Creating Maps, Charts, and Infographics with Adobe Illustrator Learn by Video

by Cairo, Alberto

• ISBN13: 9780321962041
• ISBN10: 0321962044
• Edition: 1st
• Format: DVD
• Copyright: 2013-10-21
• Publisher: Peachpit Press

Summary

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Acclaimed data visualization instructor and journalist Alberto Cairo provides you with a brief introduction to Adobe Illustrator’s tools and basic drawing techniques before diving into more advanced instructions specific to creating infographics. For example, if you’re already familiar with Illustrator, you can skip ahead to lessons that teach you how to use Illustrator’s Graph tool to design charts and greatly improve the look of your graphics. You’ll also learn how to trace maps; create complex, explanatory vector illustrations; use advanced coloring techniques; simulate 3D effects to create infographics in perspective; and use Illustrator’s Pen tool to draw just about anything.

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The video is wrapped in a unique interface that allows you to jump to any topic and also bookmark individual sections for later review. The unique Watch-and-Work mode shrinks the video into a small window to allow you to work alongside in Illustrator using project files that are included with the video course. And, at the end of every lesson, you can test your knowledge by taking interactive quizzes to help reinforce all of that freshly gained knowledge.

The instructor uses Adobe Illustrator CS6 in this video; however the design principles are applicable to all versions of Illustrator.

Duration:12 HR 17 min
User Level:¿Beginning/Intermediate

System Requirements:
Mac: OS X 10.7.5+ and Safari 6.0+
PC: Windows Vista+ and Firefox 22+
Hardware: DVD-ROM drive

Please Note:
* This DVD-ROM can be viewed on your computer, but it will NOT play in a DVD movie player.

* The course uses pop-ups; please enable them in your browser.¿For more information on how to enable Pop-ups please see our Learn By Video FAQ page¿http://www.peachpit.com/promotions/learn-by-video-faq-139397

Author Biography

Alberto Cairo is the author of The Functional Art: An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization (New Riders). He teaches infographics and data visualization at the School of Communication of the University of Miami. He has been director of infographics at El Mundo (Spain), and at Época magazine (Brazil), and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His website is www.thefunctionalart.com

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Illustrator for Infographics 

Get a foundational overview of Adobe Illustrator’s key tools, palettes, and panels.

2. Basic Illustrator Techniques 

Learn how to create, transform, and style text as well as several types of shapes.

3. Layout and Composition 

Use grids and Illustrator’s alignment tools to create a solid structure for your compositions. Learn to mask objects and photos and arrange a layout in which to place images and text for your infographics.

4. Graphs and Data Maps 

Use Illustrator’s Graph tool to design data maps and make your graphs look professional.

5. The Pen Tool 

Learn how to effectively use the Pen tool, arguably the most important tool in Adobe Illustrator when it comes to drawing anything.

6. Tracing Maps 

Combine different shapes into one with advanced tracing techniques using Illustrator’s Pathfinder tools and learn how to design a locator map based on copyright-free sources.

7. Explanatory Vector Illustrations 

Design a step-by-step explanatory graphic based on complex vector illustrations of hands, arms, and objects.

8. Advanced Coloring Techniques 

Learn how to create realistic shadows on objects using a broad variety of tools and techniques and how to create and store color palettes and apply them to complex illustrations.

9. Perspective Infographics 

Simulate three-dimensional (3D) effects in Illustrator and learn to draw infographics in isometric perspective.