Lesson # 1
(Getting to know the work area)
Viewing artwork Using the Adobe Illustrator CS4 tools
Working with panels
Using panel menus
Changing the view of artwork
Using the view commands
Using the navigator panel
Using the Adobe Illustrator CS4 Help
Lesson # 2
(Selecting and aligning)
Using the selection tool
Using the Direct Selection tool
Selections with the Magic Wand
Grouping Items
Aligning objects
Applying selection techniques
Lesson # 3
(Creating basic shapes)
Using basic shape tools
Using Live Trace to create shapes
Drawing polygons, spirals, and stars
Lesson # 4
(Transforming objects)
Scaling objects
Reflecting objects
Positioning objects precisely
Changing the perspective
Making multiple transformations
Lesson # 5
(Drawing with the Pen tool)
Creating straight lines
Creating curved paths
Building a curve Curves and corner anchor points
Selecting and manipulating curves
Lesson # 6
(Color and painting Color Mode)
Understanding the color controls
Color fundamentals
Copying attributes
Using the Appearance panel
Building and saving your own custom color
Using Adobe Illustrator CS4 swatch libraries
Creating a spot color
Creating color groups
Editing color with Live Color
Creating a color group with Live Color
Assign colors to your artwork
Using patterns
Creating your own pattern
Applying Live Paint
Create a PDF from your artwork
Lesson # 7
(Working with type)
Importing a text file
Creating columns of text
Understanding text flow
Working with overflow text Threading text
Working with font size and color
Paragraph attributes
Saving and using styles
Creating Character styles
Sampling text
Creating text on paths and shapes
Creating text outlines
Lesson # 8
(Working with layers)
Creating layers
Moving objects and layers
Locking layers
Viewing layers
Pasting layers
Creating clipping masks
Merging layers
Applying appearance attributes to layers
Lesson # 9
(Blending shapes and colors)
Creating a gradient fill
Adjusting the direction of a gradient
Adding colors to a gradient
Creating smooth-color blends
Modifying the blend
Combining blends with gradients
Lesson # 10
(Working with symbols)
Using Adobe Illustrator CS4 Symbol Libraries
Editing Symbols
Creating Symbols
Applying a symbol instance
Using the symbolism tools
Updating a symbol
Breaking a link to a symbol
Mapping a symbol to 3D artwork
Lesson # 11
(Overview of printing and color separations)
Learning about printing devices
Halftone screens
Output device resolution
The RGB color model
The CMYK color model Spot colors
Synchronizing color using Adobe Bridge
Specifying the bleed area
Saving in the EPS format
Exporting and importing
flattening settings
Saving as Adobe PDF
ThinkBIGLearnSmart's Virtual Online Live Adobe Illustrator CS4 Lesson plan is an overview of what we generally intend to cover in our classes; however specific items (topics) that are actually discussed in class may vary per location. It is the desire of the instructor to focus on meeting the objectives of the students who registered for the class, rather than going through a course outline systematically.
