ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIAL

In this Adobe Illustrator Tutorial for Beginners, we will be using shapes to practice building using the pen tool, shapes, and the pathfinder panel. Shapes are a great way of building your characters especially as you gain experience with blend, warp, shape builder, and pathfinder to create unique shapes. Shapes are an easy and effective way of building in Illustrator. Use the align panel to align to selection and the artboard to make symmetrical designs. This tutorial will focus on Building Tools, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques.

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DIGITAL DOWNLOADS. Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our (Updated) Brush Libraries. You can download our Adobe Illustrator Brushes to follow along or use with your own artwork. Updated Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

RESOURCE GUIDES. The first step is to download the Resource Folders. Digital Downloads will come as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Extracted the Folders, they are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our Resource Guides and Tutorials to learn how to Apply and Edit Brushes + Halftones + Textures.

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FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time applying the Tools and Settings in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube or our 50 Step by Steps on the Website. Tutorials and Playlists will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.

DOWNLOAD BRUSHES. Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our (Updated) Brush Libraries. You can download our Adobe Illustrator Brushes or add on Comic Halftones and BMP Textures to save on our Resource Bundle. Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

RESOURCE GUIDES. Digital Downloads will come as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Downloaded and Extracted the Folders, they are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our Resource Guides and Tutorials to learn how to Apply Brushes + Halftones + Textures.

FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time applying the Tools and Settings in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube or our 50 Step by Steps on the Website. Tutorials will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.

TUTORIALS. Tutorials and Playlists will be approximately 30 Hours of Content to practice applying the tools in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET: Focus on applying Building Tools, Editing Options, and Coloring Techniques.

WORKFLOW: A lot of our Tutorials will go through a similar process to build in Adobe Illustrator. If you are new, focus on the Sequence of Events and Tool Options before applying to your own artwork. LEARNING TARGET: I would like you to establish a "Routine" or "Workflow."

PROGRESSION. For our Tutorials and Playlists, I recommend starting from the "Resource Type" you intend on using for your own artwork. LEARNING TARGET: Start from your own Sketch, Trace, or Photo in Adobe Illustrator.

Create Artboards: I recommend establishing a "Building Artboard" that you can use for your own artwork. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. Pick the size you will use most frequently to establish a routine while learning. Example: 1080px by 1080px - RGB - 300 PPI. LEARNING TARGET: Create an Artboard or Template for all of your "Building."

Place Resource: One of the easiest ways of getting started in Adobe Illustrator is using a Basic Line Drawing or Trace as your Resource. For those of you who intend on going off of a photo reference, I will still recommend giving yourself a traceable path. File - Place in your own sketch, photo, or trace. LEARNING TARGET: Use your own Sketch, Photo, or Trace to create your own artwork in Adobe Illustrator.

Template Layer: Have your Resource Layer Selected. In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create a 50% Opacity and Lockout the Layer. Create a New Layer above to start working in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET: Create a Template Layer Setting so that you can see both the Resource and Paths.

New Artboards: I recommend establishing a "Building Artboard" that you can use for your own artwork. A habit that I would like you to break is treating Adobe Illustrator like Photoshop. The initial Artboard Size can be changed at any point without ruining your own artwork. Pick the size you will use most frequently to establish a routine while learning. Example: 1080px by 1080px - RGB - 300 PPI. LEARNING TARGET: Establish a "Standardized Approach" that includes Artboard Size, Resource Type, and Template Layers that will relate to your own artwork.

Template Layer: Have your Resource Layer Selected. (It will usually be your only layer). In your Layers Panel, select the Menu in the Upper-Right Hand Corner. Drop down to Template. This will create a 50% Opacity and Lockout the Layer. Create a New Layer above to start working in Adobe Illustrator. It will give you an error message (no sign) if you try to draw on the Template Layer. LEARNING TARGET: Establish a Template Layer Setting so that you can see the Reference Image while not becoming too distracting when building in Adobe Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator Top Tips

Zoom In

All of our initial preferences are designed to gain more control over what you are clicking on. The more you can zoom in and see your anchors and handles the better.

Smart Guides

Under VIEW make sure you have your smart guides turned on. Under your PREFERENCES (smart guides) you should definitely have your anchor/ path labels selected.

Anchor and Handle Size

In your (general) PREFERENCES there is a setting which can enlarge your anchor points and handles to make them easier for you to see before clicking.

Direct Selection Tool

The white arrow can grab and adjust the anchors, handles, and paths. All of the other settings are designed to let you know what you are selecting before you click and drag.

