10 top Adobe Illustrator resources

The web is a wonderful thing, brimming with resources and tutorials for people wanting to learn the art of Illustrator CS6 (and previous versions). But, sometimes, too much choice can be confusing, so we've picked 10 top sites that will really help you get to grips with it.

01. Computer Arts

Our sister site Computer Arts is a fantastic resource for Illustrator training. The world's best-selling magazine for digital artists and designers, the team post regular tips and tutorials on how to use the software. From logo design to advanced manga techniques, there's something for everyone here.

02. DeviantART

Online art community deviantART has a crazy amount of Illustrator tutorials uploaded by various artists. With over 1500 lessons to choose from, it may take a while to find exactly what you're after. But if you're just looking to develop your skills, there's some great training on here, including how to create seamless patterns and countless vector tutorials.

03. Lynda

Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin's have built up an extensive tutorial video library over the past few years. And Illustrator has it's own dedicated section, offering a wealth of training in the software for all skill levels. You can follow some of the tutorials on Lynda for free, but for full access a paid subscription is required.

04. Layers

Layers is the 'How-to magazine for everything Adobe' so while not soley dedicated to Illustrator, it's a brilliant training resource for the graphic design software. Here you can learn how to create patterns, neon text, gradients and much more. And best of all, it's free!

05. Vectortuts+ 

Vectortuts+ is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to learn the art of Illustrator. And InDesign for that matter. Offering some of the best Illustrator tutorials around, the site has an extensive library for all skill levels. It also has a Basix section for beginners so newbies can how to create basic shapes, gradients, blends, and much more.

06. Vectips

Vectips is an excellent resource for learning vector graphics and Adobe Illustrator. The blog was started by Ryan Putnam, who runs Rype Arts and is also an exclusive designer at iStockPhoto. Despite Putnam taking a hiatus from the site earlier this year, it is still very much accessible and full of tips, tricks, training as well as featuring an inspiring and fun interview section. 

07. Ai Vault

This Illustrator specific website offers everything you might need to get started with the software. At Ai Vault, you can navigate your way around tutorials, free brushes, vectors, resources for photographers, digital stamps and much more, all of which are effectively categorised. Many of the tutorials are free of charge but some require membership level to access.

08. Adobe.com

This may seem like an obvious one, but if you want to learn the art of Illustrator then why not check out these tutorials posted by the guys who made it? The Illustrator tutorials by Adobe has multiple pages, full of training in all different areas of the software. It also has a helpful star rating underneath each so you can see which are the most popular and useful. 

09. n.design

While there's not a huge amount of tutorials on n.design studio, the ones featured are completely free and cover really useful Illustrator techniques. Lessons include how to trace a photo, creating 3D objects and comic style strokes. The tutorials are also set up in an easy to follow, step-by-step format.

10. Good-Tutorials

Good-Tutorials is a great place to find Illustrator tutorials around the web. With over 100 pages, this site points you in the direction of training at various different design websites. There's a keyword tool to enable you to filter your search and it also helpfully features star ratings next to each tutorial.

You'll find more training resources here:

• The best After Effects resources
• Click here for a selection of great Photoshop resources

Do you know of any great Illustrator resources? Tell us about them in the comments!