Adobe Illustrator is known world round as being one of the most powerful and popular graphic design products on the market today. Illustrator has been used by literally millions of people and its results can be seen everywhere. From billboards to candy wrappers, Illustrator has been used in just about every marketing, advertising, and graphic design venue imaginable.



However popular this application may be, its sheer power and abundant features makes it one of the more difficult programs to truly master.

With its newest version, the features have been enhanced to include Live Trace, where users can accurately convert scanned images, photographs, and bitmap images to scalable vector paths. Live Paint is also included, which allows users to apply color anywhere they desire and to even use overlapping paths in order to make new shapes. By using this tool, the user can automatically detect and correct problems. Users can also use the grayscale function to assign a spot color to an embedded grayscale image, be the image linked or open.

By using the gradient mesh feature, a designer can replicate airbrush and watercolor effects by adding various colors to an image and control to a high degree the various transitions that take place between the colors.

Users can also easily enhance their work with supplementary design elements. This particular tool uses the scale, color, and spray functions.

In addition to the above, there are also various brushes available as well as unique special effects tools. And this is just the beginning of the list of tools and features that Illustrator has available for the user.

As you can see, the program is packed with useful features and this is one of the main reasons it is so popular. But how does one learn how to use all of these functions and tools?

If going back to school is simply not an option for you, and it is truly not an option for many working adults, then consider the next best choice, which is online training.

But even online training can be tricky, and at times risky, if you do not find the right company to work with you. Some considerations that you may want to explore include: Is the material taught by experts? Is the material presented in such a way that you can understand it without pulling your hair out? Is the material based on fact? Does the material offer step-by-step instruction on how to use the program, starting with the basics and advancing at a pace that you are comfortable with? Do the training materials come on a CD that you can keep and use in the future to reference back should you need a refresher course on something?

These are only a few of things you check into before buying any course that is offered online. Using careful judgment, you can avoid being scammed by less than honorable companies.

Should you be interested in visiting a company that offers excellent training materials, visit Smart Digital Australia at . Smart Digital Australia offers a variety of educational materials that will help you master all aspects of digital media.