Course Specifications

Course Description

You probably used Adobe Illustrator to create simple illustrations and logos. However, you may need to create complex illustrations, print documents without any errors or color mismatches, or prepare illustrations for the web. In this course, you will create complex, robust illustrations that go beyond those you could create using Illustrator's basic tools.

Hardware Requirements

• Intel® Pentium® 4, Intel® Centrino®, Intel® Xeon®, or Intel® Core™ Duo (or compatible) processor
• 1.8 GB of hard-disk space to install software, and an additional 500 MB of RAM to run the course. Color monitor with 16-bit or greater video card; 24-bit color recommended
• 1024 x 768 monitor resolution
• Display system to project the instructor's computer screen
• Internet connection with Internet Explorer version 3.0 or later, or Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or later
• CD-ROM drive
• Printer (optional) or an installed printer driver

Platform Requirements

• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2

Software Requirements

• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 2
• Adobe® Illustrator® CS4
• Adobe® Flash® Player
• Adobe® Reader® 8.0
• Adobe® SVG Viewer
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer®

Performance-Based Objectives

• create complex illustrations.
• enhance complex illustrations.
• create a vector version of a raster graphic.
• create special effects.
• work with graphs.
• work with variables.
• prepare documents for composite and commercial printing.
• export graphics for the web and mobile devices.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Creating Complex Illustrations

Topic 1A: Create a Custom Shape Using Simple Shapes

Topic 1B: Create Compound Paths

Topic 1C: Offset Paths

Topic 1D: Erase Shapes

Lesson 2: Enhancing Complex Illustrations

Topic 2A: Create Symbols

Topic 2B: Organize Objects with Layers

Topic 2C: Create a Pattern Swatch

Topic 2D: Create a Mesh

Topic 2E: Create Custom Brushes

Topic 2F: Apply Color Using Live Paint

Topic 2G: Recolor Artwork

Lesson 3: Creating a Vector Version of a Raster Graphic

Topic 3A: Trace Artwork Automatically

Topic 3B: Adjust the Results of Tracing

Topic 3C: Create a Custom Preset

Topic 3D: Convert a Traced Object to Paths

Lesson 4: Creating Special Effects

Topic 4A: Apply Effects

Topic 4B: Create Masks

Topic 4C: Simplify Paths

Topic 4D: Create Blends

Topic 4E: Share Graphic Styles

Topic 4F: Create 3-D Effects

Lesson 5: Working with Graphs

Topic 5A: Create a Graph

Topic 5B: Format a Graph

Lesson 6: Working with Variables

Topic 6A: Create Variables

Topic 6B: Create Data Sets

Lesson 7: Outputting Documents

Topic 7A: Create an Artboard

Topic 7B: Set Up Color Management

Topic 7C: Preview an Overprint

Topic 7D: Apply Spot Colors

Topic 7E: Print a Composite Proof

Topic 7F: Create Color Separations

Topic 7G: Create an Adobe PDF File

Lesson 8: Exporting Graphics for the Web and Mobile Devices

Topic 8A: Convert Colors to Web-Safe Colors

Topic 8B: Work with Actions

Topic 8C: Export a File as an SWF File

Topic 8D: Create Slices

Topic 8E: Add Interactivity to an SVG File

Topic 8F: Preview an Illustration for Mobile Devices

Appendix A: New Features in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Appendix B: Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) Objectives Mapping