
Beginner Illustrator Tutorial using Pen Tool
Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: Applying Brushes
This Tutorial will be a part of our Resource Guides for our Adobe Illustrator Brush Libraries, Comic Halftones, and BMP Textures. Digital Downloads will come as a Zipped Folder through our friends at Teachable. Once you have downloaded and extracted the Resource 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.


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.
STEP #1: Many of you will be deciding between the Pen and Pencil Tools as your Primary Building Tool in Adobe Illustrator. I do recommend learning using the Pencil Tool. Adobe Illustrator will become a tracing program. Get down all of your "Paths" first before applying Brushes. It does help to plan out your Line Variation on your own sketches.
STEP #2: Match the Brushes to the Line Variation. If you plan out your lines in your own drawing, this step is much easier. Select the Brushes and Line Weight. The easiest method is to find the ends and visually find the other end to see if it will be floating or hitting another line. If it hits another line that signals a darker value the end should reflect the change in value. (Thicker End).
STEP #3: Moving towards Editing your Brushes. Duplicate the Live Brush Layer before Expanding. Expand All. Object - Expand Appearance + Expand. You really only need to Expand the Strokes. Path Simplify Option: Once the Brushes have been Expanded hit the selection with a Simplify Path ( Object - Path - Simplify) to clean up extra Anchor Points.
STEP #4: Editing using Shape Builder. Select All. Select your Shape Builder Tool. Hold down Alt/Option on your Keyboard to Delete. Hit all the overlapping lines to clean up any extra lines. You can Turn Off the Highlighting feature in Shape Builder. If you have busy areas, I will recommend zooming in.
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.
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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.