Hot Adobe Illustrator How-Tos

How To: Change stroke and fill colors in Adobe Illustrator

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 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 Adobe Illustrator to make a croqui template

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 no problems. This is perfect for making designs of clothing and usually when drawn, they feature a fully drawn and finished character, meaning next time you'll have to draw another one from scratch. So check out the tutor...

How To: Create a 3D text effect in Adobe Illustrator

Learn 3D text in Illustrator! Then use it in Premiere Pro or Photoshop and give it a "wiggle" inside of After Effects. 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 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 glossy vector-based buttons & bars in Illustrator

Learn the techniques to create three different types of shiny bars and buttons in Adobe Illustrator. The classic button, the rounded "ball" button, and your basic shiny toolbar. Using gradients, transparency, and simple shape tools, in combination with the pathfinder. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application...

How To: Create a film strip icon in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Remember film? With Adobe Illustrator, it's easy to make an old-timey film strip icon perfect for a video application. This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Create a 3D box icon in Illustrator CS4

Create a vector three-dimensional box icon in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Create a vector leather texture in Adobe Illustrator

See how to create a vector-based leather texture from scratch when working in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Draw fire and flames in Adobe Illustrator CS4

See how to create a vector flaming box in Adobe Illustrator CS4. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Apply clipping masks in Adobe Illustrator CS4

Learn how to interlace custom shapes in Adobe Illustrator CS4, an effect that's especially attractive when working with 3d perspective objects and shapes. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Cartoonify yourself with Adobe Illustrator CS4

See how to turn a digital photo into an infinitely scalable vector cartoon. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Create glossy iPhone-style icons in Illustrator CS4

Want to create custom, iPhone-style icons? With Adobe Illustrator, it's easy. This clip will show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular vector graphics editor program or a seasoned graphic arts professional looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this designer's guide.

How To: Save files for the web when working in Illustrator CS5

Save your Illustrator CS5 illustrations for the web. This clip will show you how it's done. 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: Saving a PDF-compatible AI file in Illustrator CS5

Need help figuring out how to save PDF-compatible AI files from Illustrator CS5. This clip will show you how it's done. 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: Convert type into outlines in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Learn how to generate outlines from text when working 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, and to get started using this trick in your own Illustrator projects, watch this video guide.

How To: Use specialty fonts & effects in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Learn how to make use specialty fonts and effects when working 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: Make dynamic compound shapes in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Learn how to generate complex composite shapes when working 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: 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: Create a glossy button in Illustrator

Need to build some glossy buttons and bars for a website or web project and you're not sure how? Thanks to Task Tutorial, learn how! In this video, learn how to create a glass bar in Adobe Illustrator... perfect for your coming web projects! Give your website a professional look with the addition of these glossy buttons and bars.

How To: Use the pen tool in Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

Meet the Adobe Photoshop pen tool! Whether you're new to Adobe's popular image editing software or simply looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial, which presents a complete overview of the Photoshop and Illustrator pen tools. For more information, and to get started using the pen tool yourself, watch this graphic designer's guide.

How To: Draw a realistic eye in Illustrator

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 the second part will slow down, with Karl Gude explaining each step of the way. Pretty soon, you'll be drawing your own realistic eyes with great accuracy!

HowTo: Design Your Own Typeface Creature

Julián Dorado is an illustrator and graphic designer, hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been lauded for his character design project, which merges typefaces into font-inspired monsters, animals, and characters. Luckily, Julián has been kind enough to post a great tutorial on creating your own typeface character/creature on his behance page.

How To: Create scalar web graphics in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Creating pixel-perfect web graphics in Adobe Illustrator CS5. 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 of how to use Illustrator to create scalar (i.e., non-vector) web graphics.

How To: Create a vector RSS icon in Illustrator

In this Software video tutorial you will learn how to create a vector RSS icon in Illustrator. Open illustrator and open a new document. Select the ‘rounded rectangle tool’ from the rectangle menu. Click and drag to draw a rounded square. Select the gradient fill on the left side and change the color to orange on the right side and make it dark to light from top to bottom. Next grab the corner and turn it around 180 degrees. Move the picture to one side and select the ellipse tool. Draw a...

