Adobe Illustrator CS3 software is an essential design tool for anyone who needs to express ideas visually in print, on the Web, and in any other medium.

This 3-day course provides a thorough overview of the interface, the tools, the features, tricks and tips for using Illustrator CS3. The course is an ideal combination of instructor-led demonstration and hands-on practice.

Each participant will receive a copy of Illustrator CS3 Classroom in a Book.

Presentation Method:

Course lectures are presented by Adobe Certified Instructors. Class size is limited to six, and a variety of interactive techniques and in-class exercises encourage participant learning.

New Features in CS3:

• Advanced typographical controls

• Enhanced Adobe PDF file creation

• Adobe PDF layers support

• 3D effects

• Expanded print capabilities

• Tighter Microsoft Office integration

• Save and Load custom Template Designs

Course Outline:

Getting to Know the Work Area
Viewing artwork, Using the Illustrator tools, The Control panel, Working with panels, Customizing your workspace, Using panel menus, Changing the view of artwork, Using the view commands, Using the Zoom tool, Scrolling through a document, Using the Navigator panel, Using Illustrator Help, Displaying the Help contents, Using keywords, links, and the index, Locating a topic using the index.

Selecting and Aligning
Using the Selection tool, Using the Direct Select ion tool, Creating selections with the Magic Wand, Grouping items, Applying the selection techniques, Aligning objects.

Creating Shapes
Creating basic shapes, Using basic shape tools, Drawing the pencil shape, Using the Pencil tool, Drawing the pencil can, Using Live Trace to create shapes, Tips for drawing polygons, spirals, and stars.

Transforming Objects
Scaling objects, Reflecting objects, Rotating objects, Distorting objects, Shearing objects, Positioning objects precisely, Changing the perspective, Making multiple transformations.

Blending Shapes and Colors
Creating a gradient fill, Adjusting the direction of the gradient blend, Adding colors to a gradient, Creating smooth-color blends, Blending intermediate steps, Modifying the blend, Combining blends with gradients.

Drawing with the Pen tool
Creating straight lines, Creating curved paths, Building a curve, Curves and corner anchor points, Creating the pear illustration, Creating the arrow, Splitting a path, Adding arrowheads, Drawing curves, Selecting a curve, Drawing the leaf, Drawing different kind s of curves, Convert between smooth points and corner points, Drawing the pear shape, Editing curves, Finishing the pear illustration.

Working with Layers
Creating layers, Moving objects and layers, Locking layers, Viewing layers, Pasting layers, Creating clipping masks, Merging layers, Applying appearance attributes to layers.

Color and Painting
Color Mode, Understanding the color controls, Color fundamentals, Copying at tributes, Using the Appearance panel for fills and strokes, Building and saving your own custom color, Using Illustrator swatch libraries, Creating a spot color, Creating color groups, Editing color with Live Color, Creating a color group using Live Color, Assign colors to your artwork, Using patterns, Creating your own pattern, Applying the pattern, Editing the pattern, Applying Live Paint, Editing Live Paint regions, Create a PDF from your artwork.

Working with type
Importing a text file, Creating columns of text, Understanding text flow, Working with overflow text and text reflow, Threading text, Resizing the text area, Changing text attributes, Changing font size, Changing font color, Changing additional text attributes, Changing paragraph attributes, Saving and using styles, Creating and using a Paragraph style, Creating and using Character styles, Sampling text, Wrapping text around a graphic, Reshaping text with a warp, Creating text on paths and shapes, Creating text out lines.

Working with Brushes
Using Art brushes, Drawing with the Paintbrush tool, Editing paths with the Paintbrush tool, Using Scatter brushes, Changing brush options, Applying a Scatter brush to paths, Changing the color attributes of brushes, Changing brush color using Hue Shift colorization, Changing brush color using Tints colorization, Using a fill color with brushes, Using Calligraphic brushes, Using Pattern brushes, Creating brushes, Creating swatches for a Pattern brush, Creating a Pattern brush from swatches, Painting with the Pattern brush, Applying the Scribble Effect, Applying brushes, Creating brushes.

Applying Effects
Using live effects, Creating a banner logo with the Warp effect, Creating the logotype, Stylizing the banner and logotype, Editing an effect, Applying the Symbol as mapped artwork, Creating a revolved object, Changing the lighting, Mapping a Photoshop image, Adjusting the lighting, Exploring on your own, Creating your own revolved artwork.

Applying Appearance Attributes and Graphic Styles
Document Startup Profiles, Using appearance attributes, Adding appearance attributes, Reordering appearance attributes, Using Graphic Styles, Creating and saving a Graphic Style, Applying a Graphic Style to a layer, Applying existing Graphic Styles, Applying an appearance to a layer, Copying, applying, and removing Graphic Styles.

Working with Symbols
Working with symbols, Using Illustrator Symbol Libraries, Editing Symbols, Creating Symbols, Applying a symbol instance, Using the symbolism tools, Editing symbols using the symbolism tools, Editing symbols, Storing and retrieving artwork in the Symbols panel, Mapping a symbol to 3D artwork, Symbols and Flash integration.