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info@xchangetraining.co.uk
Adobe Illustrator CC Masterclass 4 Days - Manchester
Key Course Details:
Level:
Masterclass
Duration:
4
Days - 10am to 5pm
Price:
£795 + vat
Go from being a novice to mastering the advanced tasks in the leading graphic-design program. Join us as we show you how to take charge and become an Illustrator power user. Learn the professional tips that will give your vector graphics the edge.
We will guide you on everything from getting started by making simple shapes and controlling the Illustrator environment all the way up to applying advanced techniques for creating Bézier curves and compound paths. With our help, you will become confident in using the program's advanced features to produce killer vector graphics.
Go from being a novice to mastering the advanced tasks in the leading graphic-design program. Join us as we show you how to take charge and become an Illustrator power user. Learn the professional tips that will give your vector graphics the edge.
We will guide you on everything from getting started by making simple shapes and controlling the Illustrator environment all the way up to applying advanced techniques for creating Bézier curves and compound paths. With our help, you will become confident in using the program's advanced features to produce killer vector graphics.
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Illustrator Masterclass 4 Days
Course Details
This 4-day Masterclass course helps you learn about the tools and features available in Adobe Illustrator CC. We will help you understand how this industry-leading program takes graphical design to a new level. You will learn how to create and manipulate shapes and curves, combining them with text to produce simple logos ready for the web and for print. Together, we will work with colours, gradients, layers, fonts, and photos to create eye-catching illustrations and text effects. We will then move on to more advanced topics, such as enhanced control of Bézier curves, creating custom brushes, and automating workflows.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Navigate the Illustrator environment
- Create a logo using simple shapes
- Draw and understand Bézier curves, the root of drawing in Illustrator
- Enhance control of Bézier curves by creating compound paths
- Apply gradients and patterns
- Edit paths and anchor points
- Set attributes in the Appearance panel
- Measure objects and place them with precision
- Trace and colour your hand-drawn artwork with Live Trace, Live Paint, and Live Colour
- Define custom brushes and graphic styles
- Add transparencies, drop shadows, and other effects
- Export illustrations for web and for print
- Prepare documents for composite and commercial printing
- Automate your workflow with other Creative Cloud programs
This course is the perfect preparation if you plan to take the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) exam.
Our goals are for you to be able to create and manipulate vector graphics, to understand the advanced features of Illustrator, and to become a confident power user.
This course can be taken in a single 4-day block or split into a 2-day block (Introduction) and then a separate 2-day block (Advanced) taken at a later date.
Course Target Audience and delegate prerequisites:
This course is intended for graphic designers and textile/fashion designers, and anyone else who has visual-design responsibilities.
You will need basic PC or Mac skills, including a solid understanding of a computer's operating system (Windows or Mac OS). You will also need to know how to launch a program, create and save files, and copy files from CDs and other media.
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Full Course Outline
The following is a general outline. The range of topics covered during your training is dependent upon student level, time available and preferences of your course booking.
