In this video you'll see how to use Illustrator's shape tools to create primitive shapes that you can use as the basis for objects. You'll also learn how to use the Shape Builder tool to combine shapes.

In this episode of the Flex in a Week training series, you will learn about the Spark primitive classes that let you draw shapes using MXML tags, and how to integrate shapes drawn in other tools.

See how easy it is to quickly create a complex shape with the new Shape Builder tool in Illustrator.

Watch how Illustrator and After Effects can be used together to create organic animations using simple masks copied and pasted between the two applications. Also see how the Twirl tool in Illustrator can be used to distort paths and make it look as if “tendrils” are growing outward. This all comes together in After Effects by setting the first vertex and ensuring your blended masks don’t flip inside out.

Create complex art from simpler basic shapes by using the Shape Builder tool in Illustrator CS5.

Straighten an image shot from an angle with the Crop tool’s perspective option. Independently move anchor points of a crop bounding box to correct non-square shapes.

Create, edit, and fill shapes intuitively, directly on your artwork, using the new Shape Builder Tool in Illustrator CS5.

Join Worldwide Design Evangelist Terry White as he runs through his 5 favorite Adobe Illustrator CS5 features. Included are Perspective Drawing, The Width Tool, The Shape Builder Tool and more!

Make fast work of common design and production tasks like image re-touching with magical content aware fill in Photoshop Extended, creating complex shapes with Shape Builder tool in Illustrator, and intuitive object-selection features in InDesign and more.