What Is Adobe Illustrator and Why You Need It
Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics editor. Adobe Illustrator does not rely on pixels, which makes a pixel-based graphic become blurry when enlarged, while a vector graphic remains detail-rich whether enlarged or reduced.
If you are going to pursue a career in graphic design, then learning Illustrator is a necessity, not an option.
For a beginner to start Illustrator, some knowledge of design principles is required. To learn about that, you may refer to our Graphic Design for Beginners article.
What Can Be Done Using Adobe Illustrator?
The uses for Adobe Illustrator
Using Illustrator, you are able to design:
- Logos and Branding
- Icons and UI elements
- Vector images and digital paintings
- Typography and Lettering
- Infographics & Charts
- posters/flyers/brochures
- Web & Social Graphics
Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator
System Requirements (Basic)
- Minimum 8GB RAM. 16GB is recommended.
- Modern processor
- Free disk space
- Windows or macOS
Installing Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is available through Adobe Creative Cloud. Students can receive discounted plans from the official website at Adobe.
Creating Your First Illustrator Document
Opening Illustrator When you first open Illustrator, click Create New and select:
- Print → posters, flyers
- Web → website or social media graphics
- Mobile → application designs
- Art & Illustration → custom projects
Recommended settings:
- RGB for digital designs
- CMYK for printing
- 72 PPI for web
- 300 PPI for print
You can always change these settings later.
Understanding the Illustrator Interface
Tools Panel
Found on the left side. It comprises:
- Selection tools
- Drawing tools
- Shape tools
- Text tools
Some tools are hidden — click and hold to reveal them.
Right-hand Panels
Important Panels for beginners:
- Properties
- Layers
- Swatches
- Stroke
- Align
- Pathfinder
Illustrator Tools for Beginners that are Essential
Selection Tool (V)
Used to select, move, resize, and rotate objects.
Tips:
- Hold Shift to resize proportionally
- Hold Alt to scale from center
Direct Selection Tool (A)
Used for editing anchor points and curves in the element.
Pen Tool (P)
The most important tool in Illustrator, allows you to draw unique shapes and curves.
Exercise for beginners:
Practice tracing simple objects such as leaves, cups, or logos to achieve control.
Shape Tools
Contains:
- Rectangle
- Ellipse
- Polygon
- Star
Hold Shift for perfect shapes.
Applying Colors to Illustrations using Illustrator
Fill & Stroke
- Fill → Inside Color
- Stroke → Outline color
Press X to switch between them.
Swatches Panel
Save frequently used colors.
Text & Typographic Features in Illustrators
Type tool (T)
Invent:
- Point Text → headings and logos
- Text Area → Paragraphs and Content
Convert Text To Outlines
Use Type → Create Outlines before printing or exporting your files.
⚠️ Alwyas save a copy before exporting.
Using Layers as a Designer
Layers are useful in handling complexities.
Best practices:
- Define naming levels well
- Lock completed layers
- Hide unused layers
- Use distinct layers for text and shapes
Using the Pathfinder Function
The Pathfinder panel lets you combine shapes:
- Unite
- Minus Front
- Intersect
- Exclude
Easily combine shapes to create your own logo icons.
Illustrator vs Photoshop (Beginner Tips)
- Illustrator → Logo, icons, vectors
- Photoshop → Photo editing and raster graphics
If you are also studying image editing, I suggest you also check out my Photoshop for Beginners series.
Free Learning and Practice Resources
To improve faster:
- Practice every day using simple designs
- Logo/icon design for already designed products
- Utilize the available free tools.
Useful and free tools are available in the Tools section.
Final Tips for Beginners
The Begin slowly and start practicing the basics. Learn shapes, colors, and typography before advancing to the advanced tools and features of the software.