Is this Practice Exercise Prompt Builder free?

Yes, it's completely free to use with no sign-up required. FREE RESOURCES / PRACTICE EXERCISE PROMPT BUILDER

Is this Color Palette Generator free?

Yes, it's completely free to use with no sign-up required. FREE RESOURCES / COLOR PALETTE GENERATOR

Is the Artboard Size Finder free?

Yes, it's completely free to use with no sign-up required. FREE RESOURCES / ARTBOARD SIZE FINDER

Is the Social Media Size Finder free?

Yes, it's completely free to use with no sign-up required. FREE RESOURCES / SOCIAL MEDIA SIZE FINDER

How does the word-to-color feature work in the Color Palette Generator?

It matches your word against a curated dictionary of color names, nature words, and mood words. If your word isn't in the dictionary, it still generates a consistent color from it, though very obscure words may not be perfectly on-theme. FREE RESOURCES / COLOR PALETTE GENERATOR

What's the difference between the color theory options?

What's the difference between the color theory options? Each one builds your 5 colors from a different relationship on the color wheel. Analogous uses neighboring colors for a cohesive feel. Complementary uses opposite colors for contrast. Triadic and Square space colors evenly for bold palettes. Monochromatic stays in one hue family. FREE RESOURCES / COLOR PALETTE GENERATOR

How do you transfer a free color swatch palette into Adobe Illustrator using Hex Codes?

To transfer a color palette sourced from an external website like Canva Colors into Adobe Illustrator, copy the six-digit alphanumeric Hex Code (e.g., #FF5733) of your desired color. In Illustrator, double-click the Fill box in the Toolbar to open the Color Picker, paste the string into the pound sign (#) field at the bottom of the window, and click OK. To save it for future use, drag the color from the Fill box straight into the Swatches Panel. FREE RESOURCES / COLOR PALETTE GENERATOR

What size should my Illustrator artboard be for a logo?

2000 x 2000 pixels is a standard starting point. Build square so it scales from a favicon up to a banner. Since logos are vector, the artboard size is less important than building at the right proportions. FREE RESOURCES / ARTBOARD SIZE FINDER

What artboard size should I use for everyday design work?

360 x 360 pixels is a comfortable everyday working canvas. Everything in Illustrator is vector so it scales to any export size — this is a reference point, not a constraint. FREE RESOURCES / ARTBOARD SIZE FINDER

What size should Instagram posts be?

1080 x 1080 pixels for square feed posts. Instagram also supports portrait (1080 x 1350) and landscape (1080 x 566), but square crops the least across feed and Explore placements. FREE RESOURCES / SOCIAL MEDIA SIZE GUIDE

What size should Instagram Stories and Reels be?

1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16 vertical). Keep important text and logos inside the center safe zone — the top and bottom 250 pixels are covered by app UI. FREE RESOURCES / SOCIAL MEDIA SIZE GUIDE

Are these fonts free to use for commercial projects?

Google Fonts are free for both personal and commercial use, including print-on-demand designs, merchandise, and client work. Adobe Fonts require an active Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, but are also licensed for commercial use through that subscription. Always check the individual license for any font before using it on a product you sell. FREE RESOURCES / FONT PAIRING FINDER

What's the difference between a heading font and a body font?

A heading font is designed to work at large sizes — it creates visual impact and sets the brand personality. A body font is designed to be readable at smaller sizes for descriptions, copy, and supporting text. Pairing two complementary fonts rather than using one font everywhere usually produces a stronger result. FREE RESOURCES / FONT PAIRING FINDER

Do you have printable workflow guides I can use with my own artwork?

Yes, the major decision you'll need to make is your starting point and build mode. First, decide whether you have drawings and sketches ready to use or will start with stock photos. We are looking to align the starting point, build mode, and export size. PRINTABLE WORKFLOW GUIDES

What is the best way to set up a sketch as a template in Adobe Illustrator?

