Chapter 01 Skills Review:
Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator

A) Start Illustrator and create a new document.

1. Create a new document and name it Flag.
2. Make the size of the document 6" × 4".
3. Select Inches for the type of units, and CMYK Color for the color mode, then click OK.
4. Click File on the menu bar, click Save As, navigate to the drive and folder where you store your Data Files, then click Save.
5. Click View on the menu bar, then click Hide Page Tiling, if necessary.
6. Create a circle at the center of the artboard.
7. Click the Selection Tool.

B) Explore the Illustrator window.

1. Click View on the menu bar, then click Outline.
2. Click View on the menu bar, then click Preview.
3. Click View on the menu bar, then click Zoom In.
4. Click View on the menu bar, then click Zoom Out.
5. Press and hold [Spacebar] to access the Hand Tool, then move the artboard.
6. Click View on the menu bar, then click Fit in Window.
7. Select the circle, click Edit on the menu bar, then click Copy.
8. Click Edit on the menu bar, then click Paste in Front.
9. Move the new circle to the bottom of the artboard.
10. Click Edit on the menu bar, then click Undo Move.
11. Click Edit on the menu bar, then click Redo Move.
12. Click Select on the menu bar, then click All.
13. Click Select on the menu bar, then click Deselect.
14. Select all of the objects, click Edit on the menu bar, then click Cut.
15. Save your work.

C) Create basic shapes and apply fill and stroke colors.

1. Set the Fill and Stroke buttons in the Tools panel to black and [None], respectively.
2. Create a rectangle that is 3" × 1".
3. Show the Swatches panel, if necessary.
4. Fill the rectangle with a light yellow.

D) Select, move, and align objects.

1. Click View on the menu bar, then click Smart Guides, if necessary.
2. Move the rectangle so that its top-left anchor point intersects with the top-left corner of the artboard.
3. Click the top-left anchor point, press and hold [Shift][Alt] (Win) or [Shift][option] (Mac), drag straight down until the top-left anchor point touches the bottom-left anchor point (the “intersect” Smart Guide appears), then release the mouse.
4. Click Object on the menu bar, point to Transform, then click Transform Again.
5. Repeat Step 4.
6. Change the fill color of the second and fourth rectangles to a darker yellow.
7. Save your work.

E) Transform objects.

1. Select the four rectangles.
2. Double-click the Reflect Tool, click the Horizontal option button, then click Copy. The four rectangles are copied on top of the original rectangles.
3. Move the four new rectangles to the right so that they align with the right side of the artboard.
4. Click the Rectangle Tool, click the artboard, and create a square that is .75" × .75".
5. Apply a 1-point black stroke to the square and no fill.
6. Click the Selection Tool, click the edge of the square, then position it at the center of the artboard.
7. Use the Rotate dialog box to create a copy of the square rotated at 10°.
8. Apply the Transform Again command seven times.
9. Save your work.

F) Make direct selections.

1. Use [Shift] to select each of the nine black squares.
2. Click Object on the menu bar, then click Group.
3. Scale the group of squares 200%.
4. Create a 3.75" × 3.75" circle, fill it with orange, add a 1-point black stroke, then position it at the center of the artboard.
5. Cut the circle from the artboard, click the group of black squares, click Edit on the menu bar, then click Paste in Back.
6. Adjust the location of the circle, as needed.
7. Click Object on the menu bar, point to Path, then click Add Anchor Points.
8. Deselect the circle by clicking anywhere on the artboard.
9. Click the Direct Selection Tool, then click the edge of the circle.
10. One at a time, move each of the four new anchor points to the center of the circle.
11. Switch to the Selection Tool, then select the orange-filled shape.
12. Double-click the Rotate Tool, type 22 in the Angle text box, then click Copy.
13. Apply the Transform Again command two times.
14. Save your work, then compare your illustration to the image below.
15. Close the Flag document.

 

Source: "Adobe Illustrator CS3 Revealed" by Chris Botello