Adobe Illustrator Basics
Let’s go back to basics shall we.
Even as a professional, returning to the basics is a helpful refresher - tools that may have slipped your mind amid the chaos of Adobe. Illustrator, or Adobe as a whole for that matter, continues to evolve with the times, constantly upgrading their platform for the greater good. Taking a moment to revisit foundational techniques can speed your workflow whilst encouraging continuous learning of Illustrator’s world. Let’s dive in.
Selection Tools
The Selection tool (V) let’s you move whole objects whereas the Direct Selection tool (A) lets you edit individual anchor points.
Drawing Tools
The Pen tool (P) creates vector-based paths with precision , whilst the Curvature tool (Shift+`) allows you to create and edit curved and straight lines. The Shape tool allows you to create rectangles, ellipse, polygons, stars and lineal forms. The Shape Builder tool (Shift+M) allows you to unify overlapping forms to create a new one.
Type Tools
The Type tool (T) allows you to enter text at a certain point or in a container. Type on a Path tool requires a selected path for the text to follow the form.
Modification Tools
The Warp tool (Shift+R) allows you to make freeform adjustments to shapes. Rotate (R), Reflect (O), and Scale (S) tools transform shapes. The Width tool (Shift+W) enables you to change the path width at certain points.
Colour Tools
Live Paint Bucket (K) allows you to colour fill shapes. The Eyedropper tool (I) can replicate appearance attributes between objects like colours or even type selections.
Of course Illustrator is filled with a thousand more tools, but I hope these basics help you begin your design journey. With practice and curiosity, those fundamentals will grow into the confident skills you need to bring your ideas to life.
