That's why actual work experience is so valuable, and highly prized by prospective graphic design employers. You'll come up against obtacles that will force you to find a solution - and this is how you learn. Set yourself a task and then see it through. The best way to learn any software is by doing. Adobe Illustrator How to Adobe Illustrator How to create a basic logo - learn by doing If you work in this way you'll always know to return to the AI for editing - and then to overwrite the EPS file for placement - never return to edit the EPS file. In summary, you'll end up with two files - an AI editable file and a flattened EPS file for placement. If you work 'destructively' by flattening a working file you effectively destroy all the editable layers when you flatten the image or rasterise type. We can always return to amend the original image without having to recreate it from scratch. This method of working is 'non-destructive'. We flatten the image and save it as either a TIFF or a Photoshop EPS file for placement. We always keep an original layered file, including all type information and adjustment layers so we can come back and alter it at a later date (if we need to). We do the same with Photoshop (PSD) files. When it comes to creating a press-ready graphic for placement in Quark or InDesign, we convert all the text to paths (or outlines), merge all layers and save the file as an EPS. However, (in my studio at least), good practice is to keep an original 'working' AI file, containing all layers, type information etc. Adobe Illustrator How to Adobe Illustrator How to work non-destructively Now you can also import AI files (Illustrator's native format) and PDF files with safe results - and InDesign is even more versatile and forgiving than Quark. Not so long ago, it was impossible or impractical to import a vector graphic into a layout program like Quark XPress unless it was saved as an EPS file. Whether you want to create a graphic for four color process print or for spot color print, you have to set up your swatches correctly and save the file in an appropriate format. The results you can achieve are amazing, but the basic rules stay the same. The capabilities of Adobe Illustrator have, in recent years, become more and more complex.

When using Adobe Illustrator how to create a press-ready vector image is the first and most fundamental lesson to learn if designing for print.

Adobe illustrator vectors