How To: Create OSX icons in Adobe Illustrator

With the introduction of programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, now more than ever, people have the ability to be as creative as they want when it comes to almost anything. From manipulating pictures to creating professional looking images from scratch, these programs can be used as powerful tools. In this tutorial, you'll see on of them in action when you find out how to create OSX icons using Adobe Illustrator. Enjoy!

How To: Use live trace in Adobe Illustrator

This how to video shows you how to do a live trace in Adobe Illustrator. First, open the image you want to use. From here, zoom out. Go to the corner of the image and hold shift and drag to shrink it. Zoom back in and then click the arrow beside Live Trace. Go to tracing options and click okay. Check ignore white so that you will not get a box. Click trace and then select expand. Click out of the image and click control y on your keyboard to show the outline of your file. If you did not check...

How To: Make swirling rainbows in Illustrator

In this brief tutorial brought to you by TutVid.com, the host teaches you how to make a swirling rainbow graphic that you can use in many diverse ways. This vector images is made in Illustrator can be used in conjunction with several of the most popular photoshops. He uses several different techinques, like making a circle, cutting it in half, and recycling and rotating the image until you have a full, s-curve line. Superimposing several of these lines upon each other, he creates the finished...

How To: Outline your fonts in Adobe Illustrator

This how to video will show you how to create outlines of fonts with Adobe Illustrator. This is useful when you send a file to someone and they do not have the font you used to view it. This will allow them to view the text without worrying about what fonts the computer they are using has. First, select the text tool and type your text out. Next, go to type and select create outlines. From here, click it. The outline for the text has now been created. This video shows you an easy way to make ...

How To: Use the live trace tool in Adobe Illustrator

This shows how to use live trace on Adobe Illustrator to make a vector image. First, you need to open up Adobe Illustrator. Then go to file and select New and adjust your size to letter. For orientation you can choose to have it landscape if you want. Once you have your blank work space you will want to get a saved image. Go to File and click on Place and locate your image. Adjust the size of the image if you need to. Click on the image and then go up to the tool bar to click on the live trac...

How To: Create a 3D sphere & reflection in Illustrator

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 draw a smaller circle inside. Fill it with white/transparent gradient. Select the sphere and go to Object/Group. Now go to Effect/Distort and Transform/Transform. Tick the Preview and Reflect Y, insert 1 copies box and sel...

How To: Make a quick logo for beginners in Illustrator

This is a video about creating a logo using adobe illustrator. First go to adobe illustrator and open the new document. Next if you want to make a logo in rectangular shape take the rectangular and drag it over in the new document. Next choose a color and fill it in the rectangular. Next go for new layer and click the button. Next insert the text what you want in that rectangular. Next increase the text size how much you want. Next if you want to change the color in between the text select th...

How To: Use the blend tool in Adobe Illustrator

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to use the blend tool in Adobe Illustrator. The blend tool will allow users to create objects between two strokes or filled objects. When you double-click on the blend tool, there will be 3 options to select from. Select the spacing and press OK. The three spacing options are: Smooth Color, Specify Steps and Specified Distance. Users are also able to select the amount strokes between the two objects. Now select the points of the two objects and it wil...

How To: Create image reflections with Adobe Illustrator CS3

This video describes how to illistrate simple reflection and shadow tutorial using Adobe. The first thing you want to do is to get the image you are going to be working with, touch up the colors. Make sure the logo is cleaned up, and ready to use. Make it more useable by making it 140x25 cm. Make a copy of your imag, flip it upside down, make sure it is pretty close to the base of the other one. This will look like the first one has a reflection right under it. Next make a 142x 27 box, put it...

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 a glossy vector logo or graphic in Illustrator

To create glossy or reflective vector image, you will need to know how to use the offset options in Adobe Illustrator and the basics for pathfinder. You will be creating a vector image that can be resized without hurting its quality. To start select you text style, which be glossy for this. You will have first a white layer, a shadow, a radiant layer, a white outline and a shadow going underneath. In this video the Oh Gizmo Logo! is being used as the template. Right click create outlines. You...

How To: Draw a Thanksgiving turkey in Illustrator step by step

This video tutorial explains how to use Adobe Illustrator to create a Thanksgiving turkey. The tutorial delves into tools such as shapes, gradients and Bezier Curves inside Illustrator CS4. An extensive walk through on how to draw and great a Thanksgiving turkey. A fun creation from beginning to end, you'll learn everything you need to know to create this colorful bird, perfect for turkey day.