FOLLOW ALONG
GETTING STARTED GUIDE
DOWNLOAD RESOURCES. Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our Adobe Illustrator Resource Folders. Download (Updated) Brushes or add on Halftones + Textures to save on our Resource Bundle. Download Brush Libraries, Comic Halftones, and BMP Textures to follow along or use with Your Own Artwork.
RESOURCE GUIDES. The first step is to download the Resource Folders. Digital Downloads will come as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Extracted the Folders, they are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our Resource Guides and Tutorials to learn how to Apply and Edit Brushes + Halftones + Textures.
FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time applying the Tools and Settings in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube or our 50 Step by Steps on the Website. Tutorials and Playlists will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.
TUTORIALS + PLAYLISTS
Our Getting Started Guide will be for those of you following along with our 50 Step by Steps or the 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube. Each Tutorial will start by creating a New Artboard and Template Layer.
Create a "Building" Artboard: File-New. Use a size or ratio that you can use for all of your own artwork. I recommend a 1080px by 1080px artboard for websites and social postings. Many of you will be looking to export your own artwork to Instagram. You can modify the size of the artwork or artboard with the Artboard Tool or Properties Panel.
Creating a Basic Template Layer: File -Place in your own Drawing, Sketch, Photo, or Trace. Select your Resource Layer. (It will usually be your only layer) In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create a 50% Opacity and Lockout the Layer. Create a New Layer above to start "Building".
New Artboards: As you follow along, I recommend establishing a "Building Artboard" that you can use for your own artwork. A habit that I would like you to break is treating Adobe Illustrator like Photoshop. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. Pick the size you will use most frequently to establish a routine while learning. Example: 1080px by 1080px - RGB - 300 PPI. LEARNING TARGET: Establish a "Standardized Approach" that includes Artboard Size, Resource Type, and Template Layers that will relate to your own artwork.
BEGINNER PREFERENCES
Beginner Preferences: All of our initial preferences are designed to gain more control over what you are clicking on. The more you can zoom in and see your anchors and handles the better. You can adjust the size of your Anchors and Handles under Selection and Anchor Display. Under your General Settings, make sure that Disable Auto Add/Delete is Selected.
Selection Tools: The Direct Selection Tool can grab and adjust the Anchors, Handles, and Paths. It is worth having your Smart Guides Path Labels Turned On so you know what the tool is selecting before dragging. The Selection Tool will move and select objects. If you like using the Transform Tools, Turn On your Bounding Box under View.
Creating a Template Layer: The idea behind the Template Layer is to see the Reference Image while not becoming too distracting when building in Adobe Illustrator. There are a few ways to modify the Transparency of the Resources and Lock Out the Layer. Do this step after you have placed, scaled, and centered the tutorial resource image.
Creating a Basic Template Layer: Have your Resource Layer Selected. (It will usually be your only layer) In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create a 50% Opacity and Lockout the Layer. Create a New Layer above to start working in Adobe Illustrator. (It will give you an error message (no sign) if you try to draw on the Template Layer)
Using Transparency Panel or Properties Panel: The Transparency Panel can be found in multiple locations. Have your Resource Image selected, and use the Opacity Slider to manually adjust the Opacity or Transparency. My personal settings are between 10-25%. Lockout the Layer and Create a New Layer above to start working in Adobe Illustrator.
RESOURCE PROGRESSIONS
I have provided the resources to follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube and the 50 Step by Steps on the Website. As you are following along, progress towards using the "Resource Type" you intend on using for your own artwork. The easiest starting point for beginners in Adobe Illustrator is a clean line drawing or trace. LEARNING TARGET: Start from your own Drawing, Sketch, Trace, or Photo in Adobe Illustrator.
Anchor Point Guides: If you are using our Tutorial Resources, simply File-Place the resource image into your artboard. These are designed for your 1st Week in Adobe Illustrator. I would like you to use as few Anchor Point Guides as possible before transitioning to your own drawing, sketch, trace, or photo.
Drawing or Sketch: I am going to want you to move as quickly as possible to using your own drawing, sketch, or simple trace. While we are doing things together, the goal is to practice what you intend on using for your artwork. What I would like you to practice is how "sketchy" or "final" of a drawing you like while building in Adobe Illustrator.
Photo Reference or Trace: I do have a few of you that will be using your own Photo Reference. The main thing with this approach is can you still see the details after you create a Template Layer or adjust the Opacity. I do recommend creating a traceable path for you to follow with the Pen or Pencil Tools.
FOLLOW ALONG
Tutorials and Playlists will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET: Focus on applying the Tools and Settings in the correct Sequence or Order of Events.
