Understanding Layers – Illustrator for Beginners
I’ve been wanting to do some sort of a beginner series on Adobe Illustrator. When teaching or training others who help me on my graphics business, I see how vital it is to understand the very basics of using Adobe Illustrator. What I’ve been able to know automatically, because of my heavy use of the program, may be a struggle for someone trying to do the most simplest task. Today I am starting my “Illustrator for Beginners” series and I am SUPER excited about it. And first up is understanding layers! So let’s get started.
Arrangement of Artwork, Text, and Images
I like to think of understanding layers in Illustrator as a scrapbook. You know, the your mom would arrange childhood pictures in plastic sleeves in a mega huge binder? Go with me here – creating artwork on illustrator has the same basic idea as creating a scrapbook page. Elements stack on top of each other to create a finished piece. You have a base paper, then a photo, then a frame element on top of the photo, then maybe a cute ribbon on top of the photo.
This is similar in illustrator – all elements are arranged in layers. In the layers panel, you can arrange these elements by moving them above or below each other. The element on the bottom will be behind everything. The element on the bottom is on top of everything.
Video Contents/Jump to Links
3:48 Using the properties panel
8:00 The layers panel
8:58 Creating a new layer
10:00 Moving objects within a layer
10:27 Colorizing layers for organizational purposes
11:07 Naming a layer
12:05 Selecting objects within a layer
12:58 Deleting a layer
14:22 Locking a layer
15:36 Locate an object within a layer
I did miss one thing on the video! There is a little eye icon next to where you can lock a layer. That eyeball icon can be clicked on and off to view and un-view that layer or object within the layer. I’m so sad I forgot that part because I hide and unhide unnecessary layers ALL the time! It’s nice because you can design multiple designs on one art-board on their own layer. Just click the eye icon to view or un-view the layer you need!
Understanding layers is absolutely crucial when first using Adobe Illustrator. Understanding where to find objects, how to move them, delete them, etc will become a subconscious skill you’ll get down the more you use Illustrator. And if you are on of those crazy organized people, you’ll even name and arrange layers so you can find what you need even faster.
The only thing I desperately wish Illustrator had was a way to search your layer names. Like Control/Command + F when you are looking for something specific text in a web page or word document. Hopefully someday Adobe!
Let me know if you would add anything to what I’ve described in the video! Illustrator is a never ending learning process – and I’m still learning new things! Even after using it for over 10 years myself! New and regular updates to the software pretty much forces any Illustrator user to continue to learn new tips and skills within this amazing software. Happy creating!
Learn more about Illustrator! All of my content involving Illustrator is found here. All of my Illustrator for Beginner tutorials are here! Happy learning!
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