Adobe Illustrator YIKES!

   

   Okay I know that a lot of people might be scared to use this program, but don't worry i'm gonna give you some tips and tricks to navigate your way around. this should help you out if your just starting out. even if your familiar with the program there might be some tricks that you don't know so stick around. When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing, but as I went on I gained a few tricks along the way. So today i'm gonna give you what I have picked up. If you still don't understand their will be tutorial to help you. So lets start off with the pen tool. 

  

Don't say No to the Pen tool!

  This tool can be frightening for beginners, however don't let this put you off. Once you have mastered this tool, you can take on anything in Adobe Illustrator.  Here is an easy way to start...

• Drawing with the pen tool

1. first select the pen tool
2. position the pen tool where you would like the to begin the straight segment (DO NOT DRAG)
3. Click to define your first anchor point. (DO NOT DRAG)
• Note: Your first segment you draw will not be visible to a second anchor is created. if a direction line appears then you have accidentally dragged the pen too; to undo simply choice Edit>Undo, and click again. or simply hit CTRL Z.
4. Then click again where you want the segment to end (Shift-click to constrain the angle of the segment to a multiple 45 degrees.)
5. Continue clicking to set anchor points for additional straight segments.
6. The lat anchor point you add will always appear as a solid square, indicating that is selected. Previously defined anchor points become hollow, and selected, as you add more points. 
7. To close the path, position the pen tool over the first (hollow) anchor point. a small circle appears next to the pen tool pointer. when it is positioned correctly. click or drag to close the path.
8. To leave the path open, CTRL-click or Command-click anywhere away from all objects. 
9. to leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choice Select>deselect. you can simply press Enter Return to leave the path open.

• Drawing curves with the pen tool

1. Select the pen tool
2. Position the pen tool where you want the curve to begin
3. Hold down the mouse button, the first anchor point appears, and the Pen tool pointer changes to an arrowhead.
4. Drag to set the slope of the curve segment you're creating, then simply release the mouse button. 
1. NOTE: Extend the direction line about one third of the distance to the next anchor point you plan to draw. (You can adjust one or both sides of the direction line later.
5. Hold down the SHIFT key to constrain the tool to multiples of 45 degrees.
6. Position the pen tool where you want the curve segment to end, and do one of the following. 
1. To create a C-shaped curve, drag in a direction opposite to previous direction line. then release the mouse button.
2. To create an S-shaped curve, drag in the same direction as the previous direction line. then release the mouse button.
1. NOTE: Press Command/Ctrl while dragging the handles of a smooth point, to make them in-equal in length when you're drawing a curve.
1. Opposite handles are equal and paired 
2. Cmd/Ctrl pressed, opposite handles are unequal and paired
7. continue dragging the pen tool from different locations to create a series of smooth curves.
1. Note that you are placing anchor points at the beginning and end of each curve, not at the tip of the curve.
2. Alt-drag or Option-Drag direction lines to break out the direction lines of an anchor point.
8. To close the path, position the pen tool over the first(hollow) anchor point. A small circle should appear next to the pen tool pointer. once it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.
9. to leave the path open, Ctrl-click or Command-click anywhere away from all objects. 
10. To leave the path open, you can select a different tool, or choose Select>Deselect.
1. NOTE: you can make a finer adjustment to the closing curve:\
2. Press the spacebar while closing a path to reposition the closing anchor point.
3. Press Option/Alt, and break the pairing of handles of the closing anchor point.

• Reposition anchor points

1. After you click to create you anchor point, keep your mouse button pressed down, hold down your spacebar, and drag to reposition your anchor point. 

• Drawing a straight line followed by curves

1. Using the pen tool, click corner points in two locations to create a straight segment.
2. Position the pen tool over the selected endpoint. In illustrator a Convert-point icon appears next to the pen tool when it is positioned correctly. to set the slope of the curved segment you'll create
3. Next, click the anchor point and drag the direction line that appears.
4. position the pen where you want the next anchor point; then click(and drag if you would like) the new anchor point to complete the curve.

• Drawing a curve followed by a straight line 

1. using your pen tool, drag to create the first smooth point of a curved segment, and then simply release the mouse button.
2. Reposition the pen tool where you want the curved segment to end
3. drag to complete the curve and release the mouse button.
4. position the pen tool over the selected endpoint. A convert-point icon should appear next to the pen tool when positioned correctly.
5. Click the anchor point to convert the smooth point to a corner point.
6. reposition the pen tool where you want the straight segment to end, and click to complete the straight segment.

How to use a clipping mask

Mask limit a pattern, group of shapes, paths or whatever you wish to a specific area, and have a multitude of uses. I found them to be a HUGE time saver. This is an easy way to start...

• Creating the clipping mask

1. Hold down Alt/Option, position the pointer over the line dividing two layers in the layers panel(the pointer changes to two overlapping circles), and then simply click.
2. In the layers panel, select the top layer of a pair of layers you want to group, and choose layer>Create clipping mask
3. When making a clipping mask from an existing layer and one you are about to create.
4. Select the existing layer in the layers panel.  
5. Then choose new layer from the layer menu or the layers panel more menu.
6. In the new layer dialog box, select use previous layer to create your clipping mask and click OK.
7. The layer in the clipping mask have the opacity and mode attributes of the bottom most base layer in the group.
1. NOTE: To change the stacking order of the clipping mask relative to  other layers in the image. select all the layers in the group. Then Drag the Group's base layer up or down in the layers panel.

• Removing a layer from a clipping mask

1. Hold down Alt/option, position the pointer over line separating two grouped layers in the layers panel and simply click.

• Releasing the clipping mask

1. In the layers panel, select any layer other than the base layer in the clipping mask.
2. Choose layer> Release clipping mask.