Adobe Illustrator Tips, Tricks, Tutorials and Techniques

• 3D Text Effect  in this video tutorial ... you'll learn about creating 3D text in Illustrator and bringing it to life in Photoshop.
  
  
• Achieve photorealism with Gradient Mesh  Use the Gradient Mesh tool in Illustrator to create realistic effects that remain in vector form so your artwork remains scalable and editable.
  
  
• Achieving the Worn/Textured Look  You've seen it everywhere and you're probably going to be asked to do it at some point. Adding a *worn* looking texture over an image can make it more visually appealing and sometimes even breathe life into a boring image.
  
  
• Adobe Pen Tool Cheatsheet  The pen tool works pretty much the same across Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Learn the differences between the various pen symbols with this handy helper.
  
  
• Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts  A handy feature in Adobe Illustrator is the ability to assign custom keyboard shortcuts through the Keyboard Shortcuts Menu.
  
  
• Change the shape of things with the closed and open path shape tools in Illustrator  Get the most from the closed and open path shape tools by teaming them up with keyboard shortcuts and interactive commands.
  
  
• Clipping Masks in Illustrator  In this video tutorial .. you'll learn how to create a clipping mask in Adobe Illustrator.
  
  
• Color Swatches  Swapping swatches with Photoshop, combining libraries, and setting up permanent default swatches.
  
  
• Create Distressed/Grunge Art in Illustrator  This tutorial shows you how to create a distressed look in Illustrator.
  
  
• Create a Vector Lens Flare in Illustrator  Even though drawing a flare in Illustrator CS2 is basically a two step process, there are many little steps that must happen in between. Mordy Golding shows you what they are.
  
  
• Create a Vector RSS Icon with Illustrator  In this turorial ... you'll learn how to create a custom vector RSS icon in Adobe Illustrator..
  
  
• Create Multi-Page PDFs in Illustrator  with this feature you may have overlooked.
  
  
• Creating transitions with blends in Illustrator CS2  Check out the different ways you can use blends in Illustrator, and learn the basics for creating them.
  
  
• CS3 Color  in this video tutorial .. Dave Cross introduces some of the exciting new features in Illustrator CS3 which include the Live Color options and the Color Guide.
  
  
• Draw by numbers  Use numeric values in Illustrator CS2 to create a shape in the exact dimensions you require.
  
  
• Drawing a Flower Tutorial  In this tutorial ... you'll learn how to draw a flower using Illustrator.
  
  
• Enhance an object's appearance with Live Effects  If your artwork looks a bit flat, liven it up by adding Live Effects in Illustrator.
  
  
• FreeHand to Illustrator migration guide  If you're switching from FreeHand to Illustrator, this extensive guide will help you make the change as quickly and smoothly as possible. Learn the differences between the two applications and become familiar with the main features of Illustrator. This is a PDF file.
  
  
• Look behind the mask in Illustrator  Mordy Golding demystifies masking and details the three types of masks Illustrator CS2 supports.
  
  
• Map artwork to 3D surfaces with Illustrator  Discover one of the features that sets Illustrator apart from the rest-artwork mapping, or the ability to map 2D artwork to a 3D surface.
  
  
• Put type on a path  Learn how to put type on an open and a closed path in Illustrator and experiment with path text options.
  
  
• Putting the *art* in chart with Illustrator  Charts and graphs are a great way to present complex information in a simple to understand form. In this tutorial, learn how to create great-looking charts while keeping the information in them accessible.
  
  
• Recoloring art is easy with Adobe Illustrator CS3  Easily recolor vector art that is CMYK/RGB or Grayscale .. while retaining tint values.
  
  
• Rulers, Grids & Guides  These tools will help you with your precision in the program for actual and visual alignments. They are also helpful for layout from a design perspective.
  
  
• Sort by Hue, Saturation or Brightness Script  when working with a lot of colors in the Swatches Panel ... sort them by hue, saturation or brightness by downloading and using this script.
  
  
• Step inside the Creative Mind  Check out how designers are breaking the boundaries of design using Adobe Creative Suite.
  
  
• The Animation Power of Copy & Paste  Use the Illustrator shape tools to customize a logo for a title, and then use the Illustrator paths to add keyframe animation within After Effects.
  
  
• The Appearance Palette & SWF  Export a SWF banner: Start by creating the look of neon lighting in an Illustrator document, and then use expressions within After Effects to animate layers.
  
  
• Tweak to get the perfect trace  Learn how to get just the results you want using the Live Trace feature in Illustrator CS2.
  
  
• Updating Legacy Text in Illustrator CS  Learn all about your choices for updating legacy text in Illustrator CS.
  
  
• Using and Understanding Masks, Gradients, and Blend Effects in Adobe Illustrator  learn how to make outstanding images using masks, gradients, and shadows.
  
  
• Vector vs. Raster  One of the most important things to understand about Illustrator is the difference between vector based images and raster based images.
  
  
• Wireframing With InDesign and Illustrator  Is an article concerning creating wireframes or behavior/design specifications.
  
  
• Work with area type in Illustrator  Learn how to work with area type in Illustrator CS2. Area type offers text-handling features similar to those available in page layout applications.
  
  
• Working with tools of mass distortion  Have fun warping your artwork using the distortion tools in Illustrator.