Adobe Illustrator is a software program designed to help bring the elements of hand-crafted artistic works into a digital medium.http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/ Knowing how to fully utilize the features of the program can allow you to enhance your images and bring a sense of warmth and life that a hand-drawn image evokes. One of the best methods of customizing an image in Illustrator is to strategically utilize brushes to enhance and customize a hand-drawn image. This process creates a vector-based images that can be minimized or enlarged for a variety of commercial or artistic projects.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcXCJJkHjeo Get up to speed quickly on brush techniques and options through this Adobe Illustrator tutorial.
How to Use Brushes in Adobe Illustrator Video
Watch the award-winning graphic artist Janee Meadows present an Adobe Illustrator guide for using brushes. She presents a step-by-step guide on how to turn a line drawing into an artistic vector-based digital image. This guide is part of a larger series of Adobe Illustrator video tutorials offered on the Mahalo.com YouTube channel.
Step 1: Upload a Hand-Drawn Image
Hand draw a basic image. Scan your line drawing sketch and save it on your computer. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document using the default settings. Open your control palette and press on the "Browse" button to initialize the Adobe bridge function. Browse to your scanned drawing, then select the button for "Compact Mode". This will allow you to see your scanned image and your new Illustrator document at the same time. Drag your image to your document to import the image it into Illustrator.http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/illustrator/articles/illcs2ttlvtrace/illcs2ttlvtrace.pdf
Step 2: Trace The Image
Click on the pen in your control palette. Outline all lines on your drawing for a pen line effect in a new layer.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcXCJJkHjeo
Step 3: Apply Brushes
Click on the "Window" drop-down menu at the top of the page. Scroll down and click on "Brush Libraries". Select the "Artistic" option and the "Artistic_ChalkCharcoalPencil" brush. A selection of brush effects and line sizes will appear.
Click on a line path on your drawing, then select a brush to overlay the line with a brush effect. Apply bush effects in the same manner for all lines in your drawing. Experiment with different brushes to achieve the desired effect. You can also adjust the size of each line.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcXCJJkHjeo,
Step 4: Apply a Frame
To highlight your new image, apply a digital frame to your drawing. Under the "Window" menu, select "Brush Libraries" and the "Borders" option. Click on "Borders_Frames". A menu of frame options will appear. Place a square around your image where you want the frame to appear, then press on the frame of your choice.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcXCJJkHjeo
More Adobe Illustrator Tips from Mahalo
Check out the how tos below to learn other tips for Adobe Illustrator:
- How to Use Brushes in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Use the Auto Trace in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Create Your Own Brush in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Use the Gradient Tool in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Use the Layers Panel in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Use the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator
- How to Use the Selection Tool in Adobe Illustrator
References
Fast Facts
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Upload a basic sketch into Illustrator.
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Experiment with brush sizes and effects.
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Enhance your image with customized brush options.