FOLLOW ALONG. Tutorials are designed to build up time applying the Tools and Settings in Adobe Illustrator. Follow along with our 100 Tutorials Playlist on YouTube or our 50 Step by Steps on the Website. Tutorials will focus on Building Tools, Applying Brushes, Editing Options, and Basic Coloring Techniques in Adobe Illustrator.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD BRUSHES: Many of you are jumping over from YouTube looking to download our Adobe Illustrator Brush Libraries. Digital Downloads will come to you through our friends at Teachable. Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

STEP #2: SAVE LIBRARIES: Once you have downloaded and extracted the Brushes Folders, I recommend Saving "Updated" Brush Libraries to your "User Defined" by clicking Save Brush Library in the Brushes Menu. Follow along with our Resource Guides to save, apply, and edit Brushes in Adobe Illustrator.

STEP #3: OPEN BRUSHES: Our Adobe Illustrator Brushes have been organized into Brush Libraries for easy application and to maintain consistency with your Line Variation. You can Open Brush Libraries through the “User Defined” or “Other Library” Options in the Brushes Panel in Adobe Illustrator.

70 CARTOON BRUSHES: 70 Adobe Illustrator Cartoon Brushes are my go-to brushes for Professional Logos, Cartoons, Mascots, and Branding. Use Cartoon Illustrator Brushes with the Pen, Pencil or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork. 70 Cartoon Brushes includes Updated Cartoon, Cartoon 2, and Original Cartoon Brush Libraries.

100 COMIC STRIP BRUSHES: 100 Hand Painted + Comic Strip Brushes to get a lived in feel back into your Vector Art. Comic Strips and Hand Painted are painted based on some of my favorite artists and cartoonists. These brushes are designed to look ready for the Sunday Paper. 100 Comic Strip Brushes includes Updated Comic Strip, Hand-Painted, Paintbrush, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries.

50 MASCOT BRUSHES: 50 Jittery Hand, Caffeinated Cartoonist + Rough Ink Brushes to Mimic Paper Bleed and Caffeine. Designed to be a little less stiff with your vector art. Use these Brush Libraries to get more distressed look or ink bleed back in your Vector Artwork. 50 Mascot Brushes includes Updated Caffeinated Cartoonist, Rough Ink, and Jittery Hand Brush Libraries.

70 CARTOON BRUSHES: 70 Adobe Illustrator Cartoon Brushes are my go-to brushes for Professional Logos, Cartoons, Mascots, and Branding. Use Cartoon Illustrator Brushes with the Pen, Pencil or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork. 70 Cartoon Brushes includes Updated Cartoon, Cartoon 2, and Original Cartoon Brush Libraries. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: CARTOON BRUSHES

100 COMIC STRIP BRUSHES: 100 Hand Painted + Comic Strip Brushes to get a lived in feel back into your Vector Art. Comic Strips and Hand Painted are painted based on some of my favorite artists and cartoonists. These brushes are designed to look ready for the Sunday Paper. 100 Comic Strip Brushes includes Updated Comic Strip, Hand-Painted, Paintbrush, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: COMIC BRUSHES

50 MASCOT BRUSHES: 50 Jittery Hand, Caffeinated Cartoonist + Rough Ink Brushes to Mimic Paper Bleed and Caffeine. Designed to be a little less stiff with your vector art. Use these Brush Libraries to get more distressed look or ink bleed back in your Vector Artwork. 50 Mascot Brushes includes Updated Caffeinated Cartoonist, Rough Ink, and Jittery Hand Brush Libraries. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: MASCOT BRUSHES

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

BRUSHES BUNDLE

DOWNLOAD 200 BRUSHES

SALE (20% OFF)

SAVE LIBRARIES. Once you have downloaded and extracted the Folder, the Adobe Illustrator Brushes are ready to be used. I recommend Saving "Updated" Brush Libraries to your "User Defined" by clicking Save Brush Library in the Brushes Menu. Follow along with our Resource Guides to save, apply, and edit Brushes in Adobe Illustrator.

OPEN LIBRARIES. Our Adobe Illustrator Brushes have been organized into Brush Libraries for easy application and to maintain consistency with your Line Variation. In the Brushes Panel Menu, select “Open Brush Library.” You can Open Brush Libraries through the “User Defined” or “Other Library” Options in the Brushes Panel.

DOWNLOAD BRUSHES: Our 200 Adobe Illustrator Brushes will come to you as a Zipped Folder on Teachable. Once you have Downloaded and Extracted the Folders, the Brush Libraries are ready to be used in Adobe Illustrator. I do recommend Saving "Updated" Brush Libraries to your "User Defined" by clicking Save Brush Library in the Brushes Menu. Brush Libraries include our 70 Cartoon, 100 Comic Strip, and 50 Vintage Mascot Brushes.

70 CARTOON BRUSHES: Adobe Illustrator Cartoon Brushes are my go-to brushes for Professional Logos, Cartoons, Mascots, and Branding. Use Cartoon Illustrator Brushes with the Pen, Pencil or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork. (includes Updated Cartoon, Cartoon 2, and Original Cartoon Brush Libraries).

