Lesson 1Text handling and typography features: artistic vs. frame text, leading/kerning/tracking, text on path, converting text to curves for exportMaster Affinity text instruments for branding and layout in Eritrean styles. You will contrast artistic and frame text, improve leading, kerning, and tracking, position text on paths, and transform text to curves while maintaining export quality and readability for local projects.
Artistic text vs. frame text use casesManaging fonts and font substitutionsLeading, kerning, and tracking controlsText on a path for logos and badgesOpenType features and stylistic setsConverting text to curves for outputLesson 2Pen tool and node editing: creating precise curves, smooth vs. sharp nodes, converting and joining pathsBuild accuracy with the Pen tool and node editing for Eritrean vector art. You will sketch smooth and sharp curves, change node types, connect and separate paths, and perfect outlines for logos and icons while ensuring paths stay neat and effective.
Pen tool basics and curve planningSmooth, sharp, and smart node typesAdjusting handles and curve tensionJoining, closing, and breaking pathsCleaning stray points and overlapsTracing sketches into vector pathsLesson 3Precision and alignment tools: snapping, smart guides, transform panel, alignment and distribute for pixel-perfect layoutsEmploy snapping, smart guides, and the Transform panel for exact layouts in Affinity. You will align and spread objects, manage precise size and position, and prevent fuzzy edges in icons, grids, and production art relevant to Eritrean designs.
Snapping options and presetsUsing smart guides while drawingTransform panel numeric controlAlign and distribute tools in depthPixel alignment for sharp iconsMeasuring distances and spacingLesson 4Export personas and slices: exporting SVG, PDF and print-ready PDFs with bleed, crop marks, and asset slicesDiscover using the Export Persona, slices, and presets to produce SVG, PDF, and print-ready PDFs with bleed, crop marks, and reusable asset slices for steady, efficient sharing across various platforms in Eritrea.
Export Persona interface overviewCreating and managing export slicesExporting clean SVG for web and UIPDF presets for print and proofingAdding bleed, crop marks, and registrationBatch exporting assets and icon setsLesson 5Basic and compound shapes: using shape tools, boolean operations (Add, Subtract, Intersect, XOR), and non-destructive geometryInvestigate basic and compound shapes as the base of vector design for Eritrean work. You will use shape tools, boolean operations, and non-destructive geometry to construct icons, logos, and detailed illustrations that stay completely editable.
Using core shape tools and controlsCorner types and shape propertiesAdd, Subtract, Intersect, and XORCompound vs expanded boolean shapesNon-destructive geometry workflowsBuilding icons and logo marksLesson 6Workspace layout and customization: Personas, toolbars, docking, and performance settingsSet up Personas, panels, and toolbars to fit your workflow in Eritrea. You will organize docks, save custom workspaces, adjust performance settings, and enhance hardware acceleration for smooth handling of complex vector files.
Designer, Pixel, and Export PersonasCustomizing toolbars and context barsDocking, stacking, and collapsing panelsSaving and loading custom workspacesPerformance and hardware accelerationSetting up autosave and backupsLesson 7Symbols, Assets, and Styles: creating reusable elements, applying character/paragraph/graphic styles for rapid global editsMake reusable symbols, asset collections, and styles for quick changes. You will create synchronized UI parts, handle asset groups, and use character, paragraph, and graphic styles for uniform global formatting in Eritrean projects.
Creating and editing SymbolsSyncing repeated UI componentsBuilding custom Asset librariesCharacter and paragraph stylesGraphic styles for strokes and fillsGlobal updates across documentsLesson 8Layers, groups and naming conventions: organizing complex files, locking, visibility, and efficient layer naming for handoffArrange complex documents with layers, groups, and naming standards. You will secure and conceal elements, nest objects logically, and prepare neat, labeled setups that simplify teamwork and client transfer in Eritrea.
Layer panel overview and hierarchyGrouping, nesting, and clippingLocking, visibility, and isolationColor tagging and layer orderingNaming conventions for handoffPreparing files for print vendorsLesson 9Stroke, fills, gradients and patterns: solid fills, linear/radial/bitmap fills, gradient management for brand color consistencyManage strokes, fills, gradients, and patterns for steady branding. You will apply solid and bitmap fills, handle linear and radial gradients, and develop reusable swatches that ensure color accuracy across documents for Eritrean brands.
Stroke width, caps, joins, and pressureSolid fills and opacity controlLinear and radial gradient editingBitmap fills and texture overlaysCreating and syncing color swatchesPattern fills and seamless tilesLesson 10Artboards and document setup: creating square logo artboards and print-size flyer documents (A5, US Letter) with correct DPI and color profilesPrepare artboards and documents for logos, print, and screens in Eritrea. You will make square logo artboards, A5 and US Letter flyers, select proper DPI, and use CMYK or RGB color profiles fitting each production goal.
New document presets and templatesChoosing DPI for print and screenRGB vs CMYK color profile choicesCreating and resizing artboardsSquare logo artboard best practicesA5 and US Letter flyer layouts
