Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator: Basics, Tools, and Tips for Beginners

Name: Adobe Illustrator Training - Class 1 - Selection Tool Urdu / Hindi [Eng Sub]
Uploaded: 2026-01-21T09:52:28.208400+00:00
Channel: GFXMentor
Description: Summary and key takeaways on Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator: Basics, Tools, and Tips for Beginners, covering Introduction Welcome to the first

GFXMentor

Jan 21, 2026

•

3 min read

YouTube video ID: vd1vRpoWC3M

Source: YouTube video by GFXMentor — Watch original video

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Introduction

Welcome to the first Illustrator class by Imran Ali Dina (GFXMentor).
Clarifies the misconception of comparing Photoshop and Illustrator – they serve different purposes: Photoshop = raster image editing, Illustrator = vector illustration.
Highlights the growing demand for vector work such as logos, icons, flat designs, and mobile app UI.
Learning Illustrator opens freelance opportunities on platforms like Fiverr (low‑pay) and 99designs (better rates).

Illustrator Interface Overview

Tool Bar (left side): houses all drawing and editing tools; panels can be moved or hidden.
Panels (right side): contain options like Color, Layers, etc.; toggle with the double‑arrow button for a detailed view.
Artboards: act like pages; you can create multiple artboards when starting a new document.
New Document Dialog: choose preset sizes (mobile, web, print, film & TV) or set custom dimensions; units can be switched (inches, mm, etc.).

Essential Tools and Shortcuts

Selection Tool (V) – black arrow: select, move, resize, rotate objects.
Direct Selection Tool (A) – white arrow: edit individual anchor points.
Rectangle Tool (M) – click‑drag to draw; hold Shift for a perfect square; double‑click to input exact width/height.
Polygon Tool – set number of sides and radius; scroll wheel adjusts sides on the fly.
Zoom Tool (Z) – plus sign for zoom‑in, Alt for zoom‑out; also use Alt + mouse wheel or Ctrl + Spacebar.
Hand Tool (Spacebar while any tool active) – pan the artboard without moving objects.
Undo – Ctrl + Z.
Copy & Drag – hold Alt while dragging to duplicate; add Shift for straight (horizontal/vertical) placement.
Repeat Action – Ctrl + D repeats the last transformation (move, copy, etc.).
Select All – Ctrl + A.

Working with Shapes

Create rectangles, squares, and polygons; adjust size later using the bounding box and Resize Handles.
Maintain proportions while scaling by holding Shift.
Rotate objects by dragging outside a corner; Shift constrains rotation to 45° increments.
Use Ctrl + D to generate patterned repeats (e.g., beehive layout) after positioning a copy.

Color Management: Fill and Stroke

Fill – interior color of a shape.
Stroke – outline color and weight.
Change colors via the Fill/Stroke boxes or the Color panel; double‑click a box to open the swatch picker.
Apply color changes to multiple selected objects simultaneously.

Practical Tips for Beginners

Practice the basic tools before moving to complex shapes.
Keep the interface clean: hide panels you don’t need to maximize workspace.
Remember that vector graphics are resolution‑independent, allowing extreme zoom (up to 64,000% in CC).
Experiment with shortcuts to speed up workflow.
Ask questions in the comments and subscribe for future lessons (next class covers the Direct Selection tool).

Conclusion

Mastering Illustrator’s fundamentals—understanding the interface, essential tools, shortcuts, and color controls—gives you the foundation to create professional vector artwork and start earning as a freelance designer.

By grasping Illustrator’s core tools and workflow, beginners can confidently create vector graphics and unlock freelance earning potential without needing to watch the video again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is GFXMentor on YouTube?

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Yes, the full transcript for this video is available on this page. Click 'Show transcript' in the sidebar to read it.

Helpful resources related to this video

If you want to practice or explore the concepts discussed in the video, these commonly used tools may help.

Wacom Intuos Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet Recommended

Provides pressure‑sensitive drawing surface ideal for precise vector work in Illustrator, helping beginners create smooth lines and curves now

Amazon →

Adobe Illustrator Classroom In A Book

Step‑by‑step guide that reinforces video lessons, enabling learners to practice Illustrator techniques effectively today

Amazon →

Pantone Color Guide Book

Offers standardized color references for accurate Fill and Stroke choices in professional vector designs, essential for branding work now

Amazon →

Links may be affiliate links. We only include resources that are genuinely relevant to the topic.

