How to Draw in Illustrator
When you start drawing in Illustrator, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the tools and the interface. There are a lot of buttons and icons on the toolbar, and it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
Fortunately, there are a few basic techniques that will help you get started.
Let’s start with the basics. To draw a line, simply select the Pen tool and draw a line.
To move the line, use the Arrow keys. To change the line’s color, use the Swatch palette (Window > Swatch).
To make a shape, use the Rectangle, Ellipse, or Path tools. To add text or other graphics, use the Text, Path, or Text Frame tools.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll want to start experimenting. Here are a few tips to get you started:
– To add layers, select the Layers tool and click the Add Layer button. You can then switch between the layers by clicking the Layers button in the toolbar or by pressing the L key.
– To change the size or shape of a layer, use the handles on the right side of the layer’s thumbnail.
– To move or resize elements on a layer, use the Selection tools (the Rectangle and Ellipse tools, for example).
– To change the color or transparency of an element, use the Swatch palette (Window > Swatch).
– To add text or graphics to an element, use the Text, Path, or Text Frame tools.
– To change the text style, use the Type tool (Window > Type).
– To change the appearance of borders, use the Borders tool (Window > Borders).
– To create a pattern, use the Pattern tool (Window > Pattern).
– To add effects, use the Effects panel (Window > Effects).
– To add digital stamps or textures, use the Stamp tool (Window > Stamp).
– To import artwork from other applications, use the Import tool (Window > Import).
Finally, remember that you can save your drawings as GIF, JPEG, or PNG files.
