80 best Adobe Illustrator tutorials
Guest Contribution
Adobe Illustrator remains the industry standard for vector-based design, despite ever-improving competition from the likes of Sketch and Affinity Designer. Whether you’re designing an icon, logo, app interface, typography, or a complex illustration, Illustrator has some powerful tools to bring your ideas to visual life.
In this post, we bring together the best Adobe Illustrator tutorials to help you create whatever you want to. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran, you’ll find high quality, free lessons here to boost your skills.
Once you’ve got to grips with how to use Illustrator, it’s worth thinking about how you can boost the software with custom Illustrator brushes or add functionality with Illustrator plugins.
Don’t have Illustrator CC? No problem, you can get it now as part of a Creative Cloud subscription. Or, if you’re short on cash or just starting out in design, take a look at our roundup of free alternatives to Adobe CC software.
Tutorials for beginners
This entry-level series of Illustrator tutorials teaches you the basic tools and techniques you need to get started with the software. Discover the ins and outs of the Illustrator workspace and learn how to open and save your images.
01. Illustrator basics in 3 minutes
Totally new to Illustrator? Then first get a quick overview of what it can do and how to use it, in this short and snappy video tutorial from Daniel White, aka Danksy.
02. Adobe Illustrator CC 2018 tutorial
Maybe you’re an old hand at Adobe Illustrator, but a newcomer to the latest Creative Cloud version? In which case check out this 30 minute video, which takes you through all the new features in the 2018 release, how they work, and what you can use them to make.
03. 10 essential Adobe Illustrator CC2017 tips
Although this excellent collection of tips was designed with the 2017 release of Adobe Illustrator in mind, it has relevance beyond that version (note, however, that previous builds don’t support the rounding corners and join tool that are used in the tutorials). As YouTube user ‘bobacks’ comments: “Amazing tips. Even after 19 years of usage, I learned some new things.?”
04. Create and edit shapes
This tutorial introduces you to the process for creating and editing shapes in Adobe Illustrator CC using the Shape tools. Learn how to draw, combine, and trace shapes using the sample files provided.
05. Transform and edit artwork
In this tutorial you’re walked through the basics of transforming and editing artwork in Adobe Illustrator CC. Learn how to resize artwork, use groups, align objects and more using the Selection tool, Transform panel, and other transform tools.
06. Change colour and strokes
Discover how to apply colours to your artwork in this Illustrator tutorial. You’ll also be introduced to how to change an object’s colour, create swatches and recolour artwork.
07. Create with drawing tools
This tutorial walks you through the concepts of Paths and Curves in Illustrator CC and introduces the tools you need to create and edit them, including the Pencil and Curvature tools.
08. Organise content with layers
Here’s a great beginner-level introduction to layers in Adobe Illustrator CC. You’ll discover how they work, what they’re for and how to use them to create, edit and organise content.
09. Create and Edit Gradients
This introduction to working with gradients in Illustrator CC explains how to create different types of gradients and modify options such as colours, position, and opacity.
10. Explore the Essentials workspace
Learn how to customise your workspace using the Properties panel in Illustrator CC, allowing you to find and use the right controls when you need them.
11. Get to know the drawing tools in Adobe Illustrator CC
Illustrator has a wide variety of drawing tools found in the Tools panel, each allowing you to create in different ways. In this tutorial, you’ll gain an understanding of the Pen tool, Pencil tool, Curvature tool and Paintbrush tool.
12. Draw and edit curves using the Curvature tool
The Curvature tool in Illustrator CC enables you to draw smooth, refined curves and straight lines easily. This tutorial offers you five simple exercises to help you understand how to use it.
13. Add text to your designs
This beginner-level tutorial introduces you to the basics of using text in Illustrator CC. You’ll learn how to add text, apply formatting, reshape and style it, and place it on or inside a path.
14. How to duplicate objects around a circle
Spencer Martin, aka Pixel & Bracket, dishes out some great beginner tips here during a tutorial that describes how to duplicate objects around a circle using the transform effect to create a non-destructive repeated shape.
15. Add images and artistic effects
This tutorial begins by explaining the basics of adding images to your projects in Adobe Illustrator CC. It then walks you through how to add and edit effects, apply brush strokes, and more.
16. How to share artwork
Learn the basics of sharing in Adobe Illustrator CC in this tutorial. Topics covered include how to share files, how to save them as PDFs, and how to export your images.
17. Work with artboards
This tutorial explains the function of artboards in Illustrator CC, which are similar to pages in InDesign CC or Microsoft Word. Watch the three videos and you’ll soon learn how to create multiple artboards and edit them.