Place your sketch in Adobe Illustrator using File > Place, then lock the layer and set it to Template (double-click the layer and check Template). This dims the sketch automatically and prevents accidental edits. Create a new layer above it and begin tracing your paths with the Pen, Pencil, or Curvature Tool. This workflow keeps your sketch visible as a guide while you build your vector artwork. DRAWING GUIDE

How do I plan line weight and line variation before starting a vector drawing?

Before starting, study your sketch and identify which lines are thick (value change areas like overlaps and shadows) and which are thin (highlight edges). Match the end of each brush stroke to the desired taper. Thicker ends indicate darker values or areas of overlap. Planning this in advance will make applying brushes faster and more consistent throughout your illustration. DRAWING GUIDE

How do I turn a sketch into vector art in Adobe Illustrator?

To turn a sketch into professional vector art, Jason Secrest utilizes a standardized three-step workflow: Building, Editing, and Coloring. First, place your sketch on a dedicated layer in Adobe Illustrator and convert it into a dimmed, locked "Template Layer." Second, use primary building tools like the Pen Tool, Pencil Tool, or Ellipse Tool to lay down raw vector paths. Finally, apply custom Brush Libraries for line variation and use Live Paint to fill in your colors. DRAWING GUIDE

Should I sketch on paper or digitally for vector tracing?

Artists can use either traditional paper or digital sketching software to prepare drawings for the Jason Secrest vector workflow, as both methods function perfectly. If sketching on paper, capture a clean, well-lit photo or scan of the drawing. If sketching digitally, export the line work as a flat image file. Both formats can be easily imported into Adobe Illustrator and transformed into a locked Template Layer for vector tracing. DRAWING GUIDE

How clean does my sketch need to be before vectorizing it?

For beginners learning Adobe Illustrator, a sketch should be a clean contour line drawing with clearly defined overlapping lines to make the vector building phase feel like a simple tracing exercise. Advanced vector artists can save time by utilizing quicker, looser sketches. However, explicitly mapping out your structural anchor point guides during the sketching phase will prevent technical frustration when using the Pen or Pencil tools. DRAWING GUIDE

What are the best free graphic design software alternatives for creating templates and layouts?

For users who do not own professional vector software, Canva and Adobe Express function as excellent, free web-based design environments. Both platforms allow users to log in with a free account to access pre-made grid templates, basic vector elements, presentation slides, and custom logo layouts, making them ideal for quick digital media mockups and social graphics. Affinity Designer is a great Adobe alternative through Canva. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

What are the primary building tools in Adobe Illustrator for creating vector illustrations?

The three primary building tools are the Ellipse Tool (for circles and ovals), the Pen Tool (for precise anchor point paths), and the Curvature Tool (for smooth flowing curves). These tools align directly to the three main design elements: Shapes, Lines, and Curves. Understanding which tool matches each part of your design is the foundation of an efficient vector workflow. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

Should I use the Pen Tool or the Curvature Tool when building paths with Jason Secrest's Brushes?

Both tools work well with Jason Secrest's Brushes. The Pen Tool gives you precise control by manually placing anchor points at start, curve, and end positions. The Curvature Tool creates smooth, flowing curves automatically and is often easier for beginners. A common approach is to use the Pen Tool for straight lines and sharp angles, and the Curvature Tool for organic curves and flowing shapes. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I apply Jason Secrest's Brushes to paths built with the Pen or Shape Tools?

Select the path you built with the Pen Tool, Pencil Tool, or Shape Tool, then click the desired brush in the Brushes panel. The brush will be applied to the stroke of the path. Adjust the stroke weight using the Stroke panel or the Weight field in the Control Bar to control the overall thickness and scale of the brush effect on your path. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

What is the fastest way to build clean vector shapes in Illustrator?

The fastest way to build clean vector shapes is to overlap basic geometric primitives—such as ellipses, rectangles, and polygons—instead of manually drawing every silhouette with the Pen Tool. By using default shape tools to establish the foundational mass of a character, the geometry remains mathematically perfect. Illustrators can then merge these overlapping shapes into a single compound object using the Shape Builder Tool. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do Adobe Illustrator vector brushes actually work?

