Tutorials, Illustrator

Vectorizing your graphics will help improve the quality of your content. Task Tutorial helps you out in this Illustrator tutorial by showing you how to take a crappy jpeg image (a logo), clean it up and turn it into a vector graphic.

If you're a graphic designer, you've probably dealt with clients who sent you the wrong files, like JPG and BMP "source" files. You need to the EPS vector files, but they don't know what that is, and they don't care. They want that image or logo they sent you blown up to poste ...more

Every good illustrator knows the advantage of using a Wacom tablet with Adobe Illustrator. When you plug in a Wacom tablet it doesn't automatically set your tools to be pressure sensitive. Terry White will show you how to set your brushes to really take advantage of your new t ...more

Want to create some cool effects in illustrator? Create a new layer. Draw the ellipse tool and add radial gradient, then go to transparency and select screen. Then create the star tool and deselect stroke. Drag and place the star shape on ellipse and group them. Then duplicate ...more

This video shows you how to convert a hand-drawn sketch to a vector drawing using the Live Trace Tool in Illustrator CS3. You learn how to manage tracing options, fill in gaps, and convert a Live Trace object to traditional Illustrator shapes or a Live Paint group. Check out t ...more

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Bert Monroy from PixelPerfect shows you how to use the Gradient Mesh tool, which lets you divide pretty much any shape (like an apple) into a mesh. Wish a mesh created, you can alter the color of an intersecting point of the mesh with a soli ...more

Copy the popular, retro-style 8-bit pixel art. You can use Adobe Illustrator to create this simple sort of art. This tutorial shows you how to set up your document and how to begin illustrating your project to get that old school feel for your artwork.

If you need to make some diagrams for a school project or a flowchart for a business proposal, you can easily use Adobe Illustrator 5, part of the Creative Suite package, to create them. This tutorial shows you a few ways to create your own customized diagrams.

This tutorial covers using the gradient mesh to achieve some simple shading in Illustrator. Use the gradient mesh tool in Illustrator for shading. Click through to watch this video on layersmagazine.com

This Illustrator tutorial shows you a way to make a double helix or twisted wire. Using Illustrator and the powerful pattern brush, Bert takes us through the steps from a wavy line to a realistic wire effect or double helix. To watch this episode of PixelPerfect, head over to ...more

Give your type some perspective in Illustrator, and with much more control than the shear tool. Create perspective text in Illustrator. Click through to watch this video on vtutorial.com

Bert invites Morty Golding to offer a tutorial on drawing within Adobe Illustrator utilizing the pencil tool. Follow along and start using some of Illustrator's advanced features and draw in Illustrator!

Looking for a quick guide on how to use the Auto Trace tool when working in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5? This clip will teach you what you need to know. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better ac ...more

Ever wondered about the flare hitting your eyes from reflective surfaces (vehicle mirrors)? Let's create one. Open Adobe Illustrator with an image and embed it. Take the flare tool from tool palette. Draw the first shape and then second shape. To change settings, go to flare o ...more

Placing images inside text is nothing new. However, the old way involved converting the text to outlines first and thereby making the text uneditable. In this video you'll learn how to fill your text with an image while maintaining complete edit-ability of the text using Illus ...more

This is a quick little tutorial that will show you how to use these three versatile tools in Adobe Illustrator. They all involve getting rid of some part of the image you're working with, but each one goes about it in a different way. To get the most out of your Illustrator pr ...more

In this image editing software tutorial we are going to show you how to easily create digital abstract smoke using both Illustrator and Photoshop. One of the best things about this technique is that it’s very customizable and you can do it pretty quickly. Watch and learn how t ...more

In this tutorial, user CollegeTut shows you how to customize the shapes of various fonts and text, essentially creating your own custom fonts, by converting the text of any font to outlines and then editing those outlines (bezier paths/strokes). You can modify the points on th ...more

Ah, falling leaves: They remind of the beauty of nature, fall, and the changing of seasons. And if you've ever walked alongside a row of oaks on the street it seems as if their leaves fall to some unknown, hidden perfect orchestration. Capture their beauty by creating a falli ...more

This tutorial shows you how to use a pattern brush to create an interlocking metal chain. To do this, you will have to create a new custom brush.

