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Posts tagged tips
Quick Tip: Data-Driven Graphics Using Illustrator’s Variables Panel
May 17th
Illustrator’s Variables panel lets you create data-driven graphics in a fraction of the time it would take to do them by hand. In this Quick Tip, learn about Variables and see how to create and save 100 different business cards in under two minutes.
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Quick Tip: Data-Driven Graphics Using Illustrator’s Variables Panel
Quick Tip: How to Create Metal Chair Using Gradient on Strokes in Adobe Illustrator CS6
May 16th
Adobe Illustrator CS6 has a new feature which is called Gradient on Strokes. It is the first time since Adobe Illustrator’s creation we have an opportunity to apply the gradient fills to the strokes. There are two more types of the gradient fills beside the linear and radial gradient fills. I think this feature has lots of creative potential. Let’s examine the gradient on strokes in more detail and figure out how to use it. Step 1 Create a path without a fill but with the stroke wide enough for our experiments. Apply a black-and-white linear gradient to the path. Open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient) and check out how you can control this gradient. We can change the gradient’s angle; and also color, place and opacity of its sliders. But unfortunately, we can’t control this gradient with the help of the Gradient Tool (G) and the Gradient Annotator is inactive as well. Step 2 There exist two more types of gradient fill for the gradient on strokes. There are the gradient along stroke and the gradient across stroke. While using those two types of gradients, we can still control the sliders, but …
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Quick Tip: How to Create Metal Chair Using Gradient on Strokes in Adobe Illustrator CS6
Quick Tip: How to Create Folded Text with Adobe Illustrator
May 10th
Today we will learn how to create text that is located in different planes. One very interesting trick with the Bounding box will let us do it without using 3D modeling. Find out more at the jump! Step 1 Take the Type Tool (T) and create an inscription. I used the Impact font . Also you can choose one of the Sans serif fonts. There is a good selection of such fonts here . Align the text to the left by pressing the appropriate button in the Control panel. It is better to use the Character panel (Window > Type > Character) to control the text parameters. Step 2 Keep the text selected, go to the Object > Transform > Shear. Set the angle and choose the axis in the dialog box. Reduce the leading in the Character panel. Step 3 Turn the text into the group of…
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Quick Tip: How to Create Folded Text with Adobe Illustrator
Quick Tip: How to Create a Bullet Hole in Five Steps
May 8th
You know those joke bullet hole decals you see on cars? Well, it’s super easy to make one in Illustrator in just five steps. Follow along with this Quick Tip to find out how.
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Quick Tip: How to Create a Bullet Hole in Five Steps
Quick Tip: How to Draw an Apricot with the Mesh Tool
May 7th
Follow this simple but detailed quick tip and learn how to draw an apricot using the Mesh Tool. It includes step by step instructions about how to create all the mesh points and lines plus all the color shades used so you can draw a realistic apricot from scratch. Let’s begin! Step 1 First open a new web document. Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw an oval shape and select any fill color for the moment. Now let’s start with the first part of the tutorial in which we will create all the mesh lines step by step. Step 2 Take the Mesh Tool (U) and click on the spot indicated at the top of the ellipse. This way you will obtain the first vertical mesh line. To move the mesh point from the center in the desired spot just select it with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and drag it …
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Quick Tip: How to Draw an Apricot with the Mesh Tool
Quick Tip: Start a Sketch in Adobe Ideas and Finish it in Illustrator
Apr 12th
Adobe Illustrator isn’t the only vector game in town. In fact, you have the power of vector art on the go with Adobe Ideas, the free app for Apple’s iPad. In this video Ryan shows us how to take a quick little doodle in Ideas, and add a little more love in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll only need to know pen tool for this one, plus having an iPad would be helpful. Tutorial Assets Adobe Ideas
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Quick Tip: Start a Sketch in Adobe Ideas and Finish it in Illustrator
Quick Tip: How to Create a Simple Set of Switch Buttons
Apr 4th
In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple set of switch buttons. First, we’ll use the Rectangle Tool along with the Rounded Corners and the Drop Shadow effects to create the shapes behind the button. For the button we’ll use a mesh, some Pathfinder options and two simple strokes. Step 1 Create a 600 by 300px, RGB document. First, enable the Grid (View > Show Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 1px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 1 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box. You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to replace the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. Al these options will significantly increase your work speed. Step 2 Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 60 by 30px shape. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below and add a 1pt stroke. Set its color at R=88 G=89 B=91 and align it to outside. Step 3 Reselect the rectangle created in the previous step and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance). Add a second stroke for your shape using the Add New Stroke button. It’s the little, black square icon from the bottom …
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Quick Tip: How to Create a Simple Set of Switch Buttons
Quick Tip: Create a Set of Glowing Buttons in Adobe Illustrator
Mar 15th
In the following steps you will learn how to create a simple set of glowing buttons. It’s another tutorial that focuses on the Appearance panel as the entire button is created using only one shape with multiple fills and strokes plus some simple effects. Step 1 Create a 600 by 300px, RGB document, pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a shape the size of your artboard. Fill it with R=49 G=52 B=57, remove the color from the stroke and focus on the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance). Add a new fill for this shape using the Add New Fill button. It’s the little, white square icon from the bottom of the Appearance panel. Select this second fill, lower its opacity to 50% and use the radial gradient shown below. Continue in the Appearance panel and add a third fill. Select it, make it black, lower its opacity to 15%, change the blending mode to Multiply and go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the data shown below and click OK…
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Quick Tip: Create a Set of Glowing Buttons in Adobe Illustrator
Quick Tip: Create a Coat of Arms Logo with a Texture Background
Mar 8th
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an organic, natural looking confectionary logo by adding a textured background. Major techniques covered in the tutorial include outline, swirls, warp and blend mode. Lets’ begin! Step 1: Create the Outline Before we create the contour of the logo, we will start with simple shapes, such as the shield and the chef’s hat. Follow these three steps: Duplicate the shape (Command + C) and paste the copy on top of the exact same spot as the original image (Command + F). Shrink the copy to be slightly smaller than the first shape. Select both the copy …
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Quick Tip: Create a Coat of Arms Logo with a Texture Background
Quick Tip: How to Create a Cute Cartoon Dinosaur
Feb 27th
This Quick Tip will show you how to create a cartoon dino using only basic shapes like rectangles and circles. This is a step-by-step tutorial for beginners. The icons from the inkscape toolbar are added to the images to make it easier to find the tool and function I am describing in the text. Let’s get started! Step 1 Start out with a box with slightly rounded edges (Rx and Ry settings of ~50) and convert it to a path. Step 2 Modify the nodes in the top left. Move them apart to curve the top left corner some more. Add a linear fill from a light yellow to a nice yellowy green. Step 3 Add five more circles for the eyes (eyeball shadow, eyeball, color, iris and highlight). Step 4 Add another two circles, turn them into paths and deform the nodes for the nostril and a shadow around the eye. Step 5 Create yet another circle for the teeth, modify the nodes by pulling down the bottom node, duplicate the shape and move them behind the head shape (Page Down). Step 6 Duplicate the tooth shape and color it green to make the spikes on top of the dino’s head. Step 7 Create another box with rounded corners, turn it into a path and move the top left nodes down. Duplicate the shape for the highlight. Convert the bottom nodes of the highlight shape into curves and modify the node handles to make the baseline curve…
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Quick Tip: How to Create a Cute Cartoon Dinosaur