18. Create and edit artwork with the Paintbrush and Pencil tools
With the Paintbrush tool, you can draw a path and apply a brush to the stroke at the same time to give paths an artistic look. This tutorial explains how to use the Paintbrush and Pencil to create expressive, free-form drawings.
19. Start creating with the Pen tool
The Pen tool is one of the most powerful drawing tools in Illustrator. With it, you can create and edit anchor points that make up paths. In this tutorial, you’ll learn the fundamentals of drawing with precision using the Pen tool, to create straight and curved paths.
20. Practise creating with the Pen tool
Once you’ve covered the fundamentals of the Pen tool in the tutorial above, these exercises will help you practice your Pen tool skills by creating new artwork.
21. Edit paths you draw
Learn how to edit the paths in your artwork using a variety of tools and options, including the Pen tool, Curvature tool, Anchor Point tool, and others.
22. Create artwork behind and inside with drawing modes
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the drawing modes, Draw Inside and Draw Behind, to easily and quickly add interest to your artwork.
23. How to use the Color Picker
The Color Picker allows you to select and apply colors to your artwork in Illustrator CC. This six-step tutorial demonstrates how to do so.
24. Export high-quality, optimised SVG
Once you’ve created your vector artwork in Illustrator CC, you need to export it. This tutorial explains how to export lightweight, modern SVG (scalable vector graphic) files.
25. Export assets for web and app design
It’s important to be able to share your assets with others in different formats. Since 2015, Illustrator CC has offered an option to export higher quality SVG artwork for use in web and app projects. This tutorial explains how to do so.
26. Combining shapes in different ways
Shapes are the building blocks of an illustration. This tutorial explains how to create complex shapes by combining simpler ones, using the Shape Builder tool and Pathfinder effects.
27. Illustrator shortcuts to speed up your workflow
If you’re not using shortcuts, you’re not maximising your productivity. Here’s a great list of shortcuts for handling layers, selections, text and more, along with some handy hints for brushes, saving and closing, and viewing options.
Next page: Intermediate Illustrator tutorials
28. Learn how to draw anything in Illustrator CC
This Illustrator tutorial is taught by certified Adobe Design Master Martin Perhiniak, who was voted as one of the top 10 Adobe instructors according to student feedback in 2015. The video explores different drawing techniques in Adobe Illustrator CC, to help you improve your skills when working with shapes. Take a look at this tutorial to learn some new tricks.
29. Create sets of product icons in Illustrator
Ben O’Brien – aka Ben The Illustrator – walks you through the process of creating simple yet effective sets of illustrated icons using Illustrator CC.
30. How to design graphic figures
Ben O’Brien explains how to turn your basic stick men into graphic figures with style and personality in this Illustrator CC tutorial.
31. Create your own calligraphic brush in Illustrator
One of the best things about Illustrator is the ability to create your own brushes. Here, Chris Rathbone explains how to create your own vector Illustrator brush in three simple steps.
32. How to draw a lace pattern
This tutorial demonstrates how to draw an ornate lace pattern with brushes, plus how to draw calligraphic elements. It is a textbook example of exactly how a YouTube tutorial should be – good pace, and clear instructions accompanied by a detailed walkthrough.
33. Design more efficiently with Dynamic Symbols
The Dynamic Symbols tool in Illustrator CC enables you to dynamically change a symbol’s attributes and streamline your artwork creation. This tutorial explains how to use it to create multiple instances of a master symbol, which then retain their link to the master symbol even when their shape and visual attributes are altered.
34. Speed up your design with templates
One way to speed up your design process is by using high-quality templates built right into Illustrator CC, which you can download from Adobe Stock. This tutorial explains how to find the right template and customise it for your own use.
35. Use the Perspective Grid
With Illustrator CC’s Perspective Grid, you can either place existing artwork in a perspective plane or draw directly on to the grid. This tutorial by Matthew Pizzi uses both methods to create a 3D gift box, plus you’ll learn an easy way to create a reflection.
36. Add painterly effects with brushes
This step-by-step tutorial teaches you to build up a detailed and impactful illustration by applying painterly brush strokes to objects, to add texture, interest, and details. Sample files are included to help you practise the techniques.
37. Quickly manipulate shapes with effects
In this tutorial, you’ll learn a quick way to manipulate shapes by applying non-destructive effects in Illustrator CC. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you’re encouraged you to experiment with variations using the sample files provided.
38. How to create a set of sexuality icons
In this step by step tutorial you’ll learn how to create a simple set of 10 icons using Illustrator. You’ll use vector shape building techniques, the Rounded Corners effect and the Rotate Tool.