A great free video training from tasktutorial on how to create a cartoon cloud in Adobe Illustrator. All the project files are available to download for free at the Adobe website. First create a background: select the rectangle tool then create a new layer and draw a rectangle ...more

Tutorial/demonstration showing how to use Calligraphic Brushes in Illustrator to do line drawings (inking) and then import them into Photoshop as a Smart Object to retain the vector quality of the line art. By using clipping masks, we can change the color of the line art witho ...more

Create crazy looking images by 'unzipping' a person or object using Adobe Illustrator to create the zipper and then adding it to an image in Adobe Photoshop. Your tools in Illustrator will be the basic shape tool, the brush pallet, and a transform filter. In Photoshop you'll n ...more

This short tutorial presents a guide on how to change the stroke and fill colors in most versions of Adobe Illustrator. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and its ...more

In this tutorial, Bert shows you how to make a realistic 3D looking wine bottle, complete with label. This uses the 3D part of Illustrator and is great for those of you without access or time to use an actual 3D software package.

When you want to distort text, make sure to have the pathfinder tab open. This tutorial will show you how to manipulate text by moving around the letters and parts of each word, and using different effects that are pre-built into Illustrator. Simple, but well explained, this t ...more

In this clip, you'll learn how to make use of the ever-useful Shape Builder tool when doing design work in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself w ...more

This software tutorial shows you just how easy it is to design a great looking logo in Adobe Illustrator. As with any other software package, it's all about getting to know the interface; and then from there it's all about developing your design skills. As with most others, I ...more

Stencils can be made in lots of ways, but using Adobe Illustrator gives a more professional finish. Acetate sheets and an X-acto knife are also required to cut our the image. Learn how to make a stencil by watching this tagging how-to video.

This is a quick tutorial that shows you how to import Adobe Illustrator files into Maya. If you're going to use your illustrator files in Maya, make sure the fonts can be exported because they won't all work. Import Illustrator files into Maya. Click through to watch this vide ...more

This quick guide shows how to create outlines from text so you can manipulate letters as objects. It also allows other computers to open your files with out having any issues because a particular font is not loaded. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector editor or a seas ...more

This tutorial shows you how to use vector graphics to trace images in Adobe Illustrator 5 without using live trace. Do a manual trace, which will give you a little more creative control over the image you're working on in Creative Suite 5.

In this clip, you'll learn how to use and work with the Perspective tool when doing design work in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the ...more

Do you want to add some 3D effects in your 2D designs? Open illustrator and draw an oval tool holding shift key. Then draw an ellipse with a different color and place it on the oval. Take blend tool,then click on ellipse shape and then oval one for a gradient effect. Draw anot ...more

In this video you will learn how to Warp your text into any shape or design you want. This is a really handy effect for applying logos or designs to images of clothing. Using this effect you can warp your text to the wrinkles in your fabric and make it really look like it was ...more

Check out this simple Adobe Illustrator CS4 tutorial to learn how to create a skewed checkerboard pattern. This technique will save you the trouble of having to use the Option and Drag method multiple times. Veerle Pieters expertly takes you through this easy pattern technique ...more

This tutorial is very informative for those of you who aren't really familiar with the basics of Illustrator. Bert explains first, why you would want to use Illustrator instead of Photoshop, and then explains how to take an image or piece of artwork and vectorize it.

