Hot Adobe Illustrator How-Tos « Adobe Illustrator

How To: Use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator for Vector Portraits

Illustrator's gradient mesh tool is a powerful one for vector artists... if you know how to use it. This tool can help create beautiful and vivid mesh-based vector portraits, as long as your skills are up to par. If not, try out some of the beginner tutorials on WonderHowTo for using the mesh gradient tool in Adobe Illustrator, then move onto mastery...

How To: Place images inside text with Illustrator

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 Illustrator CS2.

How To: Create diagrams and flowcharts in Adobe Illustrator 5

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.

How To: Use the Pixel Preview mode in Adobe Illustrator CS5

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 functions of Illustrator CS5, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick in your own Illustrator projects, watch this video guide.

How To: Create a cartoon cloud in Illustrator

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 across the canvas. Now select the path, go to gradient and edit the it a bit until it's a shade of blue. Lock the gradient and create a new layer. Select white fill color and 2 point black stroke and draw a few oval sha...

How To: Create a lens flare in Illustrator

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 options. You can change the brightness, opacity and diameter of the flare which will add life to the image(open sky). This will help bring out some cool effects as well as realism to the image.

How To: Create stylish blend curves in Illustrator

To do that, first select the pen tool, choose yellow stroke color and draw the path as showing in the video then deselect and choose pen tool again, pink color in stroke and draw the path again. Now you need to select the blend tool and click on both paths. Now go to object, blend and choose blend options. Now select the specified steps, put the value of 25 there and click on ok. Now open the blend in layer window and select the paths. Now set color to white

How To: Create your own fonts & types in Illustrator

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 the path to create different shapes for the letters in your text, or you can manipulate the strokes of the text. You'll create some cool text effects such as text that looks like it's made of bricks, by converting the stro...

How To: Create sparkles in Illustrator

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 that layer to make multiple sparkles on different layers. Resize other sparkles by holding down shift key. One can change colors of other sparkles. This will help you in making a good background.

How To: Vectorize graphics in Adobe 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.

How To: Create a road in Illustrator

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 first path. Turn on the second path. Change the stroke weight value to 125 and change the color to gray. Now go to the next path. Select our path and change the stroke weight value to 115 and leave the black color. Now go ...

How To: Make a six pointed star using the tools in Adobe Illustrator 5

This tutorial shows you how to use the star took and a few other basic functions with Adobe Illustrator 5 to replicate the Star of David on the Israeli flag. Master a few basics of image manipulation with this tutorial.

How To: Make a plus icon in Adobe Illustrator

Learn how to make a plus icon, using Adobe Illustrator

How To: Adjust the width of an object in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5

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 its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.

How To: Trace an image in Adobe Illustrator 5 without using live trace

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.

How To: Make a leaf using vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator 5

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.

How To: Use the Perspective tool in Adobe illustrator CS4 or CS5

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 program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.

How To: Use the Gradient Tool in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5

Scouring the web for a quick primer on how to create vector-based gradients within 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 acquaint yourself with the program and its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free vid...

How To: Create perspective text in Illustrator

Give your type some perspective in Illustrator, and with much more control than the shear tool. Create perspective text in Illustrator.

How To: Draw Sonic the Hedgehog in Adobe Illustrator

In this video, we learn how to draw Sonic in Adobe Illustrator. First, draw out the muzzle and the nose with a pen. From here, you will draw out the eyes and then make the outline for the ears and the hair. Next, draw in the details around the face. Once you do this, add color to the hair and to the face as you see fit. Then, add in additional lines to show creases and make him look more realistic. After this, add in shading with darker colors on the sides of the face and the hair. When finis...

How To: Use the Scale Shear and Reshape tools in Adobe Illustrator CS4 or CS5

In this clip, you'll learn how to make use of the Scale Shear and Reshape tools 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 its various features and filters, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this free video guide.

How To: Make a box using the perspective tool in Adobe Illustrator 5

Start with a square and then use your perspective grid in Adobe Illustrator 5, part of the newest Adobe Creative Suite. Then you can transform this basic square into a 3-D box. You can even add logos or printing onto your box.

How To: Draw Sonic the Hedgehog using the tools in Adobe Illustrator 5

By following along with these tutorials, you can learn not only how to draw the popular Nintendo character Sonic the Hedgehog, you will also be able to master many of the basic and intermediate drawing tools available in Adobe Illustrator 5.

