Learn Adobe Illustrator CC for Graphic Design and Illustration: Adobe Certified Associate Exam Preparation (Adobe Certified Associate (ACA))

This study guide uses text integrated with video to help you gain real-world skills that will get you started in your career in graphics, design, or illustration, and lays the foundation for taking the Illustrator ACA exam. A mix of project-based lessons, practical videos, and regular assessments throughout prepares you for an entry-level position in a competitive job market. Adobe conducted research to identify the foundational skills students need to effectively communicate using digital media tools. Based on feedback from educators, design professionals, businesses, and educational institutions around the world, the objectives cover entry-level skill expectations for each topic. The ACA exams have proved to be highly successful; Adobe reports that the total number of exams taken worldwide has reached one million since 2008. To create this new product, Peachpit and Adobe Press have joined forces with team of outstanding instructors who have a great track record getting students certified: Rob Schwartz and his colleagues at BrainBuffet.com. Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright Page 3 Acknowledgments 5 About the Authors 6 Contents 7 Getting Started 9 1 Introduction to Adobe Illustrator CC 16 Illustrator CC Interface 16 Using the Main Interface Elements 17 Panels 20 Workspaces 24 2 Working with Documents 28 Create a Document 28 Artboards 30 Save a Document 33 Navigating the Illustrator Interface 34 3 Creating Basic Shapes 40 Basic Geometric Shapes 40 Reshape a Corner 44 Move a Corner 47 4 Fill, Stroke, and Color 50 Working with Fill and Stroke 50 Recolor Artwork 55 Arrange Basic Objects to Create a Robot 58 5 Reshaping Objects 60 A Primer on Paths and Selection 60 Draw a Face via Reshape and Transform 62 Draw a Second Face for an Advanced Reshape 64 Layers Panel (First Look) 70 6 Create a Logo 74 Precise Alignment of Objects 74 Use the Shape Builder Tool 78 Stack an Object Behind 81 7 Complexity via Combination and Effects 84 Reshape via Transformation 84 Combine via Pathfinder Options 86 Apply Effects to an Object 90 8 Hand-drawn Look Applied to Shapes 94 Create Spirals 94 Distortion Tools 95 Variable Line Widths 96 Group Objects 99 Selection Commands 100 Scale Options for Strokes 102 9 Live Paint 104 Create a Live Paint Group 104 Use Gap Options in a Live Paint Group 105 Live Paint Bucket Tool 106 Add New Paths to a Live Paint Group 107 Apply Color to Edges 109 Expand or Release a Live Paint Group 110 10 Cut Objects and Apply Gradients 112 Draw Shapes by Cutting 112 Create Compound Paths 113 Add Gradient Fills 114 Create a Custom Gradient 116 Save a Custom Gradient as a Swatch 118 Edit a Gradient via On-Object Controls 119 11 Creating Blends 124 Blend Two Objects 125 Specify Blend Options 125 Edit a Blend 126 Release a Blend 127 Create Shading Using Blends 129 12 Symbols 134 Open Symbol Libraries 135 Place a Single Symbol 135 Place a Set of Symbols 136 Replace a Symbol 138 Create a Symbol 139 Edit a Symbol 139 Symbolism Tools 140 Symbolism Tool Specifics 142 Unlink or Expand Instances 146 Save a Custom Symbol Library 146 13 Pen and Pencil Tools 148 Draw with the Pen Tool 148 Convert Points 152 Add or Remove Points 154 Cut and Join Paths 154 Manually Trace a Raster Image 156 Draw with the Pencil Tool 156 14 Brushes 160 The Brushes Panel 160 Apply Brushes 162 Edit Brushes 163 Create a Custom Brush 168 Use the Blob Brush 169 15 Type 172 Create Point Type 172 Style Point Type 173 Apply Effects to Type 175 Control Text Flow 176 Place Type on a Path 179 Create Area Type 181 Create Outline Type 182 Flow Type on a Circle 183 16 Advanced Drawing 186 Place Bitmap Images as Embedded Objects 186 Place Bitmap Images as Links 187 Manage Linked Images 188 Create a Clipping Mask 189 Use Image Trace 191 Expand a Tracing 192 Fit an Object into a 3D and Perspective Drawing 192 Use Perspective Grid Feature 194 17 Output 198 Prepare Artwork for Print Output 199 Print Dialog Box Settings 203 Prepare Artwork for Web Output 205 Export Artwork 206 Place as a Smart Object in Photoshop 208 18 Working with Outsiders 212 Who You’re Talking For and Who You’re Talking To 212 Copyrights and Wrongs 218 Think Like a Boss 224 Conclusion 237 ACA objectives Covered 238 Glossary 243 A 243 B 243 C 244 D 245 E 245 F 245 G 246 H 246 I 246 J 246 K 246 L 246 M 247 N 247 O 247 P 247 R 249 S 249 T 250 U 251 V 251 W 251 Index 252 A 252 B 252 C 252 D 253 E 253 F 253 G 253 H 254 I 254 J 254 K 254 L 254 M 255 N 255 O 255 P 255 R 256 S 256 T 257 U 257 V 257 W 257 Z 257 19 Leveling up with Design (included in ebooks and Web Edition*) 259