Yelp Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Twitter Instagram

Step-by-Step Training Workbook

Adobe Illustrator CC 2014 Book

Buy the workbook

We offer bulk order discounts

In this book you'll be taken step-by-step through a variety of exercises that will show you how to place type on a curve, draw with bezier curves, use compound paths and masking, utilize gradients, and much more. Clear the mystery out of drawing with Illustrator!

Includes Downloadable Class Files (works on Mac & PC)
ISBN: 978-1-941333-04-4

Setup & Introduction
Downloading the Class Files
The Tools Panel Expanded & Keyboard Shortcuts
Section 1
Setting Preferences: Do This Before Other Exercises!
  • Setting up preferences & workspaces
Straight Lines
  • Using the Pen tool
  • Adjusting the workspace
  • Arranging objects
  • Color fills
Curves
  • Drawing curves with the Pen tool
  • Anchor points & direction points
  • Default fill & stroke
Corners & Curves
  • Drawing corners & curves with the Pen tool
  • Adjusting anchor points
Section 2
No Smoking Sign
  • Fill & stroke
  • Basic shape tools
  • Grouping objects
  • The Layers panel
  • Working with templates
  • Saving Illustrator files: options
Super Hero
  • Live Trace & Live Paint
  • Tracing hand-drawn images
  • Coloring Live Paint objects
  • Brushes
  • The Flare tool
Section 3
What’s Behind the Green Door?
  • Compound Paths
  • The Group Selection tool
Mask Till You Drop
  • Clipping masks (shapes)
  • The Blob Brush tool
  • The Eraser tool
  • The Reflect tool
Masking with Type
  • The Type tool
  • Clipping masks (editable type)
  • Filling text with a photo
  • Placing linked images
3D Shapes: Milk Duds Box
  • 3D Extrude & Bevel
  • Creating symbols from artwork
  • Mapping symbols onto 3D objects
  • Lighting & shadows for 3D objects
Section 4
Will It Blend?
  • The Blend tool
  • Blending options
Wavy Line Blend
  • Blending lines
  • The Reflect tool
  • The Rotate tool
Juggling Colors & Gradients
  • Dashed lines & stroke options
  • Saving colors as swatches
  • Blending modes
  • The Gradient tool
  • Saving gradient swatches
Combining Shapes with the Pathfinder
  • Merging paths (Pathfinder)
  • Transparency options
  • Grouping objects
Section 5
Patterns
  • Creating & applying pattern swatches
  • Scaling & rotating patterns
  • Working with layers
  • The Align panel
1-Page Advertisement
  • Working with type
  • Text & character options
  • Adding a drop cap
  • Type on a path
  • Text wrap
  • Filling text with a pattern
Stylin’ Effects
  • Using the Appearance panel
  • Transparency
  • More blending modes
  • More drop shadows
  • Arrowheads
Appearance & Graphic Styles
  • Graphic Styles
  • The Appearance panel
  • Multiple fills
  • Auto-sizing text boxes
Section 6
Illustrating a Shirt Design
  • Using Photoshop & Illustrator together
  • Creating/editing clipping masks
  • Compound paths
Layers, Artboards, & Recoloring Artwork
  • Adding & removing layers
  • Creating & using multiple artboards
  • Recoloring artwork
  • Converting CMYK art to spot colors
Bonus Material
AT&T Logotype & Symbol
  • Recreating a logo graphic & text
  • Drawing from a scanned template
Computerizing a Company Logo
  • Placing templates
  • Converting text to outlines
  • Subtracting from a shape area (Pathfinder)
Reference Material
Quick Reference for Drawing Paths
  • General rules for creating paths
  • Available keystrokes when drawing
Blending Modes
  • Explanation of each blending mode
Web File Formats Quick Reference
  • Comparison of JPEG, GIF, PNG, & SVG
Web Color Palettes