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Full Transcript YouTube

Assalamu Alaikum, welcome to GFXMentor. I'm your teacher, or mentor, Imran Ali Dina.
Today, initially I'm starting Illustrator for you. 
So before starting Adobe Illustrator, there's something important I believe I should share with you.
The first question that comes...
Photoshop is good but Illustrator isn't that good
or Illustrator is good and Photoshop isn't.
Well we cannot compare, we shouldn't as there's no competition.
Because you see...
Adobe is one company which's making both softwares.
so obviously it won't raise a war between its own productions!
So first of all, keep in mind that these are different softwares.
Photoshop has a different job of editing images
Illustrator has a totally different job of making vector illustrations
Now what are vector and raster, I'll explain you later definitely
But for now just understand that this software is where you can design logos, icons and similar small things.
In fact if you go to a higher level, you can design a lot of things.
Besides it's a trend nowadays for flat designs.
I personally have designed many mobile apps on Illustrator.
So, Illustrator has... big scope!
If you learn it, the biggest advantage you get is that you can earn money!
You can go online and earn money. There are many websites, like Fiverr.
I don't recommend Fiverr, it pays very low prices (😁).
99designs you have. So there are many such websites where you can earn money online.
But definitely you have to learn first. So, c'mon let's start.
So this is your interface of Illustrator, and if you notice...
if you'd have seen Photoshop, it's similar to that to some extent.
If you see here first on the left side, this is the Tool Bar,
and there are many tools in here which you're going to use time to time for different tasks.
And Illustrator's interface is really interesting.
You can move these from their place and place them back too.
On the right side it's not Tool Bar, but called Panels instead.
I always recommend, the 2 arrows here, when clicking it, you can get enough detailed view.
only if it doesn't irritate you.
And if you need more screen space then I'll recommend keeping it closed.
Now ahh... let's start.
I am taking a new file
Now when taking a new file, it'll ask you few things
Like, what should be the size of your document, what are the properties...
I'm using Illustrator CC 2017
If you're using some older version, you'll find almost similar things there too, definitely.
So here are some custom sizes, these are which I've used recently.
And...
If you want to save something of your own, that also can be done here.
Here are options of mobile devices given too, also for web, print, film & TV, art & illustration.
so there are different sizes available.
For example the size for a postcard, given here,
If you come to the Print side...
from here I can simply select A4 or Letter size, and here are its width and height if you notice.
If you do calculations like measurement etc, you can change units from here
Or if you can even change it inside, after a new file is taken.
So now I'm keeping it on inches and... let's create!
There are some more details on the bottom which I'll discuss later
For now it's not needed as such, or you'll get confused.
Alright, "create".
So here I get a new document, and this is of letter size
If you noticed, when I was taking a new file, there appeared one more thing called Artboards.
If you need multiple pages... you can do it from here.
Like I need 2, 3 or 4 pages. And as I create, you can see a document appears with 4 pages.
For now I'm closing it.
Let's start from here, a single page.
So, first of all we'll start from Tool bar here.
See the very first tool given here, this is called Selection tool.
If you notice a black arrow is made on it.
Just next to it, is Direct Selection tool which has a white arrow on it.
Before using all these I'd like to tell you,
well first you need to make some shape then you can select it right?
Another thing is, all the tools given over here, you can see a tiny arrow alongside.
This arrow shows that there are additional tools inside, for example
If I stay clicked on it for a while, a dropdown menu will appear.
So let's start with this rectangle.
Now... it's one of those tools which you must've used several times, even in Paint.
If you have used Microsoft Paint then you must've made a simple box like this.
It's just the same, you can make simple rectangles in here.
Be sure to notice that if you...
only click and leave it, then it'll ask you for the size itself.
I'm cancelling it.
There are 2 ways, one is to click and drag. 
Now whenever I use the word "Drag", understand that you're clicking and pulling the cursor with the mouse.
And when you release then it'll be completed.
By releasing I mean leaving the mouse button, okay?
So from here if I click and drag, and release. See it'll make a rectangle for me.
And if you want to make a square, now, to do that no need for anything, 
simply press Shift from the keyboard and then drag.
Now whatever you do and wherever you go it'll only make square for you.
Size isn't a concern, you can resize it to a larger or a smaller one, it'll still give you a square, not rectangle.
You all know what a square is, all sides are equal.
