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Posts tagged stroke-weight
Using the Blend Tool to Create a Halftone Effect Portrait in Adobe Illustrator
Apr 16th
The Blend Tool has been part of Adobe Illustrator for a long time and it’s very simple to work with. The tool creates objects that fill the space between two key objects. Let’s say we have a square as object A and a circle as object B; the Blend Tool will create intermediate figure shapes between these two objects. You can add how many steps you want and it remains editable until you expand it. We can use this tool to create many effects. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to use the Blend Tool to create semi-realistic halftones with lines. 1. Prepare Your Stock Image in Adobe Photoshop Step 1 To create a semi realistic illustration, a good stock is essential. Let’s work with this image of this beautiful model. Another good point of this picture is the light source that creates dark shadows and visible halftones. This makes it easier to identity where our shading will be created. Step 2 Our work will be done in black and white, using black lines as halftones. Therefore a basic image treatment will help us to…
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Using the Blend Tool to Create a Halftone Effect Portrait in Adobe Illustrator
How to Create a Simple Vector Avatar from a Stock Image
Nov 20th
The latest Envato Bundle inspired me to create a new vector portrait. One of the stock images within was a great portrait of a senior male and I couldn’t help but give him a vector make over. In today’s tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a simple vector avatar from a stock image with several additional options. So let’s get stuck in! Step 1 After cropping the stock image in Adobe Photoshop or whatever photo editing program you use, File > Placed it onto a New document. I’ve given it it’s own layer and added a new layer on top with a white fill Rectangle (M) set to 50% Opacity. I’ve then added a new layer on top and this is where I’ll be adding my vector shapes. Step 2 Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw an oval over the face, it doesn’t have to be exact. While selected go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points and this will add a new anchor point in between each node. Repeat to add further nodes. Then with the Direct Selection Tool (A), modify the points and handles so the once oval is outlining the face. Aim for smooth curves to preserve a cartoon look. Step 3 Repeat the process by adding Ellipses (L) for the ears and adding additional points. You may find with…
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How to Create a Simple Vector Avatar from a Stock Image
Quick Tip: Retro Leaves and Flowers with the Transform Effect
Aug 27th
In today’s quick tip tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a quick and easy retro leaf and flower design with the help of the Transform Effect in Adobe Illustrator. Although I’ll be using AI CS5, you should be able to achieve this in any version of AI CS. So let’s jump in! Step 1 I’m going to start out by creating my initial leaf/petal shape. Do this by drawing an even circle with the Ellipse Tool (L) by holding Alt + Shift and dragging outwards. Then use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the top point of the circle. With your arrow keys on your keyboard, nudge the point up about ten to fifteen spaces. Do the same with the bottom point and about five spaces. Then use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to modify the top handle bars of the two points at the sides of the shape, to give it a more smooth curve. Step 2 I’m going to be using two sets of colors for this design. Both can be accessed via the drill down menu in the Swatch panel and going to Open Swatch Library > Neutral. Select the green swatch “Neutral 6″. I’ve also used a swatch …
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Quick Tip: Retro Leaves and Flowers with the Transform Effect
Creating a Slice of Cake Icon with Adobe Illustrator
Jul 30th
I have to be honest, I have a really bad sweet tooth. So when I showed you how to create a tasty cupcake icon in Adobe Illustrator last month it inspired me to show you how to create another cake icon in the same style. Introduction I have to be honest, I have a really bad sweet tooth. So when I showed you how to create a tasty cupcake icon in Adobe Illustrator last month it inspired me to show you how to create another cake icon in the same style. In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a slice of cake icon in Illustrator. It’s going to take on a previously determined style to help become part of a baked goods icon set. So let’s get started. Step 1 To start off, it’s times to do some research. As I’m wanting to use a …
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Creating a Slice of Cake Icon with Adobe Illustrator
Quick Tip: Create a Notepad Spiral Brush Background
Jul 25th
In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a notepad spiral pattern brush to then use in a notepad styled background. It’s quick, easy and has many uses. Introduction In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a quick notepad spiral pattern brush to then use in a notepad styled background. There really isn’t much to it, so let’s begin! Step 1 Use the Rectangle Tool (M) and hold Alt + Shift and pull outward to create an even square. Do the same with the Ellipse Tool (L) to create an even circle. Use Smart Guides (Ctrl + U) to ensure you’ve placed it in the middle or use the Align panel …
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Quick Tip: Create a Notepad Spiral Brush Background
Create a Stylish, Vector Hair Typography Illustration
Jun 11th