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to create a 3D sphere and reflection in Adobe Illustrator. Begin by using the ellipse tool and create a circle. Select the black and white gradient, and drag the colors that you want into the gradient panel. Now hold the Alt key and dr ...more

This two-part video tutorial shows you how to draw an eye that's realistic, using the software program Adobe Illustrator. If you've ever been confused by Illustrator, this video will clear things up for you. The first part of the tutorial shows you the ultra-fast version, and ...more

Corey shows you how to create a 3D pyramid using Illustrator CS3. Create a 3D pyramid in Illustrator CS3. Click through to watch this video on layersmagazine.com

Whether you're new to Adobe's Creative Suite or a seasoned graphic design professional after a general overview of Adobe Illustrator CS5's most vital new features, you're sure to be well served by this from the folks at Lynda, which presents a detailed, step-by-step overview o ...more

In this clip, you'll learn how to make use of the Width tool when doing design work in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editing software or a seasoned professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the program and ...more

Learn how to use the Pathfinder tool in Illustrator CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional interested in better acquainting yourself with the new features and functions of Illustrator CS5, you're sure to benefi ...more

To create an added interest with text, learn how to wrap text around paths or shapes using Illustrator software. This video from Task Tutorial shows us each step involved with wrapping text around an oval as an example. However, any shape or path can be used to wrap text aroun ...more

If your graphic requires a little fire, check out this tutorial and learn how to draw very cool looking flames in Illustrator. These flames are bright and are sure to ignite interest in any image. Fire is not too difficult to create in Adobe Illustrator, and if you follow the ...more

In this clip, you'll learn how to use the Pixel Preview feature when working in Adobe Illustrator CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional interested in better acquainting yourself with the new features and funct ...more

In this C4D user's guide, you'll learn how to import and model from images generated in Adobe Illustrator. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're s ...more

Comic books are fun to make, but inking them can be a time extensive pain of a process. Using a computer software program, you can make the inking much faster. In this two-part video tutorial, you'll learn how to take a sketch and turn it into vector Adobe Illustrator artwork. ...more

If you need help with 3D concepts in Illustrator, Bert's going to show you how to wrap an invisible 3-dimensional shape made in the 3D Extrude and Bevel tool with Map Art tool. Curled ribbons for campaign posters are just the beginning with this Illustrator tutorial!

If you are looking for an easy way to make croquis, but don't have the skills to draw it by hand, then try the next best thing: the computer. Using the software program, Adobe Illustrator, you can make a great looking croqui template that can be used over and over again with n ...more

Using Illustrator's Gradient Editor and Graphic Styles, you can create a brushed metal effect that you can apply to any shape or text. Create a brushed metal effect in Illustrator. Click through to watch this video on layersmagazine.com

Illustrator denotes how to create a road. First select the pen and draw a path. Now go to stroke. It depend 130. Deselect dash line. Now move our path a little bit upper. Now select our path. Now duplicate of our path several times. Now turn off the new layers. Focus on our fi ...more

This tutorial starts with a blank project and shows you how to use vector graphics to create a simple leaf in Adobe Illustrator 5. Master many of the basics, such as the pen tool, gradients and path finder, whth this easy tutorial.

The first thing to do is open a new document with Adobe Illustrator. Inside the document, make a box, width 200 pt, height 20 pt. Click the bottom right corner with your mouse and hit delete. Then hold down the top right with shift, and tap the down arrow once. Then, click bot ...more

There's nothing better than a cool logo design, except maybe a cool 3D logo design. A 3D logo might just be what you need to have your company stick out. Watch this Illustrator video tutorial to learn how to make a 3D logo. You may want to apply a glassy text feel to the finis ...more

This tutorial is using text imported from Illustrator, but the ideas will work for any text curves or curves that you want to extrude into 3 dimensional objects. Learning how to extrude is a must for Maya beginners. Extrude Adobe Illustrator text in Maya. Click through to watc ...more

This short video tutorial presents a guide on how to group and arrange objects within most Adobe Illustrator including CS4 and CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector editor or a seasoned graphic arts professional just looking to better acquaint yourself with the pro ...more

Matt Kloskowski has a tutorial for web designers and graphic designers who work with web banner ads. He shows how to use the banner ad template in Illustrator and bring it into Photoshop. For more Adobe software tutorials from Layers Magazine, search Layers Magazine on Wonder ...more

Illustrator is a great tool for creating individual artwork. Creative and clever, it has many functions, one of which is mosaic. If you want to make your illustration or design appear to have a myriad of tiny 'squares' like a Roman mosaic, this guy can help you do it. The shor ...more