Difference between revisions of "Adobe Illustrator Tips"

Revision as of 14:59, 29 March 2025

Adobe Illustrator is a subscription-based, commercial vector graphics software package used to generate illustrations(!)

Illustrator is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. It is available for Windows and macOS, but not Linux.

Pikes Peak Makerspace (PPM) has a subscription for the complete Adobe Creative Cloud, and it is installed on our Windows Design Workstations 2 and 3.

Adobe Creative Cloud desktop applications at PPM

burst of white rays on orange background

Tips

Links to adobe.com:

Illustrator vs. InDesign

When to use which design application.

Essential techniques for beginners

Measure and add dimensions

Use actions to automate tasks in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator shortcuts for View Menu:

Shortcut	PC
Zoom In	Ctrl++
Zoom Out	Ctrl+-
Fit Artboard in Window	Ctrl+0
Fit All in Window	Alt+Ctrl+0
Actual Size	Ctrl+1
Rulers > Show Rulers	Ctrl+R

Open Illustrator Files Without Illustrator:

☐ Change the file extension .AI to .PDF, and open in your default PDF viewer.

☐ On a Mac, use Preview.

☐ Upload Illustrator files to Google Drive.

External Training

Links to adobe.com:

Illustrator Get Started course

Adobe Illustrator Product Home Page

Learn Adobe Apps

All Products — Adobe

Hand-Curated Links

Links to member-recommended external sites:

Illustrator Tutorials Covering the Basics — on vecteezy.com

Avery Templates — design and print using Illustrator

Links to other external sites:

Adobe Firefly — A.I. image generation

Adobe Illustrator icons — WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

John Warnock: Bezier Tutorial — (1987) on YouTube (7:23 mins)

Alternatives

Links to other external sites:

AFFINITY Designer — alternative to Adobe Illustrator

The Best Illustrator Alternatives — alternativeto.net

Additional Help

Links to related PPM Wiki pages:

CorelDRAW X6 Tips

Inkscape Tips

SVG File Format Tips

Canva Tips

Blender Tips

Use the PPM Slack channel #computing

Note that we have a Slack channel (#job-board) for members to post, discuss, or accept job opportunities either within PPM or from the community.

Search the PPM Wiki — include Content pages as well as Multimedia.

