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.
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.
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.
Floating Palette
This is the floating palette which contains properties for our shapes. It is commonly used for changing colors and stroke width.
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.
Next Lesson: Drawing Basic Shapes
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July 15th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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
July 15th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Don’t worry. It will be around. Enjoy your vacation!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Thank you so so so much for this tutorial!!!!!!!!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
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.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
[...] Woche: Day 1: What is Illustrator Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator Day 3: Drawing Basic Shapes Day 4: Drawing with Pencil Tool Day 5: Drawing with Pen Tool Day 6: [...]
August 20th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Thank you so much for this!!!! I love it =D
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
[...] Uno Day 1: What is Illustrator Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator Day 3: Drawing Basic Shapes Day 4: Drawing with Pencil Tool Day 5: Drawing with Pen Tool Day 6: [...]
September 9th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Its really good
September 25th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I used freehand before, but since I had a new job, I need to learn this software
n ur tutorial is really helpful, thx
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
[...] Gelecek Ders (Türkçe): Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator [...]
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
[...] Eki, 2008 illustrator Vektordiary - Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator - makalesinin yay?nc?dan izin alarak [...]
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
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.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:20 am
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?