Vector Graphics - Also known as object oriented. This graphic format is best for sharp images consisting of solid colors. They differ from Raster (bitmap) graphics often created in Photoshop in their look. Rasters can give you a photographic or painterly look that is often smooth, however this is dependent on a number of pixels (data/information) pen inch. The more pixels, the more detail (and the bigger the file size); the less pixels, the less detail and smaller the file size. This is not the case with vectors graphics. It does not matter what size you print or how big you make your images, because each element is treated to be mathematically scalable based on a consistent color or line value.

Pen Tool - Similar to Photoshop. This tool is the most used tool in Illustrator if you plan to create your own images from scratch. We will spend some time with it, so make sure to be acquainted with all the different pen tools and features. This tool functions in similar fashion as in Photoshop. So what you learned previously applies here. To use this tool, access from the tool palette begin to create a shape of your choice, by clicking your anchor points strategically to create the desired shape. It will take some practice to understand how this tool works. The hardest thing will be to predict how curves are created depending on where you place anchor points. To add points to a shape choose the Add Anchor Point Tool, and to delete points, add the Delete Anchor Point Tool. Also there's a Convert Anchor Point Tool which will get rid of corners.

Rectangle and Elipse Tool, and others - This tools are used to create geometrical shapes, including squares and Polygons. To get a sense for it, select one of the tools from the tool palette and click and drag anywhere on the Illustrator file.

Selection Tool - used to move an object around your page. To use select it from the palette menu, then select the object and move as desired.

Direct Selection Tool - useful to move part of an object. This tool is used often when creating shapes with the pen tool. Once you've created a shape with the pen tool you may select it from the menu palette, or use the shortcut: lettter A. The go up to the anchor point you want to adjust and move as desired. Tip: make sure that only the anchor point that you want to adjust is filled, all others should appear selected but with an empty square. If this is not the case, the click on the page to make sure you deselect the object, then go up to the desired anchor and click on it.

Rulers and Guidelines - useful to get a sense of your layout's size. To activate rulers, on the top menu select: View > Show Rulers. Then select guidelines by going up to the rules on the left and top sides of the canvas and click an drag out to the desired area.

Grid - useful to create accurate layouts. To access the grid, from the top menu select View > Show Grid

Align Tool - used to align objects. To access it, at the top menu select: Window > Align. Then use particular features to align to top, to the midle, from the bottom, etc. Experiment to get a sense of how the tool works.