Adobe Illustrator Introduction Course: Onsite & Online Training
A practical introduction to Adobe Illustrator for complete beginners or anyone with slightly rusty skills. This hands‑on course shows you how to work confidently with shapes, colour, typography and artwork to create professional graphics for print or digital use.
Adobe Illustrator Essentials Training
This Introduction course gives you a clear, structured start with Illustrator. You’ll learn the essential tools, techniques and workflows used in real‑world design projects, with plenty of guided exercises and support throughout.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Work confidently with shapes, paths and drawing tools
- Use colour, swatches, gradients and strokes effectively
- Add and format text using Illustrator’s typography tools
- Organise artwork with layers, groups and artboards
- Apply effects, transformations and basic creative techniques
- Prepare and export artwork for print, web and social media
If you need a higher level later on, we also offer Intermediate, Advanced, and specialist Illustrator courses for fashion, product design and technical illustration.
Who is this Illustrator course for?
This Introduction course is ideal if you are:
- Completely new to Adobe Illustrator
- Self‑taught and want a proper, structured foundation
- A designer, marketer or business owner creating graphics for work
- A social media manager producing simple visuals
- Returning to Illustrator after a break and needing a confidence boost
- Looking for a friendly, supportive introduction without jargon
No previous Illustrator experience is required.
How the training works
This Illustrator course can be delivered onsite at your premises or live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Both formats are fully interactive, with clear demonstrations, guided exercises and plenty of time to ask questions.
If you choose online delivery, you’ll be able to share your screen whenever you need help, and the session runs exactly as it would in person, just without the travel.
You can find full details on setup, platforms and what to expect on the Online Training Guidance page.
For online sessions, you’ll need:
- A computer with Adobe Illustrator installed
- A mouse or graphics tablet (optional but helpful)
- A stable internet connection
Onsite sessions simply require a suitable room and access to Illustrator on each delegate’s computer.
Customised Illustrator Training for Businesses and Individuals
This course is taught at Introduction level but any of the Adobe training courses can be tailored. If your team needs something more specific, we can adapt the content to suit your projects, experience levels or workflow.
You can also choose to complete a small bespoke project during the session for example a social media post, a simple flyer, a logo concept or any small piece of artwork that’s relevant to your work. It’s a great way to put your new Illustrator skills into practice straight away.
We also have a hybrid Illustrator courses where we add or remove topics from other Illustrator sessions, or build a completely bespoke workshop that blends tools from across the Adobe suite. This could include Photoshop, InDesign, or Premiere Pro if that supports your workflow, it’s totally your choice.
Whether you need a gentle beginner start, a mixed‑ability team session or a course shaped around your own files, the training can be customised to fit exactly what you need.
Illustrator Course Content
Getting started with Adobe Illustrator
- Interface, panels and workspace
- Navigating documents
- Artboards and document setup
Working with shapes and drawing tools
- Basic shapes and transformations
- Pathfinder and Shape Builder
- Drawing with the Pen and Pencil tools
- Dimension tool for precise artwork measures
- Global Edit tool finds, selects, updates across multiple boards
Colour, swatches and strokes
- Fill, stroke and colour controls
- Swatches, gradients and global colours
- Using the Eyedropper and Colour Guide
Working with text
- Point type vs area type
- Character and paragraph formatting
- Type on a path
- Basic typography principles
- Intertwine Tool for overlapping vector paths, circle the intersection – perfect for logo creation
Layers, groups and organisation
- Layers panel essentials
- Grouping and arranging objects
- Locking, hiding and isolating artwork
Images and artwork
- Placing images
- Embedding vs linking
- Tracing artwork (basic Image Trace)
Working with Illustrators new tools (None AI)
- Dimension Tool: calculate the exact vector distance in tech specs
- Intertwine Tool for overlapping vector paths, circle the intersection
- Global Edit: an incredible useful timesaver that scans artboards for identical technical properties
Exporting and saving your work
- Export for print
- Export for web and social media
- File formats explained
Adobe AI Tools - Optional
If you’d like to explore Illustrator’s newer AI‑assisted features, we can include a short beginner‑friendly introduction. These tools can help you work faster, experiment with ideas and simplify tasks that used to take much longer.
You’ll see how to:
- Generative Shape Fill: Generate simple vector shapes, fills, or variations using Firefly‑powered tools.
- Generative Recolor: Recolor your artwork instantly using descriptive text prompts.
- Smart Clean-Up: Tidy up messy vector paths and anchor points with AI‑assisted clean‑up tools.
- Contextual Taskbar: Speed up everyday workflows with smart, automated menu options.
- Mockup: Instantly warp 2D vector artwork onto a 3D object image (like a t-shirt or mug) with perfect perspective in one click.
- Text to Vector Graphic: Generate fully editable, layered vector icons, scenes, or patterns using simple English text prompts.
- Retype: Scan static raster text or an image to automatically identify the font and convert it into editable, live text
These features are introduced as optional if you want to include them. They’re designed to support your learning, not replace the core Illustrator skills you’ll be building.
