Adobe Illustrator for Scientists

Everything you need to know to make scientific illustrations and data visualizations

Equip yourself with the skills to create your own scientific illustrations, figures, graphs, and tables with beginner-friendly lessons and practical examples. In this course, you will:

  • Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator tools and shortcuts
  • Download an easy-to-use Adobe Illustrator Guide with click-paths for every scientific design technique shown in the course
  • Enjoy hands-on experience to create your own scientific illustrations for publications and posters
  • Get expert tips on how to ethically optimize scientific images
  • Create data visualizations using Excel and other graphing software
  • Export figures for publications, presentations, and posters
  • Download illustration templates that make it easy for you to quickly make impressive graphical abstracts and figures

Beginner / 6 hours of tutorial videos with templates

Adobe Illustrator course for scientists overview

This course is available with Simplified Science Pro where you will receive unlimited access to all of the courses and templates for $59/year. 

Course Highlights

Adobe Illustrator figure examples for scientific journals

Create multiple figures with graphs, illustrations, images, and tables

Whether you are opening Illustrator for the first time or have experience using the tools, this course will cover all of the techniques you need to know to create professional figures for scientific publications, presentations, and posters.

Scientific illustration example

Learn and apply professional scientific illustration techniques

Tips and tricks for using Illustrator Pen and Shape tools to quickly create symmetrical scientific illustrations. Includes training on how to use real scientific images as templates for accurate designs.

Excel graph optimization example

Transform Excel and GraphPad graphs into good data visualizations

Step-by-step training on how to start with data in Excel and GraphPad and transform the original graphs into professional scientific data visualizations in Adobe Illustrator. Includes tips for formatting final graphs for scientific publications.

Why Use an Adobe Illustrator Course?

Researchers use illustrations and diagrams to visualize the ideas behind their work. Whether it’s a figure for your next manuscript or a graphical abstract for your conference poster or grant proposal; having a key visual can improve your publication rates and enhance audience understanding.

Some scientists limit themselves by thinking they don't know how to draw, but this course is specifically designed to help anyone learn and apply the essential skills of vector illustration in Illustrator for research purposes. Join Dr. Karen Thiebes as she takes you through the step-by-step tutorials that will accelerate your ability to make professional illustrations and data visualizations for your research publications, presentation, and posters.

Course Instructor

Karen Thiebes course instructor photo

Karen Thiebes is a professional scientific illustrator and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University. She has led scientific design courses for over 8 years and enjoys teaching participants how to quickly transform data into effective designs using Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, Affinity Designer, and Excel.

Explore the Course Chapters

  • 1: How to use the course

    1. Welcome and how to use the course 
    2. Download the course materials 

  • 2: Document Setup and Navigation Overview

    1. Create Document and Set Window Preferences
    2. Scientific Figure and Poster Artboard Setup
    3. Navigation Overview 

  • 3: How to Use Artboards and Layers

    1. Artboard Overview
    2. Layer Overview
    3. Vector and Raster Graphics
    4. Artboard and Layer Quiz

  • 4: Introduction to Tools and Properties

    1. Tools and Properties Overview
    2. Text and Eyedropper Tools
    3. Pen and Selection Tools
    4. Pen and Selection Tool Examples
    5. Curvature, Paintbrush, and Pencil Tools
    6. Shape and Shape Builder Tools
    7. Anchor Point, Align, and Rotate Tools
    8. Introduction to Color and Gradient Tools
    9. Scientific Illustration Practice Module

  • 5: How to Add/Edit Scientific Graphics, Images, and Tables

    1. Scientific Images
    2. Scientific Graphs
    3. Scientific Tables
    4. Final Scientific Figure Formatting

  • 6: How to Export Documents

    1. Export Scientific Figures
    2. Export Scientific Posters

Testimonials

""I’m happy to share that I’ve completed a new course: Introduction to Adobe Illustrator for Scientists. Thank you Karen Thiebes for your detailed online course, I can't wait to utilize your lessons in my current and future projects as an aspiring Scientific Illustrator!"

Ethan Warchol, Victoria University


"I absolutely loved the Adobe Illustrator class for Scientists! I had never used Illustrator before and I now feel way more confident and I am using it often for both my scientific and creative designs."

Alexia Caillier, Loyala University Chicago


Course Highlights

Example scientific figure

Create figures, graphs, illustrations, and tables for scientific papers

Whether you are opening Illustrator for the first time or have experience using the tools, this course will cover all of the techniques you need to know to create professional figures for scientific publications, presentations, and posters.

scientific illustration

Learn and apply professional scientific illustration techniques

Tips and tricks for using Illustrator Pen and Shape tools to quickly create symmetrical scientific illustrations. Includes training on how to use real scientific images as templates for accurate designs.

Example bar graph data optimization

Transform Excel and GraphPad graphs into good data visualizations

Step-by-step training on how to start with data in Excel and GraphPad and transform the original graphs into professional scientific data visualizations in Adobe Illustrator. Includes tips for formatting final graphs for scientific publications.

Advanced Online Courses

Sign up to receive access to this course and all of the Simplified Science courses for only $59/year. New online courses are added every year to stay up-to-date with the latest scientific design techniques. The Pro courses also include popular templates such as the Biological Diagrams, Laboratory Tools, and Excel graphing templates with over 400 illustrations that you can use in your own scientific designs. Learn more here!

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