So if I only click and leave it, then it'll ask me the size- width and height.
Right?
And here if I insert width, suppose 3 inches, and height I insert as 4 inches, and click Ok.
This becomes a rectangle.
And if I want 3X3 inches here, it'll make a square.
For Undo, Ctrl Z.
By the way, your other hand will be used a lot.
Many a times you have to press Ctrl, or Shift, or Alt and even all of them together.
So I'll keep telling you from time to time which keys to press.
Okay. So, ahh...
Why did I come on shapes? Obviously we got to see Selection tool. Here I make a very small square.
Now if you come over here, on the Selection tool,
What is the real job of Selection tool? Obviously to do selection!
Like if I select this, a box-like apparatus appears around it, that's called Bounding Box.
In here the small "boxes" you see, these are called Resize Handles.
Now alongside I'd also like to tell you few more things. See...
what'll I do, first let me zoom in a bit.
Do remember that there's a difference between zooming and resizing something.
To zoom means you're watching it closely, or making it bigger just for seeing,
you're not resizing it to a smaller or bigger size.
So for zooming there are many options, for example the Zoom tool is given here.
So if I take the Zoom tool, there's a magnifying glass appearing here 
which has a plus (+) sign in the middle, and if I press Alt, the sign will convert into a minus (-) sign.
As soon as I release it, it again will convert into plus (+) sign.
So if I click, it'll show bigger.
Another way, which's more simple.
That I...
The simpler way; you press Alt and move your mouse scroll.
If you scroll downward it'll zoom out, If scrolling upward it'll zoom in.
I mostly use this way.
Yet another way is pressing Ctrl and Spacebar.
So instantly the magnifying glass or the Zoom tool will appear.
Okay. Whichever tool you're using, if pressing Spacebar, a hand tool will appear with which...
you can pan your artboard, meaning you can move and see here and there.
Do remember you're not moving your objects, just moving the page or artboard and watching.
So, if I...
select it using Selection tool, the resize handles appearing here
What's the job of these? Obviously you can make it larger or smaller with these.
but keep in mind that if you...
don't press any key, then you can freely resize it larger or smaller.
But if, while keeping the same proportion, you want to increase or decrease in size,
then please do press Shift, the advantage of it is that
when you scale up or down, whatever you do, it'll be done proportionally.
That means the width and height ratio will remain the same.
So for example if it'd be a rectangle like this one,
and if I resized it with Shift, then it'd...
then it'd stay in the same dimension or proportion and could have been resized to smaller or bigger.
I'm doing Undo (Ctrl Z), keep in mind the shortcut.
Alright, I'm making it a bit smaller.
Now what's another job of Selection tool?
Well first was to select, the second one was to resize it.
The third job, you can move!
Wherever you wish, you can easily move and place it.
Fourth task- Rotate!
So if I... let me make it bigger.
So if I come just a bit outside the Resize Handle, notice your cursor looks slightly tilted.
And...
If at this moment I click and move, then see it'll start rotating.
And you can rotate to any angle and place it.
Okay now, one more thing.
Even in here while rotating I press Shift,
then it'll be a restricted rotation in a difference of 45 degrees.
So, if you intend to do 45 degrees, then do it with Shift.
If you intend 90 degrees, then rotate more.
Now...
One more important task.
If you select your object and drag it with Alt,
then it'll make a copy of your object.
Now what's the use of making a copy?
That whenever you wish, you can preserve a copy of it.
Though the shortcuts Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V for copy and paste (respectively), that can be used too.
but the biggest advantage of this option is that you can drag and keep it wherever you like.
One shortcut let me tell you which's very interesting-
Ctrl+D!
Now what Ctr+D does, whatever task you'll perform with your Selection tool, it'll repeat it.
So for example with Selection tool if I move this object,
and if I press Ctrl+D then in that same direction, in that same angle,
and in same distance
it'll move further as many times as I press Ctrl+D.
Please don't forget leaving your hand on Ctrl+D, or it'll run away!
Alright? Now...
If I... take a copy of it,
Okay one more thing which's very important,
if you're taking a copy and want the copy to be straight, meaning totally aligned,
Then be careful to press Shift in between somewhere when dragging with Alt
What'll happen when pressing Shift, that it'll move straight.
So if I bring it down, notice it'll come down to 45 degrees, and moving further it'll come vertically.
So if you want to copy like this, do it this way.
Now as I told you earlier that Ctrl+D will repeat anything you do with Selection tool.
So in this situation if I press Ctrl+D; let me zoom out to show you clearly; notice what happens.
See it's already selected, don't deselect it.
Press Ctrl+D and see what happens.
It'll start making further copies of the same object.
Alright. So if I select the entire column and...
make a copy of the entirety,
with the same- Alt and Shift.