5* Reviews for Greta Powell Training
“I had a great in‑person training session with Greta. The day was taken completely at my pace, with time to tailor the content to what I actually use day to day at work. We covered a lot across Illustrator and Photoshop, and everything was explained clearly. Greta is very friendly and made me feel at ease straight away. It’s brilliant knowing I have ongoing support if I ever get stuck.” Smart Payment Technologies Ltd, Coalville
“Greta delivered training to our team at Walsall College and was an amazing instructor, fast‑paced, clear and incredibly supportive. She took time with anyone who needed extra help and made the whole group feel confident. I’ve always had a barrier with computers, but after the first day I couldn’t wait to get back on it. I can’t recommend her enough.” Wayne Aveline, Fashion Designer & Senior Lecturer, Walsall College
Ready to get started with Illustrator?
If you’d like to book this Introduction course or check availability, just get in touch. We’ll help you build solid, practical Illustrator skills in a clear and confidence‑boosting way.
Illustrator Beginners Course FAQ
How does the Online Adobe Illustrator Introduction Course work?
As with the onsite Adobe courses our Online Illustrator Training Courses are flexible and can be customised to individual and group training.
It can be delivered on video software of your choice including both Zoom and Teams and are available across all timezones.
They are delivered via live instructor in a virtual environment where you can share screens and interact with one another.
How does the Onsite Adobe Illustrator Introduction Course work?
Onsite Illustrator training is extremely flexible and can be organised for one to one sessions, company groups /workshops and larger team roll-outs
- The trainer comes directly to you
- No travel, hotels or other expenses are involved for your staff
- The course is focused on your objectives as there are no external attendees.
- Prior to the course we organise a meeting to discuss the training course
- Flexible dates and times.
Who is this Illustrator Introduction Course for?
This is an Introduction to Illustrator Course so perfect for beginners or those looking for refresher training. It can be run as a one to one session or for small company groups.
It’s a comprehensive course so ideal for anyone wanting to work in vector graphics.
The course is ideal for beginners or anyone with limited skills wanting to extend their knowledge.
Over the years the course has been delivered to a wide range of areas including content creators, artworkers, marketeers, designers, product designers, fashion designers and educators.
If you want to create vector graphics then being the industry standard Illustrator is an excellent choice.
What will you learn on this Illustrator Introduction Course?
On this Adobe Illustrator Introduction training course you will learn how to create, edit and retouch images for a range of different purposes including both digital media, print and the web.
You will work with the interface, tools and Illustrator features to produce high quality artwork.
Our digital design courses are extremely flexible and can be tailored around you and your company so you can create artwork relevant to you.
For example you may want to change logos, colours and perspective of clothing or design high impact flyers and infographics or specialise in social media icons and logo design. It’s your choice and your Illustrator course.
On this Illustrator training you will learn how to:
- Work with Illustrator Tools, Panels & Interface
- The Illustrator AI Tools /Generative Fill /Generative Recolour
- Use Illustrator’s Selection Tools
- Create, Edit & Manipulate Geometric Shapes
- The Drawing Tools
- Use Illustrator’s Layout Tools Grids, Guides, Smart Guides
- Illustrator Type Tools
- Work with Images
- Exporting /Printing to Print & Web
The full course outline is available at the bottom of the page. We constantly update our Illustrator Training materials to incorporate new tools one of which is Illustrator’s wonderfully named Intertwine Tool.
Download our Adobe Illustrator Introduction Training Course Overview
What is Vector Artwork?
- Use to create Vector artwork (you can find out exactly what vector artwork is here) some examples would be:
- Create logos, symbols, icons for screen, digital, print & video
- Website Mockup Design
- Design Packaging
- Social Media Icons
- Social Media Images & Posts
- Infographics
- Charts, Graphs & Spreadsheets (to enhance documents like financial reports & tenders)
24 /7 and Weekend Illustrator Training
Our Online Adobe Training Courses are available on any time zone. We offer 24 hour availability, evenings, overnight and during the weekend.
We run our online training sessions via the most popular video conferencing software including Zoom, Teams, Google and WebEx. It’s your choice which one you prefer.
Do you record the Online Adobe Illustrator Training Sessions?
We do but due to privacy issues can only offer this to one to one courses and closed company groups.
How to Book an Adobe Illustrator Introduction Course
Booking with us
Please get in touch with us via the online booking form.
We will then get in touch and send the details of booking reservation and find out your timeframe for training.
We will then send across dates.
Once the booking is confirmed we then organise a pre-course call /meeting to discuss the course and any logistics around the day.
Payment
Payment for training is via BACS or Credit Card
Credit Card payment is via Stripe
*Greta Powell Training Ltd does not collect or store your card details.
Purchase Orders
We accept purchase orders from UK registered companies and the public sector.
Onsite Illustrator Course Across the UK (London, Midlands, Manchester & Leeds)
- Midlands & Central: Birmingham, Leicester, Derby, Northampton, Kettering, Rugby, Daventry
- East & South: Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford, St Albans, Oxford, Cheltenham
- North: Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool
