Adobe Illustrator is a very powerful vector creation utility and is a great asset to any designers program suite. Vectors are useful in design because you can make the as small or as large as you want and they never become pixelated. Vector based designs can be used in web design, print ads, packaging, posters, and beyond. You name it, you can use a vector to create it. Below you will find a link to the best Illustrator tutorials of all time and there is over 100 of them. Prepare for greatness and be ready to learn a lot from these impressive and professional Adobe tutorials.

Feel free to download the initial PSD provided for this tutorial and continue along with the steps as I show you how to slice your file and create the HTML and CSS to make a W3 compliant website. You will also have to download the free font Tiza to complete this project. In this tutorial, I will show you how to use the slice tool in Photoshop to cut your PSD file into smaller jpg and gif images for use on the web. I will also show you how to optimize each image for the smallest page size possible online. Once the PSD is cut, we’ll work on creating the html and css files necessary to make the site live online.

We will be creating a realistic looking padlock icon in Photoshop. This icon can be used to show that something is secure on your site or you may want to use this icon to promote your premium section. We will be using gradients and layers to create this realistic looking lock and you will also learn how to create new layers on the artboard. Style the lock to your hearts desire to match the look of your personal site and let me know what you think of this tutorial in the comments section.

I challenge you to break out of the vector mold when designing in Illustrator CS5. Vector work can really be as minimal or extreme as you see fit. On paper / a wall or a computer screen, technique is only a means by which to reap the benefits of the process. Think of the art board as a pad of paper and you mouse or stylus as the pen in your hand. Think outside the box and set yourself free, let your creativity in real life transcend onto the art board and get organic in the vectors you create. That is how you separate yourself from the rest of the pack.