Illustrator Classes Live Online: Best Remote/Virtual Illustrator Training

Learn More About Live Online Illustrator Courses

Adobe Illustrator is an application used for creating and editing vector graphics. Vector graphics are designs that are made out of shapes, points, and lines, and unlike pixel-based graphics—which can become blurry or blocky if resized—they can be resized with minimal loss of quality. Illustrator is used to create designs like logos, illustrations, and drawings and is popular in industries such as advertising where designs often need to be resized for placement on multiple types of products. Illustrator is known as an industry-standard application.

This application was released in 1986 and made available to the public the following year. It was part of a design revolution, where Designers started to move away from designing with tools like pens and paper and began utilizing computer programs instead. Applications like Illustrator have made graphic design more accessible and given Designers a variety of new creative tools. Illustrator is now part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, which is a collection of creative tools for Designers. Other popular Creative Cloud programs include Photoshop, After Effects, and InDesign.

What Can You Do with Illustrator Training?

One of the biggest benefits of creating designs with Illustrator is that they can be resized without a loss of quality. This makes Illustrator ideal for working with graphics that need to be mass-produced and also re-sized for a variety of uses. For example, a Designer who is working on a marketing campaign can create a design with this application and then easily manipulate that design to be used in many different types of media, both print and online, without altering the way the design looks.

Branding is one common use of Illustrator. This involves the creation of a unique image or design that is associated with a specific brand. Branding is used to help people connect with a brand and to make it easily recognizable wherever it appears. With Illustrator, a Designer can create branding and then resize it to fit wherever it is needed such as on product packaging or on multiple social media websites.

Illustrator is also used by non-professionals, for a variety of different personal creative projects. It contains many digital tools that give users a high level of creative freedom to make their designs a reality. One way some people are using Illustrator is to help them build their online identity, for example, creating their own logo or branding and then reproducing it on websites or in social media.

What Will I Learn in an Illustrator Class?

Drawing Tools

When you take an Illustrator class, you’ll learn to use its many different drawing tools to create custom artwork. This includes the application’s standard drawing tools, and also the Pen tool, which is a tool that you can use to draw freehand, creating both straight and curved lines. With the Pen tool, you can use anchor points and handles to modify shapes that you have created.

Layers

When you work with images in Illustrator, you’ll need to learn to use layers, which are a way to edit and organize artwork. You’ll learn a range of different skills in relation to layers including creating new layers, separating them, hiding them, and locking them.

Color

Color is an important part of any design, and Illustrator gives you many different tools to use for incorporating color into your work. For instance, it has a color picker tool that allows you to create your own custom colors.

Shapes

When you learn to use Illustrator, you’ll learn to use several tools that let you create and edit shapes. For instance, the application has a variety of shape tools such as Rectangle, Ellipse, and Star.

Artboards

Illustrator has an artboard feature that you’ll learn to use when you take a class. In its online help center, Adobe explains, “In Illustrator, an artboard is like a sheet of white paper that forms the base for your artistic work.” Designers can use artboards to work on multiple designs, or multiple versions of the same design, at the same time.

How Hard is It to Learn Illustrator?

If you’re new to Illustrator, the learning process can be challenging, since there are many new tools and concepts to learn. However, most people also say that this application is relatively user-friendly compared to some other applications. If you’ve ever used another Adobe application, you’re likely to find the Illustrator interface less foreign, since there are some similarities among Adobe apps.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Illustrator?

When you start using Illustrator, you may find it relatively easy to learn the basics and start creating a range of different designs. However, it is likely to be more challenging to create professional quality work. Most experienced Designers will tell you that getting to a professional level is achievable, but that it takes a lot more time and practice.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Illustrator?

How long it takes to learn Illustrator varies from person to person, however, many people say that you can learn the basics within a matter of days or weeks, and can become fairly confident within a few months. Mastery of Illustrator at a professional level will take longer; possibly several years. If you already have some graphic design experience or are fluent in any other Adobe applications, you’re likely to learn more quickly. A paid class can also help you learn faster since you’ll get professional instruction and regular feedback on your progress. In addition, the more time you spend practicing your skills, the more quickly you’re likely to learn.

Should I Learn Illustrator in Person or Online?

You may find that you have the option to choose between an in-person and a live online Illustrator class. Both of these formats are popular ways to learn this application, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In-person learning is popular because it involves face-to-face interaction with your instructor and classmates. It can be more engaging, be an easier way to understand complex concepts, and can lead to valuable networking opportunities. However, with in-person learning, you’re limited to classes that take place in your immediate vicinity. In contrast, when you learn live online you may have more class options since attending class is a matter of simply logging in on your computer. As with in-person learning, you still get real-time interaction with your instructor, including feedback and the opportunity to ask questions. A downside is that you’ll be responsible for providing your own equipment and software, and dealing with any technical difficulties that you run into.

Can I Learn Illustrator Free Online?