Adobe Illustrator vector brushes work by stretching, repeating, or scattering a pre-defined vector graphic along a standard path stroke. When an artist applies a Jason Secrest brush library to a vector line, the software dynamically wraps the source vector geometry around the anchor points and direction handles of that path, allowing the stroke to scale, bend, and distort smoothly without pixelating. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

How do I make lines look organic and hand-drawn in Adobe Illustrator?

To make lines look organic and hand-drawn, replace the default, uniform stroke profiles with specialized asset libraries that incorporate subtle texture, jitter, and natural ink bleeds. Jason Secrest recommends applying the Jittery Hand or Caffeinated Cartoonist brush sets to vector paths, which injects intentional, microscopic imperfections into the stroke edges to break up the artificial rigidity of standard digital art rendering. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

How do I make my digital line art look like professional comic book art?

To replicate a professional comic book ink style, combine sharp, dramatic line tapers with heavy black shadow fills. Use the Jason Secrest Comic Strip Brush Library to automatically apply thick-to-thin stroke weights, and position your heaviest line work where shadows naturally accumulate, such as under the chin or along the undersides of limbs. This distinct contrast mimics traditional physical brush-inking methods. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

What brushes do professional vector illustrators use for cartooning and mascot design?

Professional vector illustrators use custom, pressure-sensitive Art Brushes configured with precise start-and-end tapers rather than default uniform strokes. Jason Secrest utilizes custom-engineered toolkits like the Cartoon, Comic Strip, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries because they maintain their crisp organic textures and precise ink flow shapes whether drawing with a standard mouse or an advanced pressure-sensitive graphics tablet. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

How do I install Jason Secrest's Brushes in Adobe Illustrator?

There is no install needed. Open the brushes window in Adobe Illustrator. Select "Open Brush Library" from the menu. A normal open dialogue box will appear. Select the "extacted" brush library from the folder. Troubleshooting: Do not try to install a zipped folder. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

Why can't I see brushes after downloading?

Do not open Brush Libraries directly from the folder. You will be met with a blank artboard. Do not change or edit this document. To open a Brush Library, go back to your working Adobe Illustrator document. Go the the brushes window. Select "Open Brush Library." A normal open dialogue window will appear to select the Brush Library from the extracted folder. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

How do I save a custom brush library to my 'User Defined' menu in Illustrator?

Open the Brush Library directly from the folder. Go to the Brushes Window. Select "Save Brush Library." A pop up save window will appear. Just click save. Do not change the location or name of the brushes. It will now appear in your 'User Defined." Please make sure you saved and backed up the brushes to a hard-drive or cloud-based storage service. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

How do I update Brushes?

Open any Brush File in the most recent version of Adobe CC. It will automatically update the file. Save the Brush File. Repeat for each Library. Easy-Peasy. CARTOON BRUSHES / COMIC STRIP BRUSHES / MASCOT BRUSHES

Why do I need to Expand or Expand Appearance before editing brush strokes in Adobe Illustrator?

Jason Secrest's Brushes are live effects applied to paths. To edit the actual stroke shape with tools like the Shape Builder or Eraser, you must first Expand the brush. Go to Object > Expand Appearance (then Object > Expand if needed). Always duplicate your live brush layer first to preserve a non-expanded version for future edits. Expanding converts the brush into editable filled vector shapes. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I use the Shape Builder Tool to clean up overlapping brush paths?

After expanding your brushes, select all objects (Ctrl/Cmd+A), then select the Shape Builder Tool (Shift+M). Hold down Alt/Option and drag or click over the overlapping or stray marks you want to remove. This deletes unwanted segments created by long brush strokes. Tip: Turn off the Highlight feature in Shape Builder options and zoom in on busy areas for more precise editing. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I use Pathfinder or Path Simplify to refine my expanded brush paths?