Creating basic Documents- Explore the pre built Document Profiles
- Shortcuts to navigate the Artboard effectively
- Work in a Custom Workspace
- Use the Pen tool for straight lines
- Add, delete or adjust points along a path
- Understand how Bezier Curves work, learn to draw and edit these Curves
- Freeform drawing and editing with this powerful tool
- Create Logos using simple Shapes
- Using Live Trace to transform your hand drawn sketches into vector artwork that can be further adjusted
- Lasso select and the other goodies in the Select Menu
- Transform objects with scale, shear, rotate & reflect tool
- Be precise using Smart Guides, Grids & Guidelines
- Align, Group & Duplicate to achieve better results
- Layers palette: Hide & Lock Objects
- Intro to Isolation Mode for effective editing
- Working with Colours in Illustrator
- Applying colour to Stroke and/or Fill
- Adjusting Stroke with the Stroke palette
- Live Colour for perfect Complementary / Analogous colours
- Live Paint as an easy way to colour artwork
- Introducing Gradients & Patterns
- Point, Area and Type on a path
- Import Body Type & fix Spelling Errors
- Find and Replace Text or Insert Typographic Characters
- Create Text Outlines to design your own fancy headlines
- Defining cropping area
- Saving your artwork in vector formats
- Save for Web & Devices
- Make use of Outline Strokes technique
- Explore Shape Modes and Pathfinder palette - create Compound Paths for trendy grunge effects
- Use Expand Appearance to modify individual elements
- Create your own Custom Brushes: Calligraphy Scatter or Art, to place objects along a path
- Keep your paths Simple & Cleaned Up
- Graphs - use your own artwork instead of a simple bar
Modifying Artworks- Envelope Distort & other forms of Warping objects
- Clipping Mask for advanced design
- Transparency for more polished look
- Create drop shadows, glows and more using the Stylise Live Effects
- Share the appearance attributes with Graphic Styles
- Explore Gradient Mesh & its ability to add realistic 3D shading and highlights to 2D graphics
- Learn the difference between Filters & Live Effects
- Blend shapes or groups for advanced compositions
- Character Palette - adjust the kerning, baseline shift, horizontal & vertical scaling
- Paragraph Palette - Justification and Hyphenation options
- Use the 3D feature to extrude text and other Illustrator objects
- Simulate multiple pages in Illustrator using the artboard and document setup
- Flattening Transparency for raster effects like drop shadows, glows and blurs
- Creating separations with Spot colour vs. Process colour
- Explore Links & Actions palettes
- Export to Flash (SWF)
- Use Symbols to create elements used repeatedly in animations and complex artworks
- Use the Release to Layers command to distribute all of the objects on a layer onto separate, individual layers for quick web animations
- Creating Smart objects, Dragging-and-dropping and exporting layers into Photoshop
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Location Details
This course is provided at the XChange Training Manchester training centre based at:
Piccadilly House
49 Piccadilly
Manchester
M1 2APPiccadilly House is located in the heart of Manchester directly next to the Piccadilly Gardens transport interchange with excellent bus and tram connections and is easily accessed from Piccadilly train Station (5 mins). Victoria station is also close by (around 10 mins).
Daily course times run between 10am and 4:30pm with an hour break for lunch and both mid morning and mid-afternoon refreshment breaks. We recommend arrival at 9.45am for registration on the first day of the course.
View Full details of our Manchester Training Venue and Course options
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Illustrator Masterclass 4 Days - Upcoming Manchester Course Dates
04 Aug - 07 Aug Special Offer! £695 + vat 29 Sep - 02 Oct £795 + vat 24 Nov - 27 Nov £795 + vat Illustrator Masterclass 4 Days - Split Date Options
Illustrator Introduction
4 Aug - 5 Aug
29 Sep - 30 Sep
24 Nov - 25 Nov
Illustrator Advanced
6 Aug - 7 Aug
1 Oct - 2 Oct
26 Nov - 27 Nov
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Client Reviews
"An excellent course and a very informative couple of days, I feel much more confident in using Illustrator following this great course, thank you."
Keith Baker, Current Medicine Group, Illustrator - 2 Day Advanced
"Highly enjoyable session - having had no previous experience with Illustrator it proved very easy to pick things up under guidance. Thank you XChange!"
William McPhail, Sothebys, Illustrator - 2 Day Introduction
"This is my third class, they have all been excellent. Earning my Adobe Illustrator qualification with you has made a big difference in my job hunting. Thank you."
Velo Mitrovich, Illustrator - 1 Day Introduction
"Very relaxed atmosphere & friendly atmosphere. Trainer very informative, knowledgable and willing to help with any questions or difficulties. Offices in a good central location. An enjoyable and informative course."
Kerry Duguid, Plant Integrity Mgmt., Illustrator - Two Day Introduction
"Excellent, as always! Great teaching methods, fun and interesting, easy to follow. Always a great experience!"
