CMST 320 at UMGC is a hands-on introduction to illustration graphics in Adobe Illustrator, where you compose vector images for print, web and video.
The current catalog lists the course as WDDE 320, Illustration Graphics (formerly CMST 320). It covers terminology, tools, theory and the process from concept to completion, and expects you to follow ethical principles and legal guidelines along the way.
Most students find the Pen tool and Bezier curves the steepest part. Once those click, the challenge shifts to design: building depth, shading and color that make a flat vector drawing look intentional.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Code | CMST 320, now WDDE 320 |
| Level and credits | Upper-level undergraduate, 3 credits |
| Software | Adobe Illustrator |
| Subject area | Vector illustration and digital design |
| Typical work | Illustration projects, technique exercises, short rationales |
What CMST 320 Covers
| Official topic | Plain-language meaning |
|---|---|
| Bezier curves and paths | Drawing precise shapes with anchor points and handles |
| Drawing tools | Pen, Curvature, shape tools, Shape Builder and Pathfinder |
| Shading and depth | Gradients, blends, overlapping shapes and highlights |
| Vector versus raster | When to use scalable artwork and when pixels are better |
| Color theory | Harmonies, contrast and consistent palettes |
| Ethics and legal guidelines | Original work, tracing, licensing and attribution |
Key Concepts Explained
Vector Versus Raster
Vector images are stored as mathematical paths, so they scale to any size without losing sharpness. Raster images are grids of pixels and blur when enlarged. Logos, icons and infographics are usually vectors; photographs are raster.
Example: A logo drawn in Illustrator can be printed on a business card and a 3 meter banner from the same file. A 500-pixel PNG of the same logo looks blocky on the banner.
Anchor Points and Handles
Each curve segment is controlled by anchor points and their direction handles. Clean illustrations use as few anchor points as possible, placed at the extremes of a curve, with handles that run roughly horizontal or vertical.
Example: A circle can be drawn with four anchor points at the top, bottom, left and right. Tracing the same circle with twenty clicked points gives a lumpy edge that is hard to edit.
Color Harmony
A limited palette (for example, a complementary pair plus neutrals) holds an illustration together. Saving it as swatches or a color group keeps every element consistent.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Pen tool exercises | Precise path control | Practice on simple shapes, keeping points minimal |
| Icon or logo set | Consistency and scalability | Use a shared grid, stroke weight and palette |
| Illustration from concept | Composition, shading, depth | Sketch first, block in flat shapes, then add shading |
| Multi-platform output | Exporting for print, web, video | Choose format and color mode per destination |
Originality, Reference and Copyright
The course description asks you to work within ethical principles and legal guidelines, and illustration is where that line is easiest to cross. Using a photo as a reference for pose or proportion is normal practice. Redrawing someone else's illustration point by point and presenting it as your own is not.
A safe approach is to use your own photos or properly licensed ones as references, change the composition, and keep the reference files so you can show your process. When a brief involves a real brand, note that logos and trademarks belong to their owners and are best treated as practice pieces, not portfolio claims.
Choosing the Right Export
Because the course covers delivery across print, web and video, expect to export the same artwork several ways:
- Print: PDF or native .ai file in CMYK, with fonts outlined or embedded.
- Web: SVG for scalable icons and graphics, PNG where transparency is needed in a raster format.
- Video: RGB artwork at the frame size of the project, often with a transparent background.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Too many anchor points. Produces wobbly curves. Redraw with fewer, well-placed points.
- Image Trace as a shortcut. Auto-tracing a photo rarely meets a brief that asks you to draw, and tracing someone else's work raises the legal and ethical issues the course covers.
- Muddy color. Too many unrelated hues. Start from a defined palette.
- Disorganised layers. Name layers and group related shapes so edits stay quick.
Study Tips for CMST 320
- Spend ten minutes a day on Pen tool practice until it feels natural.
- Learn the shortcuts for direct selection and anchor point conversion.
- Study flat-design illustrations and note how few shapes they use.
- Keep your sketches: they show your process if the rubric asks for it.
How We Help with CMST 320
Send the brief, the rubric, your Illustrator file or exported image and any feedback. A tutor explains the techniques you need, reviews your paths, shading and color, and can write a model rationale or a step-by-step walkthrough of a similar illustration technique.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. We offer tutoring and feedback only; the artwork you submit must be your own, under UMGC's academic integrity policy.
Get Your CMST 320 Illustration Right
Share the brief, your draft and feedback. We explain the vector techniques involved and help you plan the piece.
Start My CMST 320 HelpFree revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. UMGC's catalog lists Illustration Graphics as WDDE 320, formerly CMST 320, and allows credit for only one of them.
The official description names Adobe Illustrator.
The current catalog entry does not list one. Check your program plan for recommended order.
It depends on the brief. Most illustration projects expect hand-built vector work, and tracing other people's images raises copyright concerns.
Follow your instructor's instructions. Often a native .ai file plus an exported PDF or PNG is expected.
Yes. Send the file and brief; we explain issues with paths, composition and color and how you can fix them.