Chapter 1: Building a Foundation beyond the Basics

Adobe Illustrator has been the industry leader in vector drawing software for decades and continues to be a very popular choice for graphics professionals. As you begin your journey into this book, it is very likely that you have been working with Illustrator for some time now but want to get more from the software and raise your skills to a higher level. It might also be the case that you haven't worked with Illustrator for very long and hope to hone your early skills.

Whatever the reason, creators of all levels can still benefit from a review of the ins and outs of the advanced features and options available within Adobe Illustrator. This chapter can quickly check your confidence level and raise it even higher as you prepare to delve deeper into mastering this software. Although this is not going to be a thorough list of all the foundational knowledge you would need in order to master Illustrator, it is intended to get you on stable footing as we move forward in this journey of harnessing its power.

After reading this chapter, you'll understand how to organize and save customized workspaces. You will also know how to utilize the Properties panel and Control panel to select attributes and become more efficient with the use of panels and shortcuts for often-used tools and tasks. You will be able to stay organized by using a grid, guides, and/or smart guides, and finally, keep up to date with the latest enhancements offered for Illustrator.

To accomplish this, the chapter will be divided into the following main topics:

• Creating a file.
• Workspaces and preferences.
• Tools and the Control panel.
• Additional panels and shortcuts.
• The grid and guides.
• What's new in Adobe Illustrator 26.3.1?