Watch Laura’s October 5th video chat

Want to take your creations to the next level in Adobe Illustrator? Join Laura Coyle in the follow-up to her popular “Step by Step” beginning Illustrator class. In Illustrator 2 you’ll learn techniques to take your work to new dimensions and have fun exploring all you can do with this amazing vector program.

This 3 week class begins with a focus on gradients, blending from one color into the next. You’ll learn the how-to’s of working with Illustrator’s gradient tool, as well as transparency, blending modes, effects and the appearance panel.

Next, you'll dive into repeat pattern fills, learning how to edit existing patterns and create your own pattern swatches from start to finish. Along the way you’ll deepen your knowledge of Illustrator as Laura introduces the tools, panels and methods that will make pattern creation and anything else you create in Illustrator more efficient and organized.

You'll investigate Live Trace with an eye toward capturing textures, scanning and bringing them into Illustrator. After learning this powerful technique, you’ll emerge with inspiring textures you can modify and use over and over again in your artwork.

Combining masks with the techniques you’ve learned will make them even more versatile. You’ll explore masking concepts, including the ways masks can enhance your typographic work. You’ll finish with an overview of how to use Vector Smart Objects to exchange work between Illustrator and Photoshop.

Prerequisites:
This is an intermediate level class for those who have taken Step-by-Step Design with Illustrator, Beginning Illustrator or advanced beginners with a solid foundation in Illustrator. Questions? Send them to Laura at laurac@reneepearson.com.

Weekly class content consists of streaming video lessons you can watch at your leisure, a printable PDF guide and exercise files. At the beginning of each week, you'll gain lifetime access to that week's content, enabling you to work at your own pace and review lessons in the future. During class, you can visit the forum and gallery, post questions, display your work and interact with Laura and fellow students. Each week, there will be a live video chat and demonstration with Laura.

What to Expect

Software
Lessons are taught in Illustrator CS5 and the majority of the techniques are the same for version CS4. Laura will point out the few differences along the way.

For CS3 users, Gradients and the Appearance Panel were improved starting with Version CS4, so users of earlier versions will notice some distinct differences or limitations in these areas, and these are addressed in the lessons. Laura will teach alternate methods and provide further information in the PDF guide. CS2 is the earliest version of illustrator compatible with this class. (A free 30-day trial version of Adobe Illustrator CS5 is available at adobe.com.)

A scanner will be helpful for working on the Live Trace lessons, but it is not required.

You will need Adobe Photoshop to work with Vector Smart Objects in the last week of class.