Richard Littler, Brother, Illustrator - One Day Intermediate
"Hugely helpful and really appreciated the amount of tailoring and personalisation of the content of the course to what I would be doing in my role. Will definitely recommend. "
Emily Radforth, Octopus Healthcare, Adobe Illustrator - One Day Introduction
"A great session, covering some fantastic tools and knowledge about the product. The trainer was excellent, and was great at tailoring the course to my specific needs, and explained and demonstrated things in a well executed manner - thank you so much!"
Lauren Orange, The Freeston Academy, Adobe Illustrator - 1 Day Introduction
"The Illustrator course was well-organised, well-paced, informative, and I learned many new features and ways to use the software for potential real-world applications."
Megan Wolf, Makro, Illustrator - 1 Day Introduction
"Had an absolutely fantastic tutor and session - covered everything I asked and didn't know to ask!! So happy with the aftercare support as well and would love the opportunity for another relevant course in future."
Emily Theodore, Catersales, Illustrator - 1 Day Advanced
"Knowledgable, small class made it easy to ask questions and get feedback within the time limit. Friendly people, plenty of tea, coffee etc, comfortable surroundings."
Claire Huntley, Ryman, Adobe Illustrator - 1 Day Introduction
Next Dates:
04 Aug - 07 Aug Special Offer! £695 + vat
29 Sep - 02 Oct
24 Nov - 27 Nov
Split Course Date Options:
Illustrator Introduction
4 Aug - 5 Aug
29 Sep - 30 Sep
24 Nov - 25 Nov
Illustrator Advanced
6 Aug - 7 Aug
1 Oct - 2 Oct
26 Nov - 27 Nov
Over 15 years of providing certified Adobe Illustrator training courses UK wide
4/5 Stars
It was a great, beginner friendly, course. Friendly, approachable instructor, with plenty of knowledge.
04/07/2025
5/5 Stars
The training was excellent, very insightful and pleasant. I would definitely recommend to a colleague.
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
The training was excellent and thoroughly covered all essential and non essential Adobe Illustrator related topics.
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
An excellent two day course, easy to follow along and very clear instruction. Help given immediately when needed and great knowledge from Phil and examples of where different skills might be needed. I've had a great two days and can't wait for the advanced part starting tomorrow.
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
Provided a basic understanding of the simplest tasks and building blocks of Illustrator
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
Really good introduction course, great insight into the basic uses of Illustrator and I am now confident in how to use the key features. Phil is excellent at teaching all on the course how to use the software.
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
the course has provided me with a great base to progress, i had no previous knowledge. really happy with how it has gone and intend to take it further with more training. Excellent guidance!
10/06/2025
5/5 Stars
Great - easy to understand and follow.
22/05/2025
5/5 Stars
Really useful and interesting course. Definatly want to develop my Adobe skills with further training.
23/04/2025
5/5 Stars
The course was good, but perhaps some handout materials would be beneficial - it's a lot to take in and we will forget things.
18/03/2025
Whats Included:
Your choice of Windows or Mac 
Certified hands-on training 
Small class size (max 4-8) 
6 months post course support 
Quality reference manual 
Authorised Course Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the course times?
For all courses in the Manchester Centre the normal session timings are 10am to 5pm with an hour break for lunch. In addition to the hour lunch break there are also two fifteen minute coffee breaks mid morning and mid afternoon.
Daily times are:
09.45 - Registration
10.00 - Course start
13.00 - Lunch
14.00 - Afternoon starts
17.00 - Course ends
Do you offer discounts
or promotions?
We offer a range of regular discounts available for self funding individuals, charities and education along with period special offers. See our promotions page for full details.
What is provided with this course?
During the course we provide all computers for your use with choice of Windows or Mac, lunch and refreshments along with pads & pens. After the course you will receive the authorised Certificate, quality reference manual and 6 months direct post course support.
Does this course give
a qualification?
Although this course does not provide an actual qualification each delegate is provided with an official Certificate for completion of the course level.
Can you invoice my company?
In short yes we can provide 30 day invoice terms to any UK Limited company with the provision of your official purchase order and/or completing the invoice request for your booking online.
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