100 COMIC STRIP BRUSHES: Hand Painted + Comic Strip Brushes to get a lived-in feel back into your Vector Art. Comic Strips and Hand Painted are painted based on some of my favorite artists and cartoonists. These brushes are designed to look ready for the Sunday Paper. (includes Updated Comic Strip, Hand-Painted, Paintbrush, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries).

50 MASCOT BRUSHES: Jittery Hand, Caffeinated Cartoonist + Rough Ink Brushes to Mimic Paper Bleed and Caffeine. Designed to be a little less stiff with your vector art. Use these Brush Libraries to get more of a distressed look or ink bleed back in your own Vector Artwork. (includes Updated Caffeinated Cartoonist, Rough Ink, and Jittery Hand Brush Libraries).

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

BRUSHES BUNDLE

DOWNLOAD 200 BRUSHES

20% OFF (SAVE $12)

SAVING BRUSHES: Open All of the Brushes Libraries in Adobe Illustrator. (File - Open). Have your Brushes Panel Open. Under Window - Brushes. Click on Each Illustrator Document and Open the Brushes Menu in the Brushes Panel. Scroll down to Click on Save Brush Library. Default Location = User Defined. Repeat for each (updated) Brush Library.

OPENING BRUSHES: Under Window - Select Brushes. In the Brushes Menu, drop-down to Open Brush Library. Hover over it and select "Other Library." A Normal Open Dialogue Box will appear to select any Brush Library to use in Illustrator. Almost all of our step-by-step tutorials on YouTube use this method.

Understanding Editing Tools

Shape Builder is a tool that can be used to give an alternative to the Eraser Tool while Editing. In order to use Shape Builder, you will need to Expand the Brush Layer. Select All - Expand (or Expand Appearance + Expand). I do recommend duplicating a Brushes Layer to preserve a Live Brush Layer for future edits. Once the Brushes are Expanded, Select All + click on the Shape Builder Tool. The Alt/Option key will switch the Shape Builder Tool to delete mode. Simply Click or Drag through the stray or overlapped areas to delete. Remember to keep holding down the Alt/Option. You can also Turn On/Off the Highlighting by double-clicking on the Shape Builder Tool. The flashing gets irritating.

Expand Appearance: I do recommend Expanding your Brushes Layer (Save Live Brushes Layer) before using Shape Builder. This will prevent bouncing of the Brushes and Line Variation. It will also move toward an efficiency model to save time so you are not stopping and editing while you are still building.

Path - Simplify: Under Object, there is an easy and automatic way to remove extra anchor points which fits nicely into editing. Under Object - Select Path - Simplify. There is an auto-simplify button that does a great job. Things to keep an eye out for is this process likes to break curves. Clean up with the Smooth Button in your Control Panel.

Eraser Tool: The Eraser Tool is very straightforward. Click on the Path that you would like to erase and draw through it with the Eraser Tool. The Tool works great if you remember to Select the Object 1st. The default setting will delete everything. Use the Eraser Tool for smaller areas of overlapping or an easy alternative to Shape Builder.

Understanding Coloring

Open the Swatch Window. On the bottom left hand corner you will see the Open Swatch Libraries icon. At the bottom of the drop-down menu you will see Open Other Library. Go to our resource folder in the Color Palettes folder to Open ASE files. The ASE files have been created to make your life easier while going through the Challenge Series. Once you open the Library- click on the folder icon next to the swatches to move them from the library to the swatches.

Coloring with Fills

One of the easiest and fastest ways of filling in your color is through using Fills. The main thing to look for is enclosed shaped. We have done nothing but build with Shapes so coloring is super easy. Keep this in mind as you are going through the other tutorials where we don't have any shapes.

Gradient Panel

Select each color using the Magic Wand Tool (Adjust to Tolerance 5) each color. Add on a Radial Gradient to the frosting layers (3). Use the lightest and Darkest Color Swatch from the color set of 3. Adjust the slider to control where the values hit. Troubleshooting: Double check your fill is in front and not your stroke.

Gradient Tool

You can use the Gradient Tool to gain some control over where the gradient hits on your shapes. The tool will control the same features that are in the panel. I use the tool when I don't want to guess and check angle degrees or aspect ratio percentages.

How to Color in Adobe Illustrator

One of the easiest and fastest ways of filling in your color is through Live Paint. Live Paint Bucket is a part of the Shape Builder Tools which builds the shapes in the exact shape you need it. Select All. Go up to Object - Live Paint - Make. If you have a grayed out Make it simply means you didn't have anything selected. I do recommend Deselecting by clicking on your artboard before clicking on a Color Swatch. *Remember Everything is still Selected so it will Color the Full Selection if you click on a Color Swatch with everything selected. Click on the Live Paint Bucket (K) and Click to Dump Color. It will feel like the Paint Bucket in Adobe Photoshop.