Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator

By Vectordiary Posted on July 15th, 2008

If you haven’t gotten your Illustrator, you can download the 30 days trial from Adobe’s download page. After installing, we will run Illustrator for the first time.

Create New Document

Go File>New Document to create your first document. Type in a Name for the document and click Advanced to select RGB for Color Mode as we will be working for the screen. Click Ok after that.

New document

Illustrator Workspace

Below is the workspace and some common terms for calling it. If you are using the latest Adobe Illustrator CS3, you will notice to new design for Floating Palette. The rest looks about the same.

illustrator interface

Toolbox

This is the handy toolbox which we will use most often. By default, it comes in one single column as shown in the screenshot above. To switch it back to the old 2 columns toolbox, you can simply click the top left mini arrow to toggle it into 2 columns. Some of the tools like Rectangle have more tools hidden. To expand, just click and hold the icon to reveal all the similar tools under that group.

illustrator toolbox

Floating Palette

This is the floating palette which contains properties for our shapes. It is commonly used for changing colors and stroke width.

illustrator floating palette

Saving AI Files

Let’s select the type and click on the artboard and type some text. After that go to File>Save. Select Adobe Illustrator(*.AI) for file type and name it “First Drawing”. Click Ok after that. Leave the rest of the settings at default. You have successfully save your first file. To make any more changes you can simply open the Adobe Illustrator file.

illustrator rocks

Next Lesson: Drawing Basic Shapes
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Rubske July 15th, 2008

Hello,

Im from netherland. I go on vacation friday. The lessons stays on this site? I hope so

Please send a answer to: rubske40@hotmail.com

iStockdiary July 15th, 2008

Don’t worry. It will be around. Enjoy your vacation!

Cristian M July 25th, 2008

Thank you so so so much for this tutorial!!!!!!!!!!

Klaus July 27th, 2008

I’m from Brazil and work with advertising.
Tks for this tutorial.
Internet is rich with people like you
who wants do share.
I found the site on Delicious.
Good job.

Alfredo August 20th, 2008

Thank you so much for this!!!! I love it =D

Jaikumar September 9th, 2008

Its really good

Erika September 25th, 2008

I used freehand before, but since I had a new job, I need to learn this software

n ur tutorial is really helpful, thx

gibori October 23rd, 2008

Hola este tutorial es muy bueno y quiero agradecer, ya que me ha servido de mucho en mi trabajo diario.

Gracias y Saludos a todos.

Trish Perry November 1st, 2008

I am trying to learn illustrator cs3 after using adobe photoshopX2 for years is there anything that can translate how to from photoshop to illustrator? I am lost with out my color palet and how it changes colors so easily. I am even having trouble getting my first page setup. How do you add new layers and rasters?

Vectordiary

Illustrator tutorials, tips and tricks on vector art by iStockphoto exclusive artist. Enjoy free vector downloads.