Contact Us if you cannot find your answer here on our Wiki or if you notice any information that is outdated.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Adobe Illustrator''' is a commercial vector graphics software package for Windows and macOS (but not Linux).
+'''Adobe Illustrator is a subscription-based, commercial vector graphics software package used to generate illustrations(!)'''
-<br>
-Adobe Illustrator is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite.
+Illustrator is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. It is available for Windows and macOS, but not Linux.
+Pikes Peak Makerspace (PPM) has a subscription for the complete Adobe Creative Cloud, and it is installed on our Windows Design Workstations 2 and&nbsp;3.
-Pikes Peak Makerspace (PPM) has a license for the complete Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, and it is installed on our Design Workstations 2 and 3.
+:'''[[Software_Tips#Adobe_Creative_Cloud_desktop_applications|Adobe Creative Cloud desktop applications at PPM]]'''
 <br>
+<p style="padding:0.2em 0.4em; background:#ff6c00; color:#FFFFFF; font-size:15%;"> &nbsp; </p>
 <br>
-<hr style="height:2.5px">
+[[File:Burst.png|alt=burst of white rays on orange background|link=https://wiki.pikespeakmakerspace.org/index.php/About_PPM|right|frameless|250x250px]]
+==Tips==
+'''Links to adobe.com:'''
+===[https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/design/illustrator-vs-indesign.html '''Illustrator vs. InDesign''']===
+:When to use which design application.
+===[https://creativecloud.adobe.com/en/learn/illustrator/web/illustration-techniques Essential techniques for beginners] ===
+===[https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/tool-techniques/dimension-tool.html Measure and add dimensions]===
+===[https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/automation-actions.html Use actions to automate tasks in Illustrator]===
 <br>
-[[File:Ai.png|alt=Adobe Illustrator application icon|120x120px|thumb|<center>'''Adobe Illustrator icon'''</center>]]
+'''Adobe Illustrator shortcuts for View Menu:'''
-==Tips==
-:'''- View Menu Shortcuts:'''
 ::{| class="wikitable"
-!Shortcut
+|'''Shortcut'''
-!PC
+|'''PC'''
-!Mac
 |-
 |Zoom In
-|Ctrl+=
+|Ctrl++
-|Cmd+=
 |-
 |Zoom Out
 |Ctrl+-
-|Cmd+-
 |-
 |Fit Artboard in Window
 |Ctrl+0
-|Cmd+0
 |-
 |Fit All in Window
 |Alt+Ctrl+0
-|Alt+Cmd+0
 |-
 |Actual Size
 |Ctrl+1
-|Cmd+1
+|-
+|Rulers > Show Rulers
+|Ctrl+R
 |}
-:'''- [https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/adobe-illustrator-keyboard-shortcuts-cheat-sheet/ Illustrator Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet]'''
+'''Open Illustrator Files Without Illustrator:'''
-:'''- [https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/automation-actions.html Use actions to automate tasks in Illustrator - Adobe Support]'''
+:☐  Change the file extension .AI to .PDF, and open in your default PDF viewer.
+:☐  On a Mac, use Preview.
+:☐  Upload Illustrator files to Google Drive.
-==Training — PPM Trainer(s) needed==
+==External Training==
-Pikes Peak Makerspace announces its  [https://www.meetup.com/pikespeakmakerspace/events '''Upcoming events, including classes, on Meetup''']
+'''Links to adobe.com:'''
+:'''[https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/tutorials.html Illustrator Get Started course]'''
+:'''[https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html Adobe Illustrator Product Home Page]'''
-Links to adobe.com:
+:[https://creativecloud.adobe.com/learn/ '''Learn Adobe Apps''']
-:'''[https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/generative-recolor.html Adobe Firefly]''' — Generative Recolor (beta) in Illustrator
-:'''[https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/tutorials.html Illustrator Get Started course]''' — Adobe
-:'''[https://creativecloud.adobe.com/en/learn/illustrator/web/illustration-techniques Essential techniques for beginners]''' — Adobe
-:'''[https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html Adobe Illustrator Product Home Page]'''
 :'''[https://www.adobe.com/products/catalog.html All Products — Adobe]'''
-Links to other external sites:
+==Hand-Curated Links==
-:'''[[wikipedia:Adobe_Illustrator|Adobe Illustrator]]''' — on Wikipedia
+'''Links to member-recommended external sites:'''
-:'''[https://www.udemy.com/course/illustrator-cc-masterclass/ Illustrator 2022 MasterClass]''' — Udemy class, recommended by Mathew P.
+:[https://www.vecteezy.com/blog/design-tips/illustrator-tutorials '''Illustrator Tutorials Covering the Basics'''] — on vecteezy.com
+:'''[https://www.avery.com/templates Avery Templates]''' — design and print using Illustrator
+'''Links to other external sites:'''
+:'''[https://firefly.adobe.com Adobe Firefly]''' — A.I. image generation
+:'''[[commons:Category:Adobe_Illustrator_icons|Adobe Illustrator icons]]''' — WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
-==For Additional Help ==
+:'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbjajnLZY0 John Warnock: Bezier Tutorial]''' — (1987) on YouTube (7:23 mins)
-:Use the PPM Slack channel #computing
-:[[How To Slack#Channel Names and Descriptions|'''List of all PPM Slack channels''']]
-:Note that we have a Slack channel (#job-board) for members to post, discuss, or accept job opportunities either within PPM or from the&nbsp;community.
-==Related Pages==
+==Alternatives==
-Links to related PPM Wiki pages:
+'''Links to other external sites:'''
+:'''[https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/ AFFINITY Designer]''' — alternative to Adobe Illustrator
+:'''[https://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-illustrator/ The Best Illustrator Alternatives]''' — alternativeto.net
+==Additional Help==
+'''Links to related PPM Wiki pages:'''
+:'''[[CorelDRAW X6 Tips]]'''
 :'''[[Inkscape Tips]]'''
 :'''[[SVG File Format Tips]]'''
-:'''[[Adobe Photoshop Tips]]'''
-:'''[[Adobe InDesign Tips]]'''
-:'''[[Adobe Bridge Tips]]'''
 :'''[[Canva Tips]]'''
 :'''[[Blender Tips]]'''
-:[[Computers|<span style="color:#000000; background:#D0DD27">&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Computers'''&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>]]
+Use the PPM Slack channel #computing
-==Curated Links==
+Note that we have a Slack channel (#job-board) for members to post, discuss, or accept job opportunities either within PPM or from the&nbsp;community.
-Links to member-recommended external sites:
-:[https://www.vecteezy.com/blog/design-tips/illustrator-tutorials '''35 Adobe Illustrator Tutorials to Master Vector Design''']
-:[https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/open-ai-files-without-illustrator/ '''How to Open AI Files Without Illustrator''']
-:'''[https://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-illustrator/ Adobe Illustrator Alternatives]'''
-:'''[https://www.avery.com/templates Avery Templates]''' — design and print using Illustrator
-==Other Fun Stuff==
-Links to external sites:
-:'''[https://firefly.adobe.com Adobe Firefly]''' — A.I. image generation
-:'''[[commons:Category:Adobe_Illustrator_icons|Adobe Illustrator icons]]''' — WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
-:'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbjajnLZY0 John Warnock: Bezier Tutorial]''' — (1987)
-:'''[https://pikp.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/PPLD/search/results/?qu=GRAPHIC+ICONS&te=ILS Visionaries who shaped modern graphic design]''' — book
-:[https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Publishing-Revolution-Adobe-Story/dp/0321115643 '''Inside the Publishing Revolution: The Adobe Story''']
-:[https://adobe.fandom.com/wiki/Adobe_Wiki '''Adobe Fandom Wiki''']
 {{Template:Footer}}
-<br>
+<p style="padding:0.2em 0.4em; background:#ff6c00; color:#FFFFFF; font-size:15%;"> &nbsp; </p>
-<hr style="height:2.5px">
-{{Template:Ideas into reality}}
-[[Category:Software]]
+[[Category:Software]] [[Category:Volunteers Needed]]
-[[Category:Volunteers Needed]]