Adobe
Illustrator Advanced
Master complex vector techniques: gradient meshes, 3D effects, advanced type and path editing for professional design work.
Format
Live instructor-led
Hands-on, question-led sessions
Location
London NW10 or online
9 Station Terrace, NW10 5RT
Level
Advanced level
Small groups, hands-on, expert-led
Upcoming dates
Wed 23 – Thu 24 September 2026
Live Online
£565£585
Thu 8 – Fri 9 October 2026
Classroom
£585
Mon 9 – Tue 10 November 2026
Classroom
£585
Mon 23 – Tue 24 November 2026
Live Online
£585
Tue 8 – Wed 9 December 2026
Classroom
£585
Tue 22 – Wed 23 December 2026
Live Online
£585
Booking for a team? Want a different date?
Get team trainingInvoice payment available · Prices subject to VAT
Who this course is for
This course is for experienced Illustrator users, artworkers and designers who already have solid competence with the software and want to master advanced vector techniques such as gradient meshes, 3D effects, complex path editing and high-end output for professional, production-ready design work.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with intermediate Illustrator techniques including working with paths, layers, and basic effects, or have attended our Illustrator Intermediate course.
What you'll learn
Advanced techniques for vectors, to create sophisticated and visually stunning designs.
How to use advanced effects, 3D tools and perspective drawing, to add depth and realism to your artwork.
Understanding complex masking, blending and transparency techniques, helping you create intricate and visually rich designs.
How to work with dynamic symbols, graphic styles and templates, enabling you to streamline your workflow and maintain design consistency.
Exploring automation techniques using actions and scripts, helping you increase productivity and handle repetitive tasks efficiently.
Using meshes, live paint, shape building, graphing and the colour guide, to enhance your advanced techniques.
Understanding best practices for collaboration and version control, enabling you to manage complex projects effectively and ensure seamless teamwork.
Course outline
What you’ll cover
Appearance and Graphic Styles
- Understanding appearance
- Adding new fills and strokes
- Effects in the Appearance panel
- Saving appearance as a Graphic Style
- Style duplicating, overriding and breaking link
- Style Libraries
Drawing
- Getting full control of the pen tool
- Amending, splitting, joining and manipulating paths
- Using Shape Builder to combine, edit and fill shapes
- Simplify
Brushes
- Practical examples of Calligraphic, Art, Pattern and Scatter Brushes
- Modifying the brush options
- Editing existing and creating new brushes
Patterns
- Advanced pattern behaviour - transform pattern, object and both
- Editing the pattern tile
Shape Manipulation
- Clipping Masks
- Compound Paths
- Transformation, Align and Pathfinder with Shape Mode
- Blob brush, Shape Builder
- Live Paint
Envelope Distort
- Makes with Top object, Warp and Mesh
- Expanding and releasing
Tools
- Brush and pencil tool customisation
- Distorting and warping tools
- Using effects and graphic styles
- Polar and arc grids
- Group Select, Magic Wand
Opacity Masking
- Creating and applying Masks
- Modifying and updating mask content
Working With Colour
- Understanding Illustrators Swatches
- Creating Gradient and Pattern Swatches
- Colour Guide - Recolour Art and Harmonies
- Colour Themes
- Loading Pantone Libraries
- Saving and exporting Swatches and ASE
- Gradient Options
Effects and Filters
- Distort and Transform, Stylise and other Illustrator Effects
- Photoshop bitmap effects
- Effect Gallery
Perspective Grid
- Choosing a Perspective Grid preset
- The Perspective Grid tool
- The Perspective Selection tool
- Drawing new objects in perspective
- Attaching art to a perspective plane
- Mapping a perspective grid to a photo or drawing
Working With Layers
- Creating and understanding Layers
- Selecting and arranging Layers
- Duplicating Layer content
- Releasing and flattening Layers
Text In Illustrator
- Creating and threading multiple text containers
- Modifying threaded text
- Area Type v. Point Type v. Area Fill
- Text on a Path Options
- Using Text Wrap and options
- Character and Paragraph Styles
- Special characters with the Glyph Palette
Symbols
- Manipulating and updating symbols
- Symbol sprayer and its properties
- Other Symbol tools
The 3D Effect
- Rotate, Extrude and Bevel, Revolve
- Mapping Symbols onto Surfaces
- Transparent surfaces
Print work
- Setting up for professional printing
- Understanding transparency flattening
- Creating Crop Marks
- Page Tiling
- Exporting Multiple Page PDF
- Using the Area Crop Tool to export pre-defined areas
- Document Raster Effect Setting
Web Output
- Asset Export
- Slicing and exporting
- Multiple artboards output
- Separations Preview
- Flattener Preview
Miscellanous
- Creating and recording Actions and saving Action Sets
- Batch Processing
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Using Scripts
- Preferences
Included
- Live expert-led instruction
- Practical exercises and workflow examples
- Live Q and A and troubleshooting with the trainer
- Follow-up support guidance
Frequently asked questions
Is this Illustrator Advanced course suitable for me?
This course is designed for people who have experience in Illustrator or have already attended one of our Illustrator training courses or who would like to further their knowledge of best practice in the use of Illustrator. If you are have any questions about whether the course could meet your needs, please speak to our customer service team, who will be delighted to advise you.
How is the content taught throughout the Illustrator Advanced course?
