Started an Illustrator course

[kismet78]

I started taking an Illustrator course at UBC (Univ of British Columbia) last night, paid for by employers! Awesome.

What are the essentials that I should make sure are covered in a level 1 class? Last night was all pen tool focused, which I thought was pretty cool.

[JoshPodolske]

I think learning the toolbar, and pallettes and the PATHFINDER are great for level 1

[kismet78]

I think learning the toolbar, and pallettes and the PATHFINDER are great for level 1

Noted.

And I know there's a lesson plan already set in place, but the instructor seemed very open to sticking around after class and answering questions about random shit and off-lesson tools. Probably a good idea to take advantage of that.

[Iron Canvas Studios]

I agree

[kismet78]

I agree

With me or Josh?

[Iron Canvas Studios]

both!

[Evil Alice Corp]

try out the stuff in the TRANSFORM palette for alignment, coordinates, etc.
WINDOW> TRANSFORM

[JoshPodolske]

also, if you dont have the program, get it, and mess around with it.

i guarantee you will far more just experimenting with it and trying things out. Those adobe classroom in a book series are prerry helpful, also illustrator wow books, but i would advisr you stay away from those illustrator bibles. they cram way too much information in it, and it is hard to follow.

[kismet78]

Cool.

I'm really glad the instructor was really blah about Live Trace. I was afraid a level 1 course would waste time on that stuff.

[kismet78]

Yeah, I have creative suite cs2 through my job. I've got proper skills in ps and indesign, but my illustrator skills are lacking. I use it and get my way around, but I feel like it always takes longer than it should to do everything.

Plus, the work pays for the course and it can't hurt to add more to the resume.

EDIT: and I think I recall the instr. saying she was getting a lot of her lessons from the WOW books.