39. Design a logo
This tutorial shows you how to use vector shapes to create a logo that will look good on screen as it does in print, and which combines imagery with text.
40. Create a web icon
In this tutorial you’ll learn how to modify simple shapes to create a camera icon to use as a social media profile image, and as a button linking to a portfolio on a digital CV.
41. Design a monogram
A monogram is a type of personal branding made up of one or more letters, typically initials, that may be intertwined as part of a design. This tutorial demonstrates how to use a simple shapes, a professional typeface and colour to create one.
42. Create an app icon
This step-by-step tutorial by Matthew Pizzi outlines how to create a calculator app icon in Illustrator. You’ll use a variety of shape tools, the Pen tool, and the 3D features of Illustrator CC.
43. Create a perfectly geometric logo design in Illustrator
This tutorial walks you through how to create a perfectly geometric logo design. Begin by creating an initial pattern using smart guides, then remove areas from shapes using the Shape Builder tool or Pathfinder tool, and add gradients.
44. The easy way to roughen your typography
In this video tutorial you’ll learn a quick and easy way to roughen your typography in Illustrator. This grungy, roughened effect is a good way to add an old-fashioned print effect to your designs.
45. Quickly join and trim paths
Learning to join paths is a great way to clean up your line work in Illustrator CC. This tutorial explains how to trim excess line segments from intersecting paths and close gaps between two open paths.
46. Create pixel-perfect designs
This tutorial walks you through three options for ensuring precision control over your designs as you draw them in Illustrator CC. You’ll learn how to create paths that automatically align to the pixel grid as you draw them; align art to the pixel; and customise the pixel-snapping feature.
47. How to create a shaded type effect in Adobe Illustrator
One way artists emphasise the curvature of their type is to apply shading, which adds an illusion of depth to the lettering piece. In this tutorial Chris Spooner shows you how to produce a shaded type effect in Adobe Illustrator.
48. How to create vector avatar characters with Illustrator
Cartoon-style avatars are a halfway house between formal representation and stylised illustration, allowing a degree of anonymity for the person pictured. In this tutorial, Chris Spooner uses the vector tools in Adobe Illustrator to produce a simple avatar character with a line art style and flat colours.
49. How to create a line art badge logo in Adobe Illustrator
Logo designs made in the style of line art, featuring simplified illustrations to produce a minimalist design, are a popular trend at the moment. In this tutorial Chris Spooner takes you through the process of creating your own line art badge logo design.
50. How to create a retro long shadow text effect
In this tutorial, Andrei Marius demonstrates how to create a retro long shadow text effect. You’ll learn how to work with the Appearance panel and use a Transform effect to add a long shadow effect to your text without expanding it.
51. How to create a rainbow text effect
In this tutorial, you’ll learn to create a simple square, multiply it using the Transform effect. You’ll then progress to turning a set of squares into a pattern brush. By combining this with the Width Tool, you’ll learn how to create a rainbow text effect.
52. Create a bones text effect
This tutorial walks you through setting up a simple grid and creating several shapes. Then, using the Rounded Corners effect and some basic vector shape-building techniques, you’ll learn how to create a bones text effect.
53. Create repeating patterns for skate deck art
This masterclass shows you how to use repeating, tiled patterns based on vector workings of real-world objects. By taking everyday objects, such as vegetables and kitchen utensils, and reworking them as stylised vector art, you can create some thought-provoking art.
54. Create seamless, Mexican-inspired patterns
In this step by step tutorial by Berlin-based artist Amrei Hofstätter, you’ll learn how to create a complex, colourful Mexican-inspired pattern using just two simple geometric objects in Illustrator.
Next page: Advanced Illustrator tutorials
55. Design a glass planet in Illustrator
This handy Illustrator tutorial walks through how to design a super-cool glass planet from scratch. Designer Nathaniel Dodson (aka tutvid) starts with line art using simple shape tools and the pathfinder, then shows you how to build out gradients.
56. Create a multi-exposure image with Adobe CC
In this tutorial, Ruslan Khasanov creates an illustration to express the concept of multilocalism. He explains how he went from vision to finished artwork using Photoshop, Illustrator, Dimension, Adobe Stock, and traditional paints.
57. Pose characters using the Puppet Warp tool
In this Illustrator tutorial, Ben O’Brien looks at how to get started with the Puppet Warp tool and how to use its various functions. He shows you how to rig characters in preparation for posing using the tool, how to use it to adjust graphic lines or objects, and how to use your skills to bring personality to a character.
