Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

Let's create a letter sized document,

(8.5" by 11").

Start by creating a new file

We are going to set up 1/4 inch grids on our document just like the paper from class.

Let's start by telling Illustator that our preferred unit is inches.

Now we will set a gridline every 1 inch and a lighter gridline every 1/4 inch.

That's what

Subdivisions: 4 means.

We have set up our grid, now we have to tell Illustrator to show the grid.

While we are in that menu, let's have all of our drawings snap to grid.

While we are in that menu, let's have all of our drawings snap to grid.

Now that our grid is set up let's do a free hand drawing to see what

snap to grid means.

We will use the pen tool to create a shape.

Use the pen tool to try to make this triangle.

Notice how the drawing snaps to the 1/4" grid.

Now lets make

a 5" by 3.5" rectangle

using the rectangle tool.

Your rectangle might be in a different place or turned, but that is okay.

To make a circle, click and hold the mouse over the Rectangle tool

until a menu appears.

Choose the Ellipse tool

to make a circle.

Then make a circle

2 inches across.