This quarter you will learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator CS6. Adobe Illustrator CS6 is used to create graphics and type in vector format. Vector graphics (sometimes called vector shapes or vector objects) are made up of points, lines, and curves that are defined by mathematical equations called vectors, which describe an image according to its geometric characteristics.
Please start familiarizing yourself with Illustrator! You will learn how to draw with the Pen and Pencil Tools, how to use shapes and text to create interesting designs, how to use the Paintbrush and the Blob Brush Tools (and others). You will create simple shapes, 3D shapes, cartoon characters, logos and work on a few other exercises to learn this application. Check Google Classroom - Exercises No. 1 and 2 are in the Adobe Illustrator PDF document there (Cubes and Cartoon Character). Exercise No. 3 is the Robot(s) or Creature(s) or Doll(s) assignment (one document - 4 artboards). Exercise No. 4 - your name in 3D (please follow the instructions there) and Exercise No. 5 is about creating a Logo (not there yet).
Vector graphics are "resolution independent," which means that they can be resized to any size without losing quality (detail or clarity). The vector objects you create using the drawing and shape tools in Adobe Illustrator are examples of vector graphics. Vector graphics are the best choice for artwork (i.e. logos). Unlike vector graphics, raster images (in Photoshop) are "resolution dependent," so they can lose detail and appear pixelated. If you enlarge an Illustrator image you won't see any pixels and the image is never pixelated - it will always have excellent resolution.
Use Illustrator if you need to create art or type with clean lines that look good at any magnification; use Photoshop for images that need pixel editing, color correcting, painting, and other special effects.
Another project for this quarter is to come up with ideas for the three murals that will be painted in the Gym. It can be a combination of text and images or just images using Adobe Illustrator and/or Photoshop. I will explain this project later.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Get creative!
Check: Illustrator (click the link) - to learn more!
Test: You will have a Test on Adobe Illustrator (including the handout I gave you on the Illustrator Interface) on Friday, March 4, 2016. I will count one of your best Illustrator exercises as part of the test (you just have to let me know which one). You need to know the 11 parts of the Illustrator Interface and the commands mentioned there (in the handout - also in Google Classroom) and the following: What is Adobe Illustrator? What are vector graphics? What are artboards? What is "resolution independent"? What is "resolution dependent"? What is surrealism? Name at least four surrealist artists and their contributions to the surrealist movement. ALSO CHECK THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: https://blog.udemy.com/what-is-adobe-illustrator-used-for/ for information that will be included on the test. Thank you!
