In this video you will see how to draw two different text boxes in Illustrator. You will learn how to add multiple strokes and effects to single shapes and also to grouped shapes each having a very different result in the final art. These techniques will help you build confidence as you use multiple strokes on shapes in Illustrator and with using the all important Appearance panel too.
Labels: adding strokes to groups, appearance panel, Illustrator, multiple fills, multiple strokes, text boxes
Categories:Illustrator, video
If you hate the pen tool but want a different and easy way to create shapes in Illustrator why not try the Blob Brush? This tool lets you paint real vector shapes with paintbrush like strokes.
In this video you will learn how to use the Blob Brush – how to select a color, how to add to existing strokes and how to edit shapes you have painted using the Smooth tool, Pencil tool and Eraser.
The blob brush is fun and extremely useful as you will see when you click to play the video:
Labels: Blob brush, Illustrator, illustrator eraser, illustrator pencil tool, illustrator smooth tool, paint vectors
Categories:Illustrator, video
Neon is a fun effect to make and in this set of three video tutorials you will see how to make a retro neon sign in Illustrator. You will start by making the lights and the sign itself. In part 2 see how to add a glow effect to the sign to give it some light and dimension. In the final video see how to add the Neon text to the sign.
Here are clickable links to all three videos in the play order:
Labels: 50s neon, glowing neon sign, illustrator tutorial, neon sign, retro neon, vintage neon sign
Categories:Illustrator, video
Illustrator has a great rotation tool which makes it easy to make flowers. In this video you will see four very different flowers made in Illustrator and you will see now only how to make flowers but also how to use gradients and transparency and how to harness the power of the distort and transform effect to make the flowers automatically from one single shape.
Labels: distort and transform, draw flowers, gradient fills, how to draw flowers in Illustrator, Rotate
Categories:Illustrator, video
This nightscape city drawing is fun to draw in Illustrator and, in drawing it, you will learn a lot of tricks and techniques for filling and making shapes in Illustrator. You will make patterns and create repeating elements and you will learn how to texture an image. This video is jam packed with useful Illustrator skills as well as being interesting and challenging to draw.
Labels: cityscape, illustration, Illustrator, night time city, nightscape, vector cityscape
Categories:Illustrator, video
This Illustrator project is fun to make and will expand your Illustrator skills. You will learn to make a ribbon and how to bend it so it wraps around your retro badge shape. You will see how to make the shape from a circle with multiple fills. This process is a great way to make shapes in Illustrator and you’ll see how to make multiple strokes and the curvy zig-zag edge in the shape.
Here’s the video – just click to watch:
Labels: create a ribbon award, retro badge, retro ribbon award, ribbon award in illustrator, vector emblem, vintage ribbon award
Categories:Illustrator
This new Illustrator video tutorial will show you how to draw a vintage penny farthing bicycle in Illustrator.
Highlights of the process is learning to create the spokes for the bicycle wheels as they can be drawn and rotated to make the process simple. You’ll also see how to create the vintage background which I think is pretty cool too and which is a textured background effect that you can use in other drawings too.
I hope you enjoy this video:
Labels: how to draw vintage, penny farthing, vintage drawing, vintage effect
Categories:Illustrator
Flat icons look great with long shadows. There are a few ways to make long shadows in Illustrator and, in this video, I show you two of them.
One method will work fine for your own icons – it’s fast and easy. The second method is suitable for selling flat design icon vectors as stock images – in that case you will want your shadows to be neater so the image you are selling is easier to understand by the person buying it. For this second method I’ll show you how to make shadows as neat paths.
Here is the video – enjoy!
Labels: flat icon design, long shadow effect, long shadows, long shadows in illustrator, vector icons, vector long shadows
Categories:Illustrator
It sounds scary to be drawing facial icons if you can’t draw, but these are simple to make. The lovely thing about using Illustrator is that you can move pieces around until you get the result you like. You can also delete bits that you don’t like and redraw them.
In this Youtube video I’ll show you the basics of making a flat design female portrait in Illustrator. You’ll build it from the bottom up stating with the shoulders and neck and the clothes. Then make the head and add the features. Finally you’ll do the hair and the optional shadow. Building a solution up step by step like this is a great way to learn to use Illustrator and a fun way to put your skills to work.
Your design can be realistic or quirky, as these samples show but they are all done the same way with simple steps that anyone can do.
So, without further ado, here is the video for your enjoyment:
Labels: avatar, flat icon design, Illustrator, portrait icon, vector icon
Categories:Illustrator
You’ve probably experienced the problem where you draw something in Illustrator and, when you are done, the artboard is way too big for the image. For convenience you need to scale down the artboard so it matches the size of your image.
Now you could go and grab the Artboard tool and start adjusting its size but there is an easier way. Start by selecting the objects on the artboard and then click the Artboard tool in the Tools panel twice. This opens up the Artboard Options Panel. From the Preset dropdown list choose Fit to Selected Art. The artboard will be instantly resized to fit the art on the artboard.
Click another tool such as the Selection tool to deselect the Artboard and you are good to go – you’ve cropped the excess artboard away from your artwork.
Labels: crop art board, crop artboard, crop artboard to object, crop artboard to the image, crop excess artboard, resize artboard, scale artboard
Categories:Illustrator
