Adobe Illustrator Training

Adobe Illustrator is the granddaddy of drawing programs. From its initial release in the mid 1980s, Illustrator was one of the key programs to launch the desktop publishing (DTP) revolution. But even now, as Illustrator zeros in on the 20(!) year mark, there are scores of folks who have yet to grasp the basics of vector illustration.

Truth be told, drawing with Bézier curves (named for the French engineer Pierre Bézier) isn't for everyone. Folks new to the technique can spend a good bit of their initial Illustrator training time just getting over that hump. Thankfully, I learned early on.

My initial Adobe Illustrator training came purely from experimentation ...

I'd hack out the drawings and cross my fingers that they'd run through the PostScript raster image processor (RIP) on the company's Linotype 300 imagesetter. Over time, I learned what would and wouldn't rip. Fancy effects that looked cool on the 21-inch monitor but wouldn't rip ad deadline were bad voodoo. Illustrator training tip numero uno became "if it won't rip, we can't ship."

Trial by fire proved to be an effective training method for this budding electronic illustrator.

Over the years, I've hopped back and forth between Illustrator and its competitors many times. (The first version I used was 1.1.) Running a corporate design shop and PostScript service bureau required me to become familiar with all the apps. But I couldn't afford a Mac at home in those days. And in the early days, a PC version of Illustrator was just a dream. When CorelDRAW! hit the street, it changed my world.

Much midnight oil was burned here in the swamps of joisey.

I spent so much time at it that I soon jumped from being a graphic designer into the world of writing about design. Working with all of the apps helped to cross-pollinate my ideas. When it came time to rip, I'd most frequently turn to Illustrator (often importing artwork that started out in Draw).

I can't stress the importance of solid Illustrator training enough.

If you're looking to enter the world of graphic design, a good Adobe Illustrator training class can provide a big jump start. But classes aren't just for newbies. Each time a new version is released, there are new features to learn. A specialized Illustrator training session will help you quickly get up to speed.

And rumor has it, there's a new version of Illustrator waiting in the wings ...