Hot Adobe Illustrator How-Tos

How To: Work with text in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to incorporate text into your Adobe Illustrator CS4 illustrations. For more in...

How To: Attach text to a path in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to attach text to a path in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Attach text to a path in Ad...

How To: Fill and stroke in Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to fill and stroke in the 14th iteration of Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator CS4...

How To: Scale and rotate in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to scale and rotate vector images in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Scale and rotate i...

How To: Reshape a path outline in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to reshape a path outline in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Take a look. Reshape a pat...

How To: Use control handles in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use control handles in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Use control handles in Adobe ...

How To: Use color groups & harmonies in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use color groups and harmonies in the 14th iteration of Illustrator, Adobe ...

How To: Use the blob brush tool in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use the new blob brush tool in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Use the blob brush to...

How To: Use smart guides & key alignment in Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use smart guides and key allignment in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Use smart gui...

How To: Export artboards to Flash from Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to export artboards to Flash from within Illustrator CS4. Export artboards to ...

How To: Use Kuler color themes in Illustrator CS4

Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 4, or CS4, software is a comprehensive vector graphics environment that is ideal for all creative professionals, including web and interactive designers and developers, multimedia producers, motion graphics and visual effects designers, animators, and video professionals. But having the program isn't enough; you'll need to know how to use it. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to use Kuler themes in Adobe Illustrator CS4. For more information, take a loo...

How To: Create radial patterns in Illustrator

In this video tutorial Creative COW leader Vince Rosati presents a simple technique to use an obscure function in the rotate tool to quickly create radial patterns in Adobe Illustrator. Use this technique with gradiants or more complex shapes to create incredible radial patterns. Get started creating radial patterns in Adobe Illustrator with this how-to. Create radial patterns in Illustrator.

How To: Design backgrounds with live trace in Illustrator

The live trace effect has become increasingly popular for use in designing backgrounds. By using the live trace effect, you can take any stock image and transform it into an outline that can be placed behind your main subject. The technique works in Illustrator and can be used in Photoshop as well. Experiment with blend modes and remember that you can save the outline as a symbol or a custom shape to use in other designs. See how to create interesting backgrounds with live trace in Illustrato...

How To: Create 3D graph effects in Illustrator CS3

In this software tutorial, Corey demonstrates how easy it is to create 3D graphs using Illustrator. You don't have to run to Microsoft Excel anymore to get good looking charts and graphs. OK, well you do if you need super accurate data fast, but not if you just need some 3D graph effects! Create 3D graphs in Illustrator instead with the help of this tutorial. Create 3D graph effects in Illustrator CS3.

How To: Use the Illustrator CS4 Blob Brush

Illustrator CS4 introduces the new Blob Brush tool to users. Instead of a regular brush stroke, painting with the blog brush gives you a filled, compound path. Any new shape painted with the same color and stroke will automatically merge with existing shapes with the same settings. The Blob Brush tool will pick up style attributes from other objects and has numerous other options to explore and play around with. See how to use this fun new tool, the Blob Brush in this Illustrator CS4 tutorial...

How To: Create & edit complex gradients in Illustrator CS4

Create and edit complex gradients with the new Gradient tool in Illustrator CS4, which has undergone a complete makeover. There’s a new reverse gradient button, and gradient widgets that allow users to edit applied gradients visually. There are also new transparency options. Cheryl Graham explores these new features of the Gradient tool in Illustrator CS4 and takes viewers through a quick design project, creating the ringed planet of Saturn. Create & edit complex gradients in Illustrator CS4.

How To: Create a 3D monitor effect in Illustrator

This Adobe Illustrator tutorial shows you how to create a 3D monitor effect with moving streamers on it. If you are creating a graphic layout or web design that needs a flat screen monitor and moving images on that monitor, this tutorial will teach you how to impose your own image in a flat screen monitor and integrate streamers all within Illustrator.

How To: Design a vector logo in Illustrator

This software tutorial shows you just how easy it is to design a great looking logo in Adobe Illustrator. As with any other software package, it's all about getting to know the interface; and then from there it's all about developing your design skills. As with most others, I started out designing logos in Photoshop because that's the only program that was available to me. But Illustrator offers one advantage when it comes to designing logos, and that's one of being 100% vector. You want a lo...

How To: Use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Bert Monroy from PixelPerfect shows you how to use the Gradient Mesh tool, which lets you divide pretty much any shape (like an apple) into a mesh. Wish a mesh created, you can alter the color of an intersecting point of the mesh with a solid color. This tool will help give your Illustrator objects more dimension and realism.

How To: Create document startup profiles in Illustrator CS3

The document startup profiles in Illustrator CS3 allow users to save key information about a document and then use these blank templates for later projects. They can be assigned with specialized settings for every type of project so that when you start a new document, everything is set just the way you need it. Create document startup profiles in Illustrator CS3.