and then I again press Ctrl+D.
See. Very easily you made... this interesting pattern.
Okay my dear?
Alright.
If you want to select all of them together, then the universal shortcut is Ctrl+A.
From anywhere you press Ctrl+A, it'll select all.
So if you're at any website or webpage and press Ctrl+A there, everything will be selected.
Similarly, in Illustrator too Ctrl+A means selecting all. Alright?
Or if you wish, using your Selection tool like this...
you can drag and select all.
Now
if you only want to select this much, then do so.
And, if you want to delete or move, whatever you want, feel free.
So If I want, that I select this one row at the bottom here,
then I leave this row and select this one here.
See if I select this one, the last one gets deselected. Isn't it?
So I want to select both of these together. 
So for example if I select this again,
then press Shift and drag on this one,
notice this two are selected and this is not. 
Okay? Similarly I...
am leaving every alternate row and making the selection.
That's it!
And if I press delete, then it'll be deleted from here.
So, this is very simple, not that hard at all, 
you just need a little practice.
I'm deleting all this.
Let's see what else we do with other shapes.
For example there's one shape given- Polygon.
and I'm making a simple... polygon here 
which's a hexagon with 6 sides.
By the way, if you notice its sides,
and if you click then it'll ask for details like Radius
and how many sides you need.
Even if you wanna make a triangle, you can make it from here.
Whichever field as it appears here, if you click
and turn the scroll wheel up or down;
Scroll wheel as everyone knows is a small wheel on the mouse;
and...
if scrolling it up or down, the values will start changing.
However I'm keeping it on 6 sides for now.
Soon after making please keep taking your Selection tool.
and let me zoom a bit.
Now, what I'm doing is taking a copy of it.
Alright?
Zooming out now I press Ctrl+D.
I selected this entire thing...
and also took a copy of this, but now without pressing Shift.
Because I want to...
fit it inside this other one.
Something like this. Okay I'm undoing and doing it again.
Zoom in and do it rather so it can be done precisely.
Illustrator allows you 6400%...
well the CC version allows 64000%, 
see let me show you by zooming in maximum,
this is 64000% zoom it gives you.
What does it mean?
You can do your work in minor details.
This 64000% is possible only in CC version,
In older versions it's 6400% which's still a lot.
Anyways, here I...
have selected these 2 columns here, now again 
I'm taking a copy of it with Alt and Shift
Right? So that it's being copied in an aligned state.
And now I'm... pressing Ctrl+D.
See this!
How nicely it turned... you know beehive? That kind of pattern it's been made.
So...
If you want to size the entirety smaller or whatever, feel free to do it.
Now, along with this I...
today I'd like to share the last thing.
Notice at the bottom of your Tool bar, there are two boxes.
This one is called Fill and that one is Stroke.
What is Fill? It's the colour you see inside your object.
Okay? 
And what is Stroke? The outline you see on your object.
So if you want to change the colour of the Stroke,
simply select on the Stroke (box)
and you can see the colour panel here, if you want, from here
open this panel or there are swatches given here,
which has ready-made colours.
Instead of being confused with all this,
better if you double click on Stroke,
you can select any colour from here.
Okay? So for example I'm giving it...
a grey colour...
and in its Fill, double-clicking, here I'm giving a lighter,
well rather darker grey colour.
It's looking same, so let me make it more darker.
That's it!
so any object's colour, like if you want to change
colour of any shape from between,
see I'm randomly clicking on various shapes with Shift, 
meaning these are being selected
If I want to make them red, see in this colour panel,
let me open it; From here you can select any colour so for example I took the red colour.
Now see whichever I had selected are all become red now.
I think it's looking nice, isn't it?
For now, as it's the first class. Of course we're going 
to make bigger things onward,
but for now I am keeping things light.
I don't want you all to be confused, get scared and run away! (😁)
Those who already know Illustrator, I know
this must be a boring class for them. (😅)
But those who don't know, this class was for them actually!
And...
I hope... you'll accompany me on this journey.
So, I'm gonna end today's class here for now.
Inshallah on the next class we'll proceed more and we'll see on...
Direct Selection tool.
It's a very interesting tool. 
There are certain things, obviously I know I ought to skip
on purpose as I wish to go slow.
I want to make you understand in a detailed way.
I hope you don't mind it because this must've been 
a boring class for a lot of people.
But for those who don't know, believe me
this class is a lot fruitful for them.
So I'd want you to observe it as it's also much enough, practice it.
And...
If there are any questions, write it in the comments below,
ask me, I'll definitely answer your queries.
And if you want to get instant updates continuously
then please subscribe to my channel.
Very soon I'm going to teach you a lot of things.
Thank you! (😊)