I love creating portraits in vector but what I love even more, is doing wild and crazy hair styles. It was suggested to me recently to try crossing over the techniques of creating hair into typography and I just had to rise to that challenge! So in today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how I created this stylish piece of hair typography in Adobe Illustrator CS5. I’ve also finished it off with a quick aged coloring giving it a vintage design feel. So let’s get stuck in… Step 1 When the concept was first suggested to me to create a piece of typography with hair, I straight away considered what sort of style to do it in. Whichever I decided on, it would influence what style of typeface I was going to use. I opted for long flowing locks, therefore a script/cursive typeface would be the best. The next thing to consider is what sort of word to use. If you think about how hair behaves, it’s not the sort of material which can create sharp angles of say the letters: M, N, V, W or Z. How exactly would you illustrate letters with dots, such as an “i” or “j”? So the requirements would need to be a word which was…
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Create a Stylish, Vector Hair Typography Illustration
Create a Vintage Vector Framed Silhouette Design
May 28th
In today’s tutorial I’m going to collaborate with a great friend of mine, Ashley Benson and show you how to create a Victorian styled Silhouette. She’s been great to give me this wonderful sketch specifically for our vintage vector art tutorial, so feel free to download it as part of your Tuts+ Premium membership to practice on. Learn basic techniques on creating a detailed, framed silhouette inspired by Victorian vintage postcard designs using scatter brushes, patterns and more. Using these techniques you can create your own vintage illustrations. Step 1 First, I created a New Document with a Portrait Orientation. I File > Placed the vintage vector sketch onto the center of the canvas. If your sketch is larger than the artboard, use the Free Transform Tool (E) and hold down Alt + Shift to resize while maintaining the same ratio of width and height. Click on Create New Layer at the bottom of Layers panel and draw a white fill rectangle across the artboard with the Rectangle Tool (M). Reduce the Opacity to 50% via the Transparency panel. Create a New Layer again and this will be the layer your shapes will be in. If you’re unsure how to rename a layer folder, double-click on your layer folder and you can enter in the name there and then click on OK. Step 2 I’m going to use the Pen Tool (P) to begin drawing around the sketch. If you’re not comfortable drawing large shapes with the Pen Tool (P), you could always draw separate shapes and then use Pathfinder option Unite. You draw each element as shown below, then Select All of your shapes (Command + A), and click on Unite to combine…
Creating a Detailed Eye from Stock in Adobe Illustrator
May 21st
In today’s tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a detailed eye from a stock image in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll work from some basic skin shading around the eye, to eyelashes, then a detailed iris and even eyebrows in this vector workflow. Introduction When I’m creating a portrait in my free time, I often go beyond what is required in terms of detailing for key features… that aren’t visible at 100% resolution. I do this more for my own pleasure of vectoring rather than visual purposes, but it also helps me work on learning how to create features without the need of stock as a reference. In today’s tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a detailed eye from a stock image. I got this stock image from an Envato Bundle last year (keep your eyes open for those from time to time, they are a bargain!), however you can still get this stock image by itself from Photodune . A quick tip before we start: if you’re working on two eyes rather than a close up…
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Creating a Detailed Eye from Stock in Adobe Illustrator
How to Create a Line Art Vintage Vector Scooter in Illustrator
Apr 30th
In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to create a vintage vector scooter illustration. I’ll show you how to create simplified line art without overcomplicating the image. You’ll learn how to create a quick texture as a finishing touch from resources you have available to you within Adobe Illustrator. Learn how to give your work a vintage vector art feel. Step 1 I’ll be using a stock image as a reference in this tutorial. In this tutorial, we’ll take it from a standard pixel based image to a well worn and stylish vintage graphic. Let’s get started with creating this retro vector. I’m going to start the line art by drawing complete shapes that don’t require additional lines from elsewhere to complete their form. All the line work, unless otherwise stated will be a 2pt Stroke Weight. When doing a simplified line art version from a stock image, you want to only focus on the key elements of the object’s design. This is a little easier said than done when it comes to a complex item such as a scooter… and even more so if you’re like myself and don’t know a thing about scooters, other than they have two wheels. We can see an example of simplifying a detail with the wing mirrors and break. As long as when you look at the object on the entire illustration, you could name it, or have a good idea of …
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How to Create a Line Art Vintage Vector Scooter in Illustrator
How to Create a Scratchboard Effect Bear Portrait
Feb 6th
Today’s tutorial is aimed at those who are beginners with Adobe Illustrator CS (and later versions) and who also have access to a graphics tablet. In this Basix tutorial I’ll be showing you how to create your own scratchboard effect bear portrait, along the way giving you helpful hints on how to make the whole process easier. Introduction Although I’ve created this using my Wacom Bamboo (an old model at that), you can achieve the same effect with just a mouse. The drawback is that it will take longer to create and the lines may not come out as organic looking. I’m going to be using stock from Photodune as a base, however you can recreate this with any furry animal you wish. I’ll be using a brush I created in a previous tutorial, which is also aimed at beginners. It’s the Width Profile 1 brush and is very easy to recreate without the need of the Pen Tool (P) to produce curves. So let’s jump straight in! Step 1 Although the following steps may not be necessary for all users, they may help others with identifying colors and contrasts within a stock image. I remember when I first started out vectoring …
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How to Create a Scratchboard Effect Bear Portrait