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Dan Rodney/2 min read

Setting Preferences

Illustrator Vector Workflow

1

Set Up Document

Pixels for digital, points/inches for print. Add bleed if printing.

2

Build Shapes

Combine basic shapes with Pathfinder before reaching for the Pen tool.

3

Apply Color & Effects

Swatches panel for repeatable color; Effects for shadows, glows.

4

Export

SVG for web, PDF for print, PNG for raster handoff.

Master Illustrator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop's Illustrator Bootcamp teaches the Pen tool, vector drawing, and pro illustration.

Get started with this comprehensive guide on setting up Adobe Illustrator for optimal use, which includes preference adjustments, workspace configuration, and understanding the use of critical features.

Complete the following setup prior to beginning any exercises.

Topics Covered in This Illustrator Tutorial:

Setting up Preferences & Workspaces

Exercise Overview

To get started with this book, you’ll need to do some setup first. It’s important to do this exercise, or some things later in the book will not work correctly!

Setting Preferences

  1. Download the class files. Refer to the Downloading the Class Files page at the beginning of the workbook on how to download and install the class files.

  2. Launch Adobe Illustrator.

    NOTE: This book has been tested with Illustrator 2020. If you’re using an older or newer version, most things should still work the same or similarly.

  3. Go into the Illustrator menu (Mac) or the Edit menu (Windows) and choose Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display.

  4. Increase the size to match the settings below:

    preference anchor size

    NOTE: This changes the size of anchor points and handles. Enlarging them makes finding and selecting them easier. This preference will remain for future files.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Go to the View menu. If Smart Guides is checked, choose it to uncheck it.

Cleaning up the Interface

  1. Let’s make sure your interface is set up the same way as this book assumes. Go to Window > Workspace > Essentials Classic.

    NOTE: We like this workspace because it shows the Control panel at the top of the screen. The Control panel shows useful settings and makes Illustrator more like Photoshop and InDesign.

  2. Go to Window > Workspace > Reset Essentials Classic to reset the panels to their default locations.