- Vector versus pixels: the idea to understand first
- A tour of the workspace
- Start with the artboard
- Your first five tasks
- Turning a picture into vector art
- Hiding and cropping parts of a picture
- Good habits from day one
- Is Illustrator right for you?
- Layers keep a design manageable
- Exporting your work
- Common beginner mistakes
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To start using Illustrator, create a new document, then learn the Toolbar on the left, the Properties panel on the right and the artboard in the middle. Draw with shapes and the Pen tool, put each part of your design on its own layer, and save the original .ai file before exporting.
Illustrator is the tool for artwork that has to stay sharp at any size: logos, icons, illustrations, packaging. It works differently from Photoshop because you draw with shapes and paths, not pixels. That difference is what confuses beginners most. Once it clicks, the rest is learning where things are. Here is a calm tour of the workspace, the first things to try, and the jobs people most often use it for.
Vector versus pixels: the idea to understand first
A photo is made of pixels. Enlarge it far enough and it goes blocky. Illustrator artwork is made of mathematical paths, so it stays crisp at any size. That's why a logo drawn in Illustrator can sit on a business card and a billboard without being redrawn. If your job is photo editing, Photoshop is the better tool. If your job is a logo, icon or clean illustration, you're in the right place.
A tour of the workspace
Adobe's overview lists the parts of the Illustrator workspace as the Document window, Control panel, Application Bar, Properties panel, Contextual Task Bar, Help Bar, Status bar and Toolbar. In plain terms:
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Toolbar | Tools for creating and editing artwork, docked on the left by default |
| Properties panel | Shows options for whatever is selected or whichever tool you're using |
| Contextual Task Bar | Offers relevant next actions near your selection |
| Control panel | A horizontal bar of options for the current selection |
| Help Bar | Tips and shortcuts for the active tool |
| Document window | Where your artwork and artboards live |
If you're new, Adobe says the default workspace is called Getting Started. Panels can be shown or hidden from the Window menu, so when something has gone missing, look there first. The search icon at the top right opens the Discover panel, which finds tools and help in one place.
Start with the artboard
The artboard is the area that counts as your page. You can resize it by selecting it and dragging its bounding box, or by typing exact Width and Height values in the Artboard Options dialog box. Decide the size before you start designing, because it's easier than rebuilding later. If you plan to export for social media or print, set the size of the finished piece.
Your first five tasks
- Draw shapes with the rectangle and ellipse tools, then change fill and stroke in the Properties panel.
- Try the Pen tool to draw a simple path. It takes practice, so keep it short.
- Add text with the Type tool and style it in the Properties panel.
- Place an image using File, then Place, and turn it into vector artwork with Image Trace.
- Save and export. Keep the original Illustrator file, and export a copy for use.
Turning a picture into vector art
Image Trace is the feature many people open Illustrator for. Place a raster image with File, then Place, open Window, then Image Trace and choose a preset. Adobe says the trace result replaces the original image, so keep a copy. It works best on simple artwork such as a hand-drawn sketch or a logo scan. Complex photographs trace into a mass of shapes. I explain the detail in my separate guide to vectorizing an image.
Hiding and cropping parts of a picture
Adobe distinguishes two methods. Crop image permanently deletes the parts you remove. Masking hides parts of an image with a shape, and lets you edit what is hidden later. If you're unsure, mask, because you can always change your mind.
Good habits from day one
- Name your layers and keep each part of the design on its own layer.
- Save often and use version numbers in the file name.
- Keep the working .ai file. It's your master, and everything else is an export.
- Zoom in and out regularly to check that shapes join cleanly.
- Use as few anchor points as you can. Cleaner paths are easier to edit.
Is Illustrator right for you?
If you only need the occasional simple graphic, a lighter tool may be quicker. My comparison of free logo makers shows what's available when you don't need a full design program, and my notes on key graphic design terms help you follow Illustrator tutorials without getting lost.
Layers keep a design manageable
A logo can have a dozen shapes. A poster can have hundreds. Layers let you group them so you can hide, lock or move a whole set at once. Put the background on one layer, the main artwork on another and the text on a third. When a client asks for 'the same thing without the tagline', you hide a layer instead of redrawing. It's the habit that separates tidy files from the ones you dread opening in six months.
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Exporting your work
Keep your working Illustrator file as the master and export copies for different uses. Use a PNG for web graphics that need a transparent background, a PDF for printers and an SVG for graphics that must stay sharp on a website. If you're sending the editable file to somebody else, make sure the fonts and linked images travel with it, or the design will look different on their machine. It's worth testing by opening the exported file somewhere else.
Common beginner mistakes
- Drawing everything on one layer, which makes edits painful.
- Using too many anchor points on a path, which makes curves lumpy.
- Starting without setting the artboard size, then rescaling the artwork later.
- Forgetting that text may need to be converted to outlines before sending to a printer, if the printer doesn't have your font.
My verdict
Start small. Learn the workspace, set the artboard, draw some shapes and try Image Trace on a simple image. Mask instead of cropping when you're unsure, and always keep your layered file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start using Illustrator?
Create a document, learn the Toolbar, Properties panel and artboard, practise with shapes, the Pen tool and text, and save your working .ai file.
What's the difference between Illustrator and Photoshop?
Illustrator works with vector paths that stay sharp at any size. Photoshop works with pixels and suits photo editing.
What is the default Illustrator workspace for beginners?
Adobe says that if you're new to Illustrator the default workspace is Getting Started.
How do I resize an artboard?
Select it and drag the bounding box, or type Width and Height values in the Artboard Options dialog box.
How do I turn a picture into vector artwork?
Place the image, open Window, Image Trace and choose a preset.