How our eBooks Work Buying eBooks for Someone Else

Features of Noble Desktop eBooks
  • Searchable, with live text that you can copy and paste.
  • Printable.
  • eBook graphics are in color (printed books are black and white).
  • Widely compatible: We provide the most common eBook formats (EPUB, MOBI, & PDF) so you can load them onto the device or app you choose; such as Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Android, and more.
  • Free updates for the edition you buy. When we make major changes to a book (requiring a new edition), an affordable upgrade option will be available.
  • DRM-free: Files are subtly watermarked with your name and email, but we do not restrict the devices or apps you can use to view our eBooks.
  • Lifetime access to downloads from free your Noble Desktop account.
The Best Way to Enjoy Our Books

Our workbooks are meant to be used while you work on your computer. They typically contain step-by-step exercises that walk you through doing tasks on your computer. An ideal setup would be to have the eBook loaded onto a device (like a tablet/smartphone) or on a second computer monitor, so you can read the book as you work on your computer. You can also print the PDF if you prefer.

Which File Format Is Right for You?
PDF
  • Ideal for printing.
  • An exact match to the printed book. If the text reflow of an EPUB or MOBI file is confusing please refer to the PDF.
  • PDF is compatible with most devices, but it’s not optimized for small screens. If using a smaller screen you’ll likely want to use the EPUB or MOBI files.
EPUB
  • The industry standard eBook format which works with all devices, except for the Amazon Kindle. EPUB can be read on Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, Android, and many more.
  • Ideal for smaller screens as the layout reflows to fit the current device (at the type size of your choice).
MOBI (Kindle)
  • Amazon’s format for Kindle devices and Kindle app.
  • Ideal for smaller screens as the layout reflows to fit the current device (at the type size of your choice).
  • Using an iOS Device such as iPhone & iPad? The Kindle app for Apple iOS devices requires a specialized format which we do not support. While our MOBI will work in the Kindle app, it will not render well on iOS devices. We recommend using the EPUB format with Apple’s iBooks app if reading on an iOS device.
Recommended Reading Apps
iPhone, iPad
  • iBooks (EPUB)
Mac
Windows PC
Android
Can You Share the eBook or Printouts?

Noble Desktop books are intended for use by you, the owner. They are not intended to be loaned or given to others. The files are subtly watermarked with your name and email, but we do not apply any DRM. You can copy your eBooks to any of your own devices without restriction. You can print the PDF files for your own use, but not to give to others. You cannot sell used eBooks. Ownership is solely yours and cannot be transferred to someone else.

Teachers and training centers wishing to print copies for students should email for licensing options and pricing.

Buying an eBook for Someone Else
  • When you buy an eBook for yourself, it will be added into your account. It will be watermarked with your information and is intended for use only by you.
  • You can purchase eBooks for someone else, such as a friend or colleague. Schools and training centers can purchase eBooks for their students (be sure to apply for teacher pricing).
  • When buying eBooks for someone else, you will receive an eBook voucher code. Send that code to the recipient and they can redeem it. An eBook voucher code can be redeemed once, for the specific book you purchase for them.
  • The recipient of the eBook voucher code will need to log into their Noble Desktop account, or create a free account. In their account they will enter the code on their My eBooks page and the eBook will be added immediately into their account.
  • The recipient receives all the same benefits of Noble Desktop eBooks, which includes lifetime access to download their eBook, as well as free updates to that edition. When the next edition is released, an affordable upgrade option will be available to them.

Examples of What You Learn

  • Use Layers and Live Color to quickly make big changes.

  • Learn the Brush tool, Live Trace, and its cousin Live Paint.

  • Use styles to keep your designs consistent and flexible.

  • Learn to use Colors, Gradients, Blend Modes, and Strokes.

  • Get going with Clipping Masks and Blob Brushes.

  • Master package design with 3D Effects.

  • Learn Compound Paths and Group Selection.

  • Learn to use Photoshop and Illustrator together to get the best of both worlds.

  • After this exercise your Illustrator skills WILL be smokin’.

Why Our Books Are Unique

Our books are packed with step-by-step exercises that walk you through projects. You’ll learn by doing exercises, not reading long explanations. The goal is to give you hands-on practice with the program, getting you started quickly with the things that are most important for real life work.

Buy the Adobe Illustrator CC 2014 Book

We offer bulk order discounts