If you’re a beginner, free online resources can be a good way to gain a better understanding of this application or to learn a few basic skills so that you can decide if you’re serious enough to learn more. Some schools offer free resources that are designed to fill this need. For instance, Noble Desktop offers a free seminar called Intro to Adobe Illustrator, which is designed to help you gain an understanding of some of the fundamentals of this application. There is also a seminar called Adobe Illustrator for Fashion, which covers some of the ways that Illustrator is used in the fashion industry. The Adobe website has many free tutorials that can also be useful to both beginners and more advanced users. These short tutorials can help you learn many new skills, like creating a web icon with Illustrator, or bending and twisting artwork. Ultimately though, if you want a comprehensive Illustrator education, you’ll probably need to enroll in a live class where you can learn under the guidance of a professional. Not only will you receive feedback with a live class, but you can be sure that the education you’re getting is accurate and up-to-date. Many live classes also come with a certificate of completion, which you can use to showcase your achievement.

What Should I Learn Alongside Illustrator?

No matter what industry you work in, as a Designer it can be helpful to learn about design principles. These are fundamental rules that explain how the various elements of design work, and how they can be manipulated to achieve specific effects. By learning these principles, you can work more easily and effectively to create designs that achieve your intended purpose. For example, you can use color to influence the mood of your viewer, or repetition to draw their attention to particular elements.

Depending on the field that you’re working in, you may also want to consider learning Adobe Photoshop. Like Illustrator, this is an industry-standard application. Unlike Illustrator, which uses vector graphics, Photoshop is based on raster images, which are made of pixels. Knowing how to use both applications can increase your versatility in design. These applications are both Adobe products, which means they integrate seamlessly and you can use them in combination if you want to.

Industries That Use Illustrator

Illustrator is a design application and this means that it is used in many different design-related industries. Because it lets users resize designs without losing quality, it has become a popular tool in the marketing industry. It is also used to create a wide variety of graphics such as logos and illustrations in graphic design, digital design, user interface design, and web design. The field of fashion design often utilizes Illustrator too, for building prototypes and mockups of clothing designs. In addition, Architects sometimes use it.

Illustrator Job Titles and Salaries

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer is a Designer who puts together visual elements like text, color, and images, to communicate specific messages to viewers. Illustrator is a popular tool in this profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) is a federal agency that publishes information about the U.S. labor market. It reports that over the next decade, there will be about 21,000 job openings each year for Graphic Designers. It finds that this job has a median pay of almost $59,000. The BLS also finds that almost 20 percent of Graphic Designers are self-employed. For those who are not, the most common employers are in the fields of advertising, public relations and related services, specialized design services, printing and related support activities, and publishing industries.

The BLS predicts 2 percent job growth in this field over the next ten years, which is a little below average. It explains that some types of automation such as AI, may reduce jobs, however, it also explains that growth in digital media will create new jobs. It states, “As companies continue to increase their digital presence, Graphic Designers may be needed to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and social media sites.” According to the agency, California, New York, Texas, and Florida employ the most Graphic Designers.

Digital Designer

Digital Designers are design professionals who focus on creating designs for digital media like websites and applications. Part of their job is to consider the overall experience that a user has, and the way various digital elements work together. They also need to know how to optimize designs for multiple screen sizes. According to Indeed, the average salary for a Digital Designer in the United States is about $100,000.

According to the BLS statistics, the field of digital design is growing quickly. The agency predicts that over the next decade, jobs for Web Developers and Digital Designers will increase by 8 percent, which is faster than average. It explains, “Employment of Web Developers and Digital Designers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand.” In addition, it says, “The continued use of mobile devices to search the web is expected to generate demand for Web Developers and Digital Designers to create websites and interfaces that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes.”

Web Designer

A Web Designer designs and maintains websites, and may use Illustrator as a design tool. Web Designers are typically not focused on coding but instead work on the structure and layout of a site, including the way it looks and feels. Some Web Designers work alone, creating an entire site by themselves, while others work as part of a team. According to the BLS, California, New York, Texas, and Washington employ the most Web and Digital Interface Designers. It reports that the median annual wage for this role is about $98,000.

Fashion Designer

Fashion Designers design clothing, accessories, and footwear. You might not expect a Fashion Designer to use Illustrator, but as part of the design process, Fashion Designers create prototypes and mockups of clothing design. By using Illustrator, they can do so more quickly and easily, and also have more freedom to manipulate their designs. According to the BLS, the average median pay for a Fashion Designer is about $78,000. It finds that the vast majority of Fashion Designers are employed in New York and California.

According to the BLS, between 2023 and 2033, job growth for Fashion Designers will be 5 percent, which is a little faster than the average growth rate of 4 percent. It explains some of the things that are helping the industry grow, stating, “The increased demand for a constant flow of new fashion designs has been accelerated by social media influencers and by retailers advertising and selling directly to consumers online.” It also says, “Growing consumer preference for sustainable options in the fashion industry also has created a desire for designs that use eco- and vegan-friendly materials.”

