keyboard modifier key?
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What is an anchor point?