Quick Tip: Create a Geometric Pattern With a Hexagon in Illustrator By using the Transform effect on a single, simple polygon, you can make a sophisticated background pattern that looks like it took hours to create. It actually only takes a few steps in Adobe Illustrator – the trick is using overlapping copies and transparency. […]
Quick Tip: Use Illustrator Effects to Spice Up Your Graphs Illustrator’s graph tool is quite useful for visualizing data, but the results aren’t terribly exciting to look at. A few simple tricks can go a long way in making your graphs much more interesting.
Quick Tip: Put Text Into Perspective Using Illustrator CS5 When you think of drawing in perspective, you usually think of buildings and cityscapes. But live, editable type can also be used for some interesting effects. There are a couple of special things to remember when working with text on the Perspective Grid. Watch the video […]
Illustrator’s Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide If you use Adobe Illustrator, then it’s almost certain that you use the Pen Tool when creating your paths. This comprehensive guide aims to introduce or remind you of features, shortcuts, and methods for working with what is arguably Adobe’s most essential tool. 1. Functions Pen Tool (P) Click on […]
Illustrator’s new pattern creation tools have made it a lot easier and more fun to create seamlessly tiled patterns. See it in action in this Vector QuickTip.
You’ve probably used the Pathfinder panel to combine shapes and make new ones. But do you often find yourself clicking (and undoing) each icon in the panel until you get the look you want? Wouldn’t it be easier to take some time and learn exactly what each function does? Here’s a look at the über-useful […]
A few times a each month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of Vectortuts+. This tutorial by Ryan Putnam was first published on September 20th 2008. Illustrator’s Paintbrush Tool (B) and Brush Panel are some of its most powerful tools. With the Paintbrush Tool (B) and Brush Panel you […]
In the following Quicktip you will learn how to create a colorful neon text effect. By first using a thick font and the Round Any Corner Script you will create the letter shapes. Next, using a calligraphic brush, basic techniques along with some Pathfinder options and masks you will create your own neon text effect. Step 1 […]
The Gradient Mesh can be one of the hardest tools to control. Even professional Illustrators can be heard crying out in frustration at its seemingly random actions. You can overcome these feelings of frustration by learning some techniques that will make your job easy and fun. This quick tip will teach you two handy […]
In this Quick Tip, not only will you see my very first video tutorial for Vectortuts+, you will also learn some of my best tips and tricks for creating pixel illustrations in vector. We will be using the Grid Tool, the Live Paint Bucket Tool and the Shape Builder Tool. You will also learn some […]
What are all those eyeballs, colored squares and double rings on Illustrator’s Layers panel? They are all visual cues that let you work better and smarter with layers. Watch this Quick Tip and feel the power!
This Quick Tip will show you – in just a few easy steps – how to make an useful isometric grid. You will learn how to use the Rectangular Grid Tool with the “SSR technique”, and in less than two minutes you’ll be ready to draw your isometric designs. Are you a beginner to isometric […]
For this Quick Tip I’m going to show you how to create a detailed cardboard box, including dividers, from scratch. We will use the power of gradients, pattern swatches and a bit 3D magic to make this box really come to life. So let’s get to it! Step 1 Take your Rectangle Tool (M) and […]
It is surprisingly simple to create a wire-frame globe. All you need is a vector world map and a grid. And this Quick Tip.
Here are a few quick tips for rotating objects in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be using these tips to recreate the new Photos App Icon in iOS 7. 1. Set Up Your Document Create a New document in Illustrator that is 1024 x 1024px. This is the largest size of an app icon that Apple requires, so we’ll work at […]
For all the chocolate lovers out there, here is how to create a delicious chocolate bar text effect in Illustrator. You will use the Blend Tool, effects like Roughen and Chrome, different Blending modes and also the 3D Extrude & Bevel effect to create perfect chocolate squares. Enjoy! Step 1 Open a new web document. […]
In this little quick tip you will learn how to create a simple set of dark check button. First, we’ll create a small rounded rectangle using a simple rectangle and the Rounded Corners effect. Next, using some Pathfinder and alignment options along with a bunch of basic effects we’ll add the extra details and the […]
Making smooth looking curves and curls in vector can be tricky, especially if you’re working with hand drawn forms. In today’s Quick Tip I will show the process of outlining some extremely curly letterforms that have been hand drawn and scanned into the computer. The process can be made a little bit easier with the […]
Follow this quick tip and learn how to give some personality to common everyday symbols with the help of the Scribble effect. We will use the Appearance Panel, the Offset Path and Feather effects and we will play with the Scribble settings to turn symbols into fun colorful objects or even labels. Step 1 I […]
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create the iconic Batman logo using simple shapes in Adobe Illustrator. With the Ellipse Tool (L), the Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M), and an understanding of positive and negative shapes you’ll be ready with your own bat signal in no time flat. 1. Create a Base Ellipse This Batman logo […]