Live Online Illustrator Classes

There are several different options when it comes to learning Illustrator live online. Noble Desktop—a New York City-based coding and design school—runs live online Illustrator classes. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department. Course offerings include weekday, evening, and weekend options, and all classes come with a free retake within one year, which is an excellent way to refresh your skills.

Noble’s Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp is a popular option. This is a multi-day course that covers both basic and advanced features of Illustrator. You’ll learn how to use the application’s standard drawing tools as well as the Pen tool. You’ll also learn about type, effects, layers, compound paths, masks, blends, patterns, and colors. Throughout the class, you’ll create numerous graphics. The class also includes a bonus one-on-one training session where you can review challenging skills or get assistance with your own projects.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive course, Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs, which are multi-week courses focused on several different types of design. The Graphic Design Certificate covers Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, as well as graphic design concepts. In addition, you’ll work on projects that you can include in your portfolio. Another option is the Digital Design Certificate. In this class, you’ll learn key design concepts and theories and will receive instruction in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. In addition, you’ll learn about user interface (UI) design, including using Figma. This class also includes work on a portfolio. Both courses come with one-on-one training sessions.

Noble Desktop also runs an Illustrator Certification Program. This course will take you to an advanced level of skill and is designed to help you pass the Adobe Certified Professional exam for Illustrator. It starts with a multi-day bootcamp. After that, you’ll get two private tutoring sessions where you can get help with any concepts that you find challenging, and make sure you feel ready for the exam. Finally, you’ll take the Adobe Illustrator Certification exam. The course includes the exam fee, proctoring, and a free retake if needed.

Other schools also offer live online Illustrator classes. Ledet Training offers a variety of design classes, including Illustrator classes. There is a short introductory class where students can learn the basics, and also a more advanced course. Another option is the Illustrator Bootcamp, a longer course that covers both beginner and intermediate techniques. There is also a class called Illustrator User Interface Design, where students can learn to use Illustrator for product design.

New Horizons also offers live online Illustrator training. In Adobe Illustrator CC—Introduction, students learn to create basic shapes and custom paths, design graphics with text, and customize objects and basic shapes. Adobe Illustrator CC—Advanced covers more complex skills including drawing complex illustrations, enhancing artwork with painting tools, customizing colors, formatting type, and preparing content for deployment.

Certstaffix Training runs a live online class called Adobe Illustrator (2024) Course. This is a multi-day class where students learn to create logos, edit and combine shapes, and use basic drawing tools. They also learn how to transform artwork with Illustrator, how to use the Pen tool, and how to add color and type. In addition, the class covers working with layers, using brushes, and working with images.

Softek Services, Inc. is another live online training provider. It runs an introductory and intermediate Illustrator class. In the introductory class, students learn about the application interface. They also learn to select objects, create and modify shapes, create and work with custom paths, and use the Pen and Pencil tools to build curves and shapes. The intermediate class covers creating and editing text, including applying styles and formatting. Students also learn to work with layers, draw and transform objects in perspective, and use gradients and blending to add color.

Illustrator Corporate Training

Corporate training can be a good option for businesses that want to train a group of employees in Illustrator. Noble Desktop offers onsite and virtual graphic design classes, including Illustrator classes, that can be customized to meet your company’s needs. Instructors are accomplished real-world professionals, and offer flexible training options such as evening and weekend classes. They also provide post-training support in the form of handouts, access to premium training videos, and other materials.

If you’re looking for even more flexibility for your employees, you can also choose to purchase vouchers for Noble Desktop’s regular group training classes. With this option, employees can enroll individually in classes that fit their schedules. Noble offers a discount for bulk voucher purchases. Contact Noble Desktop for more information about its corporate training programs and to schedule a free consultation.

Janelle Davis

Janelle Davis has spent over a decade crafting content that breaks down technical subjects for various audiences. With a Master's in Literacy Education from SUNY Oswego, she combines educational expertise with clear writing. Through her work at Noble Desktop, she has explained course materials covering programming concepts and design principles. Her experience includes developing content on Python programming, Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence, software engineering, CAD systems, and data analysis. Janelle quickly grasps technical topics through thorough research, then transforms specialized information into content that connects with both technical and non-technical readers.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Live Online Illustrator Courses

What Can You Do with Illustrator Training?

What Will I Learn in an Illustrator Class?

Drawing Tools

Layers

Color

Shapes

Artboards

How Hard is It to Learn Illustrator?

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Illustrator?

How Long Does It Take to Learn Illustrator?

Should I Learn Illustrator in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Illustrator Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Illustrator?

Industries That Use Illustrator

Illustrator Job Titles and Salaries

Graphic Designer

Digital Designer

Web Designer

Fashion Designer

Live Online Illustrator Classes

Illustrator Corporate Training

Top Bootcamp Programs That Include Illustrator

Live Online Illustrator Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Related Classes

Live Online Illustrator
Corporate & Onsite Training