How To: Use the Manual Trace tool in Adobe Illustrator CS5

In this clip, you'll learn how to use the Manual Trace tool when, for example, desiging a book cover in Illustrator CS5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor or just looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. Take a look.

How To: Create simple silhouettes in Illustrator CS4

Creating a silhouette from a photo is nothing new, but with Illustrator CS4’s new Blob Brush tool, it has become a lot easier. Corey demonstrates how to use the Blog Brush tool to create a silhouette, and how to create some quick background effects using the Gradient Mesh tool.

How To: Create & edit complex gradients in Illustrator CS4

Create and edit complex gradients with the new Gradient tool in Illustrator CS4, which has undergone a complete makeover. There’s a new reverse gradient button, and gradient widgets that allow users to edit applied gradients visually. There are also new transparency options. Cheryl Graham explores these new features of the Gradient tool in Illustrator CS4 and takes viewers through a quick design project, creating the ringed planet of Saturn. Create & edit complex gradients in Illustrator CS4.

How To: Create a print-ready postcard in Illustrator CS2

In this Illustrator video tutorial you will learn to create a print-ready postcard. Learn how to add crop marks, outline text, and save documents for print. This example uses CMYK and PMS colors. Make sure to hit "play tutorial" in the top left corner of the video to start the video. There is no sound, so you'll need to watch the pop-up directions. Create a print-ready postcard in Illustrator CS2.

How To: Create a text based logo in Adobe Illustrator 5

Take a regular font, type the name of your business or website into a text box, and then follow along with this tutorial. Break it apart and manipulate the layers so you can end up with a classy and eye catching logo.

How To: Use Live Trace in Illustrator CS2

Live Trace is the hot new automated tracing capability of Adobe Illustrator CS2. In this Podcast Terry White will show you how to take a logo that was created in Photoshop CS2 and trace it using Live Trace. Because Live Traces are “Live" we’ll be able to tweak the settings to get better results.

How To: Redraw a pixelated image into a high quality vector image in Adobe Illustrator

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 poster size for a billboard or something.

How To: Create a skewed checkerboard pattern in Illustrator

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. For more Adobe Illustrator tutorials, search for Illustrator on WonderHowTo.

How To: Use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Illustrator

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 solid color. This tool will help give your Illustrator objects more dimension and realism.

How To: Use the Pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator CS5

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 benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this video guide.

How To: Convert an image to mosaic in Illustrator

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 short clip explains clearly how to bring the chosen effect to your design. You can see on screen exactly how to do it, so you're not left in the dark, searching every menu for the right tool.

How To: Draw two point perspective

In this video, we learn how to draw two point perspective. Start off with a horizontal line on your paper. After this, draw a small point on the line where your drawing will focus to. From here, you will start to draw lines coming out of this. Next, you will design the rest of the picture around the main focal point you started out with. Add in lines to create lots of detail and make sure to use shading to show depth. Erase any background lines you don't need. Then when you are finished, you ...

How To: Make swooshes & swirls in Illustrator

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 bottom left point, hold shift, join the objects by half. Go to brushes pallet and create a new brush. Click the spiral tool. Use the up and down with the mouse to select range you would like. Select the art brush, and click...

How To: Draw flames using Illustrator

If your graphic requires a little fire, check out this tutorial and learn how to draw very cool looking flames in Illustrator.

How To: Use the Pixel Grid tool Adobe Illustrator CS5

Whether you're new to Adobe Photoshop or a seasoned graphic arts professional after a general overview of CS5's most vital new features, you're sure to be well served by this official video tutorial from the folks at Adobe TV. In it, you'll learn how to create vector objects precisely on the file’s pixel grid to generate clean, sharp graphics for the web and mobile devices in Illustrator CS5.

How To: Use the Shape Builder tool in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Whether you're new to Adobe Photoshop or a seasoned graphic arts professional after a general overview of CS5's most vital new features, you're sure to be well served by this official video tutorial from the folks at Adobe TV. In it, you'll learn how to create, edit, and fill shapes intuitively, directly on your artwork, using the Illustrator CS5's new Shape Builder Tool.

How To: Create a brushed metal effect in Illustrator

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.