Download and save to your folder the Illustrator Tools Worksheet from the link on the right. You will need to complete this sheet before moving on to the activities below. It is always a good idea to get familiar with where various tools are located and what the keyboard shortcuts are. You will be turning this into the assignment basket for a grade. Keep this sheet as a reference for later on.

The Pen tool is the best tool in your Illustrator toolbox. Once you have mastered this tool, it opens up so many different drawing possibilities to you. It allows you to create very simple shapes to very complex ones.

Let's start with The Bezier Game, the link is to the right. We will spend 1 class period on this game. When the hour is up, your teacher will record your score. The game is to help start you off with the fundamentals of creating basic shapes using the pen tool.

Next, download the Pen _Tool_Exercise.ai file to the right to start the lesson on using the Pen Tool.

You simply follow the numbers and the instructions to complete the exercise. The point you need to aim at in each step is the center of each numbered colored dot. The top layer is the"working layer". This is the layer you'll be working on. Make sure your fill color is empty so you don't block the directions.

There are 3 different colors: blue, red and green.

• The BLUE ones don't require any dragging, but involve clicking.
• The RED ones, involve dragging, and sometimes a key needs to be pressed as well.
• The GREEN ones also involve dragging, but this time dragging one of the handles of the anchor point you've just created, while holding down a key first (alt/option).

Save your file as Last Name + Pen Tool Exercise and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

​For more practice, I had added another follow the instructions worksheet called Vector_Pen_Tool_Exercise.ai sheet and the Adobe Pen Tool Game. These can be found below under Additional Practice.

Now that you have mastered the Pen tool, next we will work on how to use the shapes already built into Illustrator. Start with downloading the Basic Shapes.ai file to the right.

On the first Artboard, use the link found to the right called the Fundamentals of Shapes. You will need to create the shapes found in the tutorial. Follow the directions to show how to use basic shapes to create new ones.

​On the second Artboard, create the shapes you find in the file here without a guide, using ONLY other shapes, create the shapes you see here. Create the shapes on Layer 1. Save this as Last Name + Basic Shapes and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

Sometimes it is easier to work with 2 shapes to than to draw the entire thing by hand. In this lesson you will be creating creating some basic shapes following the step by step directions on both worksheets. Its a simple one!

• Download the Pathfinder.ai file first. Using the shapes I provided, select these and follow the directions to create new shapes. Save your file as Last Name+ Pathfinder and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.
• Now download the Pathfinder_Advanced.ai file. Watch the supporting video to the right before you get started. You will be recreating the shapes shown in the original. Use the pathfinder tool indicated in the directions. Your goal is to make YOURS look like MINE. Save your file as Last Name+ Pathfinder_Advanced and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

Learning to let Illustrator do some of the work for you is always best. Using the Alignment Tool is super helpful in making sure all of your elements are perfectly placed. Download the Alignment.ai file found to the right, and follow the instructions to complete the 4 activities.

​Simply select the objects I have provided and use the alignment tools in the instructions. Save your file as Last Name + Alignment and and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

Learning to use the Image Trace function can be very helpful when drawing in Illustrator. Download the image of the lions.jpg to the right and the Image Trace.ai file. Watch the video to the right before you begin.

You will start by dragging the lion image onto the worksheet and placing a copy into each box on the worksheet in Illustrator. You will need to turn on your Image Trace panel and your Control panel before you begin. Window|Image Trace and Window|Control

For the Image Trace: Lions; select one image at a time and then use the Image Trace panel to change the preset settings to match each box label. Look at how it changes:

• 16 Color
• Shades of Grey
• Low Fidelity
• Sketch Art
• Silhouette
• Line Art

Save when the 6 images within the 6 separate boxes are all adjusted.

Next you will select the Sugar Skull image on the 2nd Artboard and expand your trace. Once you have created it as an object, you will manipulate the different pieces and color your sugar skull to resemble the example.

When you have finished both portions of the worksheet, save the file as Last Name + Image Trace and and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

The Type tool can be used for more than simple text boxes, especially when used along with the pen tool. Download Type Tool.ai file found to the right, and follow the instructions (watch the video to the right) to complete the 9 activities. You may need to expand your Tools Panel (...) to find the additional Type Tools.

​Make sure your text is school appropriate and demonstrates that you have mastered the tool. Save your file as Last Name + Type Tool and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

Learning to use gradients is fundamental in creating more realistic drawings in Illustrator. Download the Gradient.ai file to the right, and follow the instructions and create the 4 gradients.

The 4th question asks you to create a Gradient Mesh egg, once you draw your oval, select it and go to the Object menu > select Create Gradient mesh. You will use the Direct Select tool to isolate the anchor point whose color you wish to change. Think about the demonstration in the video! Save your file as Last Name + Gradient and and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.

You will need to download the Layering Activity.ai file found to the right. The Using Layers link on the right will take you to Adobe's website and walk you through the Layers Panel. Use the instructions in the YouTube Video in order to group, name and rearrange the layers in order to optimize and fix the .AI file I have given you.

Use the image found to the left to see what the final drawing is suppose to look like. Be careful to make sure you get all the layers grouped together so all things are visible. Create layers for each ghost, the jack-o-lantern, and the background and name each layer accordingly. Then put all the shapes and paths in the correct order to make your image match my image. Make sure you are naming your layers as you go.

​Save your file as Last Name + Layers and put into your Intro to Illustrator Folder.