Our Illustrator Advanced course is extremely interactive. You will be using Illustrator throughout the day, working through examples and live projects under the guidance of our trainer, who will be supporting you through each step.
How many people are likely to be in the class when I attend the Illustrator Advanced course?
We have the smallest class sizes in the industry. On average there are 2 to 3 people on our Illustrator Advanced public courses. When we are oversubscribed, rather than put more people on the same course, we open up a new course date, which ensures everyone has maximum interaction with our trainer and the chance to ask questions throughout the day.
Should I attend the Illustrator Advanced course in person or live online?
For in-person courses at our London training centre, you will receive a warm personal welcome, your choice of the latest Mac or PC and morning and afternoon refreshments. If you prefer to attend remotely, rest assured that you will be taught live by the same experts that deliver our in-person courses, covering the same training content, using the same exercises and materials. A second monitor is recommended but not essential.
What support is available after I attend the Illustrator Advanced course?
We offer ongoing support to our Illustrator Advanced course attendees through email and by arrangement, phone calls. You are welcome to ask any questions on topics covered during training. Our trainer will always do their best to explain principles and help you with any issues you encounter.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of my Illustrator Advanced course?
Yes, you'll receive a certificate of completion from Transmedia, demonstrating your knowledge and attendance on our Illustrator Advanced course. Our certificates note our Authorised Training Centre status.
Reviews
Just finished a bespoke course in Photoshop and AI. Learned an awful lot. My trainer was very knowledgeable and was very happy to answer lots of questions that I had throughout. Highly recommend.
Rachel P — June 2026
Gorgeous premises and lovely, knowledgeable team. I really enjoyed my course - the tutor was friendly and professional and happy to answer any questions and tailor the course.
Quadrotech — June 2026
Fantastic and super valuable training! Our trainer shaped the training fully to our needs, adapted, accelerated and deep diving when needed. I learned so much these past days with tangible examples.
Adobe — June 2026
The trainer was excellent. He kept the course interactive and engaging. The small sessions made it easy to get clarifications. The pleasant office is well situated, so easy to find and get to.
UNICEF — June 2026
Fantastic and super valuable training! Fantastic and super valuable training! Tony shaped the training fully to our needs, adapted, accelerated and deep diving when needed. I learned so much these past days with tangible examples Tony provided.
Adobe — June 2026
The trainer, Lee, was excellent. He rattled through the key elements of Premiere Pro while keeping the course interactive and engaging. The small sessions made it easy to get 1:1 support or clarifications. The pleasant and well equipped office is well situated in Kensal Rise, so easy to find and get to. I learnt a alot - and now feel up to date with latest Premiere Pro options and AI integrations.
UNICEF — June 2026
The training was great, thank you. My trainer was very thorough with everything and I definitely left with new knowledge and skills. And thanks for sending the materials across.
Live Union — June 2026
Hi Brook, Sorry for the delay - I was on AL yesterday! The training was great, thank you. Tony was very thorough with everything and I definitely left with some new knowledge and skills. I'll leave a review later today. Thanks for sending the materials across. Have a lovely rest of your day!
Live Union — June 2026
Our trainer was great. Very knowledgeable and also flexible with adjusting to our very specific questions and scenarios. I learned loads and look forward to using my new Figma skills.
Adobe — June 2026
One of the better training sessions I've had in years. I highly recommend anyone who wants to learn more about Figma, but also any other Adobe Creative Cloud application, to take courses here.
Adobe — June 2026
The Design and Development areas of Clarks shoes has been using Transmedia as a training partner for eight years now, mainly in the 'creative' Adobe applications - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Premiere. In that time we have built an excellent working relationship with the management and admin teams and several of their core trainers. This has had a major influence in raising the skill levels and quality of our artwork across our design teams- recently extending across the Atlantic, delivering training to our US based designers. Staying with Transmedia has given us continuity and enabled the trainers to really come to understand what Clarks require and thus able to deliver real value for money. The staff are always friendly and a pleasure to deal with - whilst being efficient and professional throughout. Nothing is ever too much trouble. I really can't recommend Transmedia highly enough.
Clarks International — June 2026
I wish all training courses were run this well!
RPS Design — June 2026
The course was excellent - exactly to my company's needs. All questions were answered and concepts explained very clearly.
Hannah Griffiths — June 2026
First class - The trainer was extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions.
MOD — June 2026
We found the course very useful and wished that we had more time. I was really impressed by our trainer's expertise in software that's being updated very frequently.
Baillie Gifford — May 2026
Wonderful trainer Lisa - fun, friendly, informative and comprehensive course! Thank you very much indeed.
Structural Soils Ltd — May 2026
Very much appreciated and enjoyed the introductory course. It was very in-depth and Tony did a fantastic job of covering each individual section of Figma in great detail; no stone was left unturned. Tony is clearly passionate about what he does, which made the course that much more enjoyable and valuable. Looking forward to the advanced course next month - eager to continue learning more from him.
Wren Kitchens — May 2026
I really enjoyed my course. Tony is a really good trainer and tailored the day according to my level and needs.
Delegate — May 2026
Very thorough course and enthusiastic trainer who was very helpful and responsive to individual needs.
NVIDIA — May 2026
Very helpful, informative training. Relaxed atmosphere and felt very comfortable asking questions.
The White Company — May 2026
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