The Illustrator!

Today, you are going to get a very basic introduction to Illustrator.
Illustrator is the industry standard software for clean graphic design.
Where as Photoshop allows you to create images out of 'pixels', Illustrator allows you to create images out of mathematically recorded directions.
The proportions of these never change, no matter how big or small the image is printed-
The image will remain clean and un-pixelated or stretched whether it appears on a stamp or the side of a building.

Last lesson we looked at branding.
One of the simplest and best advertising campaigns / brands of the last few years has been the Apple Ipod commercials.

These are very simple black silhouettes of dancing people on coloured backgrounds with the Ipod and headphones highlighted in white.

It's fairly obvious where this is going....

You will need a clear photograph of yourself.
Drag it into a new Illustrator document.

Illustrator uses layers, just like Photoshop.

Create a new layer and select the pen (p)

pick a bright colour line and NO FILL

draw around your outline. Point to point (like the lasso tool)

To bend a line, click the next point and hold down the mouse, you will the be able to bend to line to follow the exact shape of your body.

This is very clumsy and awkward!
It soon becomes very easy and you'll wonder how you ever drew without it!

after each curved line, press enter / return- this stops the line continuing is the same bend.

When you have completed your shape, go to the colour selection (under the tools) and select the same colour (black) for both line and fill.

Create a new layer using the shape tool of whatever colour you want.

Put this layer behind the one of your outline.

Illustrator is essentially Photoshop with shapes.

Now in a new layer, draw your Ipod in white

Add some text. “i” .....

Done!

Simple idea, worth millions!


Next, try using the same techniques to create clean vector versions of your logos-

you might need scanners to get the originals onto the computer.

Repeat the process!