58. Add a sense of motion to an artwork
In this tutorial, illustrator Eric Van Den Boom explains how you can use lines and patterns to add a sense of motion to your illustration or artwork.
59. Warp, pose, and sculpt your artwork easily
This advanced tutorial teaches you how to make smooth adjustments to parts of your vector drawings. The technique involves placing pins using the Puppet Warp tool, and then manipulating specific areas of your artwork accordingly.
60. How to create a faceted gemstone logo graphic
Here you’ll learn to create the multi-faceted and polygonal logo design style that’s popular right now in the tech and digital industries. Step by step, Chris Spooner explains how to use a range of tools to produce such a design in vector format.
61. A faster way to vectorise hand lettering with Illustrator’s Pen tool
Discover a speedy way to digitise hand-lettering and logotypes using Adobe Illustrator’s Pen tool. This video tutorial explains how to save time by mastering anchor points and handles.
62. Create a peeled text effect
In this step by step tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a flat background and add some text to it. You’ll then use the Appearance panel to create a bold, peeled text effect.
63. Bring harmonious colours to a vector artwork
Illustrator Andrew Groves aims to recreate the feeling of discovering the unexpected, by using as few shapes and colours as possible. In this tutorial, he walks you through how to do the same in your own artwork, using Illustrator CC.
64. The secrets of cute character art design revealed
In this Illustrator tutorial, Sascha Preuß reveals how to go about designing colourful cartoon characters and making them super-cute, from initial sketch to final colouring.
65. Create a pearl brush from gradient meshes
Learning to create your own brushes is a great way to take your vector illustrations to the next level. This tutorial walks you through the creation of a brush that you can use to create an impressive pearl necklace.
66. How to create colourful gradient orbs
This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Gradient Mesh tool to create a colourful circular orb, which can also be modified into an abstract shape with the Warp tool, ready for use in all kinds of branding or art projects.
67. How to create an editable bar chart
In this tutorial you’ll learn to create a fully editable chart in Illustrator using the Column Graph Tool. You’ll then use the Direct Selection Tool and the Graphic Styles panel to stylise the main components of your chart.
68. Create a custom drop cap
This step by step tutorial walks you through how to create a custom drop cap in Illustrator and then use it in an InDesign text layout.
69. Set a beautiful title
Want to design an eye-catching title for your next project? This tutorial shows you how to choose a high-quality typeface, apply unique typesetting, and use an easy colour matching technique.
70. Create a busy city scene
Discover how to bring some dynamics and atmosphere to a bustling street scene with this step-by-step guide by Ben O’Brien. You’ll be constructing architecture, adding figures, placing street furniture and experimenting with colour.
71. Create digital tattoo art
This tutorial explains how to progress from a simple sketch to a detailed, tattoo-inspired illustration using Illustrator. Royalty free files are included so you can follow the tutorial from beginning to end, and even incorporate your designs into client work.
72. How to create a distressed vintage style logo design
This tutorial walks you through the creation of a vintage style logo design for a T-shirt. It’s based on a distressed type based logo design, which is then finished with texturing to achieve an aged look.
73. Create vinyl wall art
In this tutorial, Ben O’Brien shows how to create and prepare artwork for making stylish vinyl wall stickers for decorating your home.
74. How to prepare Illustrator graphics for After Effects
So many Adobe Illustrator files are passed over for animation that are clearly not ready for After Effects. Follow this checklist from Jeff Hurd to ensure your designs are ready for animation.
75. Create a watercolour text vector effect
This tutorial walks you through how to create a couple of watercolour brushes, and use them to create a watercolour text vector effect.
76. Create stylish vector portraits from a photo
In this tutorial, Eelco van den Berg invites you behind the curtain to see how he creates his incredible vector portraits by turning a photo into a ‘poppy’ vector illustration.
77. Create 3D effects in Illustrator
Use Illustrator CC’s Gradient tool, Inner and Outer Glow effects and these nifty techniques to create vibrant 3D vector artworks. Karan Singh shows you how in this tutorial.
78. How to make minimalistic line drawings
In this tutorial, minimalist Italian artist Andrea Minini uses Adobe Illustrator CC’s Blend tool to turn two simple lines into an intricate vector illustration of a flower drawing.
79. How to create an isometric type effect in Adobe Illustrator
In this tutorial, Chris Spooner shows you how to create vector artwork featuring three dimensional type from an isometric viewpoint. This effect is commonly combined with bright colours to produce a fun design style.
80. Create a drip-effect portrait in Illustrator
In this tutorial, Tom Mac walks you through the process of creating a drip-effect portrait using Illustrator’s Pen tool, as well as explaining some clever object layering techniques.
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