Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

In this beginner Adobe Illustrator tutorial we will be going through an easy to follow inking and coloring coloring process using Pen tool for inking, Live Paint for flat colors, the knife tool to create easy shadows.

Anchor Point Guides

Anchor point guides are designed to make life easier as you are learning where to place anchors and how to adjust handles.

Using Pen Tool

We will be using our 2 step approach to the pen tool. The first is using straight lines to just get down our anchor points. We will then be using the convert anchor tool to create curves and handles.

Adding Flat Color

Using live paint and the knife tool are fast ways of getting down color and shadows without having to use pathfinder to create shapes.

Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

Using Resource Folder

1. Place the anchor point guide into NEW illustrator document and scale to fit the 5″x 5″ artboard. In your layers menu select Template Layer. Create a New layer ABOVE IT for inking.

Using the Pen Tool

2. Trace the image using the shape and pen tool. There should be no fill when using the pen tool. Use straight line and the convert anchor point tool to create your curves.

Custom Brushes

3. Add OUR custom brushes library to create variation in your lines. Expand the lines and use the eraser tool to erase overlapping or unwanted lines. Unite brushes in pathfinder panel.

Using Live Paint

4. Select All – Object- Live Paint. Fill in flat colors wIth our color palette or find others on https://color.adobe.com/ Object – Expand live paint. Ungroup (3X) or until you can select individual shapes.

Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

Anchor Point Guides

Using Pen Tool

Adding Flat Color

Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool

Using Resource Folder

Using the Pen Tool

Custom Brushes

Using Live Paint

Try our Adobe Illustrator Challenge Series

ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIALS