The retro theme is very popular today. In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a speech bubble in a retro style. We will draw a speech bubble with the help of the Spiral Tool and add a grunge background. So let’s jump in! Step 1 Create a new document. The width […]
In this tutorial you will learn to create a stylish x-ray print in just a few easy steps. It’s perfect for stylized typography or even an element for an illustration. Let’s begin! Step 1 Create a new 256 by 256px document Step 2 Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and click the art-board. Set the dimensions […]
Follow this quick tip and learn how to create glossy rating stars. We will add highlights with the help of the Blend Tool and an Art brush and this way we will obtain a pretty simple glossy look. Also, depending on the color palette of some websites we will try different variations of colors. Step […]
Illustrator’s stroke panel got a major overhaul in version CS5. In this video, we break it down for you, section by section. See how to add dashed lines, arrowheads, width profiles and more.
Swatches are the life line of any artwork. There are a lot of color books available in Illustrator to discover a wide range of swatches. Most popular among them are the Pantone Color Books and default CMYK and RGB swatches. In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a wide range of custom swatches […]
A symbol is an art object that you can store in a document, and reuse multiple times in your artwork. Using symbols can save time and greatly reduce the size of your files. Here’s a quick overview of how they work..
Illustrator’s Transform effect makes it quick and easy to create a pattern from any object. Add some careful highlighting and gradients, and you’ve got a metallic industrial background.
One cool trend in logo design is the use of repeating shapes, associated with gradients and transparency. While this style of logo tends to be a bit overused, and may not be suitable for all projects, imitating it is a great way to learn about one of Illustrator’s most powerful and time-saving features, which is […]
Illustrator’s Type Tool: A Comprehensive Introduction A few times a each month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of Vectortuts+. This tutorial by Ian Yates was first published on October 4th 2008. Type is an essential part of Illustrator; whether you’re desktop publishing, designing logos, or using type for […]
Kuler is Adobe’s internet application that lets you create, modify and save color schemes. You can download these schemes to use in various Adobe applications, or you can use the Kuler extension built right into Illustrator. Learn more about Kuler and how to make swatch groups in this Video Quick Tip.
Progress Bars: Follow this quick tip and learn how to create a glowing progress bar. We will take advantage of the Appearance Panel and use multiple attributes plus plenty of effects: Outer Glow, Inner Glow, Feather, Drop Shadow, Gaussian Blur and Radial Blur. Let’s begin!. Step 1 Open a new web document and let’s start […]
In the following tutorial you will learn to create a grungy launch button. You will learn how to make a 3D style button and an industrial looking background with a few simple techniques some vector texture. Let’s begin! Step 1 Create a 700 by 700px document then select the Rectangle Tool (M). Create a 256 […]
The new Image Trace function in Adobe Illustrator CS6 has some major improvements and some major headaches. In this Quick Tip you can see it in action!
A quick look at the little-known, but very useful Group Selection tool in Adobe Illustrator. This tool allows you to select individual object within groups, as well as sub groups within groups. Watch the demonstration video to learn the usefulness of this tool and how to work with it.
The Graphic Styles Panel in Illustrator CS4 is more powerful than it’s ever been. Quickly add, create and save appearance attributes to make your work stylin’.
By reader request, we take an in-depth look at the gradient features in Adobe Illustrator. Starting with the Gradient panel, then examining the Gradient Tool, you’ll learn how to create and apply gradients to strokes, objects and compound paths. The artwork used in the screencast is “Brown Owl” by GraphicRiver author seamartini
Adobe has revamped the Free Transform Tool in Adobe Illustrator CC. The most notable difference is the addition of a large widget, which allows you to perform various distortions without the use of keyboard modifiers. The widget is geared toward touch devices, but if you prefer the old school finger dance, all of that functionality […]
The Flare tool in Illustrator is a bit of a mystery. How often do you find yourself in need of a lens flare in Illustrator? Never? Don’t write it off just yet! The Flare tool can be tweaked and transformed to create some spectacular special effects.
In this quick tip, you will learn to how to create a really simple glowing space background. We will begin by creating a gradient mesh, then some glowing stars with the symbol sprayer, then we will finish the image with a multicolored planet made from a simple radial gradient. This tutorial is great for beginners […]
Illustrator’s humble Eyedropper tool can save you lots of time, once you learn your way around it. This Quick Tip will help you to get the hang of these shortcuts to make the most of it.
