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Posts tagged tools & 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 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: Create a Simple Audio Player Bar in Adobe Illustrator
Apr 23rd
In this quick tip you will learn how to create a simple audio player bar. This is mostly about the basics of pixel perfect vector shape building techniques. We’ll start with a simple rectangles and the Rounded Corners effect. Next, we’ll use some Offset and Pathfinder techniques to create the highlights. Finally, some masking/blending techniques and the Drop Shadow effect will help us add the final touches. 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 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 5 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. All these options will significantly increase your work speed. Step 2 Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 525 by 30px shape. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below, make sure that there’s no color set for the stroke and go to Effect > …
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Quick Tip: Create a Simple Audio Player Bar in Adobe Illustrator
Quick Tip: Create a Simple Set of Web Sliders
Apr 18th
In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple sliders set. First, we’ll use the Rectangle Tool and the Rounded Corners effects to create the base shapes. Next, using some Offset and Pathfinder options we’ll create the highlight shapes. Finally, for the colors we’ll use several linear and radial gradients, some simple effects along with basic blending techniques. Step 1 Create a 600 by 600px, 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 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 5 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 15 by 460px shape. Fill it with the linear gradient shown below and go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 3px radius, click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. The white numbers from the gradient image stand for location percentage. Step 3 Disable the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid) then go to Edit > Preferences > General and make sure that the Keyboard Increment is set at 1px. Reselect the shape created in the previous step and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Select the resulting shape …
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Quick Tip: Create a Simple Set of Web Sliders
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
How to Create Funky 3D Springs in Illustrator
Apr 6th
Many of us have done this before in Auto CAD, 3D Max or Maya. In this tutorial, we will learn how to create 3D springs in Illustrator. We’ll be using the 3D Revolve Tool and some manual effort to obtain this quality vector result. Hope you find it interesting! May of 2009 Final Image Preview Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month. Step 1 Create a new document. With the Ellipse Tool (L), make a circle 25px by 25px. Fill it with red and no Stroke. Step 2 Select the circle and go to Effect > 3D > Revolve. Enter the values as shown in the figure below. A Revolve angle of 180 degree is to make a semi-ring. An offset of 100pt from the right edge adds a distance between the revolve axis and the path on which the object will revolve. Step 3 Now we’ll duplicate and Send to Back. Alt-drag the ring to make a duplicate copy as shown. Use Command + Shift + Left Bracket to send it back. Step 4 With the duplicate copy still selected, open the Appearance palette (Shift + F6). Double-click the 3D Revolve effect, as shown below. Step 5 In the 3D Revolve …
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How to Create Funky 3D Springs 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: How to Create a Simple Set of Ribbon Icons
Mar 26th
In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple set of ribbon icons. First, we’ll build the starting shapes using several basic tools along with some simple effects and vector shape building techniques. Next, we’ll add extra details and colors using Pathfinder options, dashed strokes, a built-in pattern and some new effects. Finally, we’ll add a simple text with a discrete shadow effect. 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 5px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides > Grid, enter 5 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), create three, 80 by 125px shapes and place them as shown in the following image. Fill them with the linear gradient shown below and remove the color from the stroke. The white numbers from the gradient image stand for Location percentage. Step 3 Select the left and the middle rectangles and go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points. Select the right rectangle and focus on the bottom side. Pick the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add seven new anchor points as shown in the second image. The Snap to Grid will ease your work. Step 4 Focus on the left rectangle and pick the Direct Selection Tool (A). Select the anchor point highlighted in the first…
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Quick Tip: How to Create a Simple Set of Ribbon Icons
Create a Fairy Castle Using Adobe Illustrator and DrawScribe Plugin – Dynamic Sketch Tool
Mar 20th
In this tutorial, we will continue learning about the DrawScribe plugin , which is developed by Astute Graphics , allowing for more convenient work in Adobe Illustrator. Today we will talk about the features of the Dynamic Sketch Tool, which is a fully-featured drawing tool and combines the functions of the Pencil Tool and the Paintbrush Tool, while possessing dynamic properties and other advantages at the same time. The properties of this tool and applying it in practice will be discussed in this part of the tutorial, as we complete our castle illustration. Step 1 First of all, let’s take a look at the Dynamic Sketch Tool as a tool for creating a variable stroke width. Note that variable stroke widths are only possible in Illustrator CS5, which is the version that Adobe introduced their “Beautiful Strokes” technology. Take the Dynamic Sketch Tool and open its panel (Window > DrawScribe > Dynamic Sketch Panel). It may be necessary to extend the panel by opting for Expand Panel from the panel’s flyout menu. Like with the …
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Create a Fairy Castle Using Adobe Illustrator and DrawScribe Plugin – Dynamic Sketch Tool