How to open software

  • Start >program >adobe > illustrator
    • Or
  • Start > run
  • Type illustrator
  • Click on ok

Create a new document/ Artboard: –

Adobe Illustrator- workspace.jpg

  • File >New document (Ctrl + N)
  • Type the document name e.g. (logo Design) appears in the title bar of the new document.
  • Select the paper size e.g. (A4, A3, Letter size etc.)
  • Select the required units e.g., (inch, mm, cm etc.)
  • Define the document width and height
  • Select the orientation e.g. portrait or landscape
  • Select the color mode e.g. CMYK or RGB
  • CMYK—- CMYK is used for the printing media
  • RGB —— RGB color mode is used for the Presentation, web design etc but not for the printing
  • Click on ok
  • Appears new document.

Artboard

Create an artboard

  • To create a custom artboard, select the Artboard tool , and drag in the workspace to define the shape, size,and location.
  • To use a preset artboard, double-click the Artboard tool, select a preset in the Artboard Options dialog box, and click OK. Drag the artboard to position it where you want.
  • To create an artboard within an active artboard, hold down Shift and drag using the Artboard tool.
  • To duplicate an existing artboard, select the Artboard tool, click to select the artboard you want to duplicate, and click the New Artboard button in the Control panel ; then click where you want to place the duplicated artboard. To create multiple duplicates, Alt-click as many times as you want. Or, using the Artboard tool, Alt-drag the artboard you want to duplicate.

Delete an artboard

  • Click the artboard and press Delete key, click Delete in the Control panel, or click the Delete icon in an artboard’s upper-right corner. You can delete all but the last remaining artboard.

Templates

Templates let you create new documents that share common settings and design elements. For example, if you need to design a series of business cards with a similar look and feel, you can create a template with the desired artboard size, view settings (such as guides), and print options. The template can also contain symbols for common design elements (such as logos) and specific sets of color swatches, brushes, and graphic styles. Illustrator comes with a variety of templates, including templates

Ctrl +Shift + N  ( To open blank templates)

File >Save as template to create template

Show /Hide tools: –

  • Press left mouse key until you see the hidden tools, do not release cursor
  • Drag cursor to small triangle of new appeared tool box, and release cursor,
  • Now your hidden tools are appeared
  • or
  • Press Alt key and click on the tool for next hidden tool

To show/hide Ruler: –

  • View >show ruler (Ctrl + r)
  • To change the units
  • Right click on the ruler bar
  • Select the units eg (inches mm, cm, etc)
  • You can change the Zero position by dragging it into required place

Guide line: –

Guide line is a non-printable line it is used as a reference

  • To add guide lines
  • Click and drag the guide line from the ruler bar

To show/hide guide line: –

  • View >guide >hide guide (Ctrl + ; )

To lock/ Release guide: –

  • Right click on art board,
  • Place check mark/ Remove check mark on lock guide
  • View >Guide >lock guide > (Ctrl +ALT + : )

Make guide: –

  • Select an object
  • View >guide >make guide (Ctrl+5)
  • This command lets you to make an object as a guide line

Clear guideline: –

  • View >guides >clear guideline

Grid: –

Grid is also non-printable lines which look like a graph paper it is also use for reference only.

To snap grid: –

  • View > snap to grid (Ctrl+shift+”)
  • This command lets you to snap the object to grid.

Change the guide and grid color: –

  • Edit >preferences >guide and grid
  • You can change guide color, style
  • Select the grid color, style
  • Define gridline every and sub division

To zoom in/out: –

  • View >zoom in (Ctrl+ +)
  • View >zoom out (Ctrl+ -)
  • Fit in window (Ctrl+o)
  • Actual size (Ctrl+1)

Selection tool: – (v)

Selection tool let you to select an object by clicking on it. You can move, Rotate, Scale an object.

  • Press Ctrl key to active the selection tool

Direct selection tool: –

Direct selection tool lets you to select/move the anchor point.

  • Select an object/path
  • Click on direct selection tool
  • Make a marquee selection over the anchor point.

Select Multiple Objects: –

  • Click on the Selection tool (v)
  • Make a marquee selection (click and drag)
  • Press Shift key and click on the required object which you want to select /deselect. Or to select all the objects at a time then
  • Edit > Select all (Ctrl+A)
  • Now you can move delete, resize etc.to the selected objects.

Move an Object: –

  • Select an object
  • Click and drag or select an object with selection tool and press up arrow key down arrow key or right and left arrow key to move an object.
  • Press shift key and drag towards the direction you want to move straight.
  • Press Alt key and drag to duplicate object.

Document Setting: –

  • File > document setup (Ctrl+Alt+P)
  • Define the document setup.
  • Click on Edit Artboards
  • Now you can define your artboard size from control panel

Customize the workspace

Manage windows and panels

You can create a custom workspace by moving and manipulating Document windows and panels. You can also save workspaces and switch among them.

  • Rearrange, dock, or float document windows
  • Dock and undock panels
  • Move panels
  • Add and remove panels
  • Manipulate panel groups
  • Stack floating panels
  • Resize panels
  • Rename or duplicate a workspace
  • Save and switch workspaces
  • Save a custom workspace
  • Delete a custom workspace

Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud allows you to download, install, and update apps. You can also sync files and fonts, and showcase and discover creative work on Behance.

Sync files and folders

Sync files from your computer to Creative Cloud and access them from anywhere. Files are instantly available on all your connected devices, computers, and on your Creative Cloud Files page. To sync files, you have to install Creative Cloud desktop app on all computers.

Safe Mode

Start Illustrator. If Illustrator detects a file that is corrupt or causes errors, the application exits.

Re-launch Illustrator.

As Illustrator restarts, you can:

Choose Run Diagnostics to switch Illustrator to Safe Mode, to help with troubleshooting the error. or

Choose Launch Illustrator to try to start Illustrator normally again.

(This step may repeat multiple times) Illustrator restarts.

If an error is found, the cause of the error (font, driver, plug-in) is identified and disabled from obstructing Illustrator launch.

Note: This step is repeated for each crash-inducing file that Illustrator finds. Do not interrupt diagnostic tests.

When all error-causing files have been isolated by the diagnostic steps and noted, Illustrator launches in Safe Mode.

Recover document data after a crash

You can recover your work if Illustrator crashes and you have forgotten to save. Illustrator can help you determine the cause of a crash, prevent the problem item from loading with Illustrator, and provide a list of problem-causing items so that you can troubleshoot them. You can also decide how often your data is recovered and where your recovered data is stored.

(Edit >Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard > Data Recovery area):