After expanding brushes, use Object > Path > Simplify to reduce excess anchor points and clean up complex paths. In the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), you can Unite multiple shapes or use Minus Front to cut areas. For brush cleanup, Path Simplify is particularly helpful because expanding creates many anchor points. Set the Simplify Curve Precision high (95-100%) to maintain your line quality. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I apply flat color fills to my vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator?

To apply flat color fills, select a vector shape and click on a color swatch in the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches). Make sure the Fill icon (solid square) is active in the Toolbox. You can also use the Live Paint Bucket tool for a fast and intuitive coloring workflow. Jason Secrest's Color Swatches library provides ready-made color palettes optimized for cartoons and mascots. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

What is Live Paint and how do I use it for coloring in Adobe Illustrator?

Live Paint is a coloring tool that lets you fill enclosed areas created by overlapping paths, even if those areas are not separate shapes. To use it, select all your paths, then go to Object > Live Paint > Make. Then select the Live Paint Bucket tool (K) and click any region to fill it with the current color. This is ideal for quickly coloring complex illustrations built with Jason Secrest's Brushes. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I use the Color Swatches library with Jason Secrest's Brushes in Adobe Illustrator?

Open the Color Swatches library in Adobe Illustrator by going to Window > Swatches, then selecting Open Swatch Library > Other Library and navigating to the downloaded Color Swatches file. The swatches will appear in a floating panel. Click any swatch to apply the color to your selected shape's fill. The Color Swatches are designed to complement Jason Secrest's cartoon and mascot illustration style. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

Are Jason Secrest Comic Halftones applied as a color swatch or an independent vector overlay?

Jason Secrest Comic Halftones are applied directly as custom pattern swatches within the Adobe Illustrator Swatches Panel. This allows artists to fill any vector shape with a halftone dot pattern instantly, exactly like applying a standard flat color fill, rather than manually placing, overlapping, and masking independent dot vectors. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

How do I scale or rotate a halftone pattern without changing the size of the vector artwork?

To scale or rotate a halftone pattern independently in Adobe Illustrator, select the object and use the Scale Tool (S) or Rotate Tool (R) while holding down the tilde key (~). Alternatively, navigate to Object > Transform > Scale, uncheck "Transform Objects," and check "Transform Patterns." This allows you to resize or tilt the dot density while the target illustration path remains completely unchanged. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

Why does a halftone pattern look weird or distorted when zooming in and out of Adobe Illustrator?

Halftone patterns look distorted during zooming due to display-rendering limitations on high-density monitor screens (often called a moire effect). This visual glitch is entirely optical and occurs only within the live Illustrator workspace. The halftone pattern remains mathematically perfect and will export as a crisp, flawless dot matrix when saved as a final high-resolution PNG or PDF asset. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

What is a BMP texture and how is it used in a Jason Secrest vector layout?

A BMP (Bitmap) texture is a high-resolution, 1-bit black-and-white raster image that Adobe Illustrator treats as a dynamic design asset. When a Jason Secrest Grunge BMP texture is placed into Illustrator, the white background automatically becomes 100% transparent. This allows designers to select the texture and change the color of the black grit instantly using the standard swatches panel, completely bypassing the need to image-trace complex files. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

How do I use a Jason Secrest Grunge texture to create a distressed look using an Opacity Mask?

To create a non-destructive distressed look, select your vector illustration, open the Transparency Panel, and click Make Mask. Uncheck the "Clip" box, click directly into the black mask thumbnail square to enter mask editing mode, and use File > Place to insert the Jason Secrest Grunge BMP texture. The dark values of the texture will cleanly punch transparent holes straight through your artwork without altering your original vector anchor points. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

How do I apply heavy textures in Adobe Illustrator without causing the software to lag or crash?

To prevent Adobe Illustrator from lagging or crashing, Jason Secrest recommends using high-resolution Bitmap (BMP) textures inside an Opacity Mask instead of expanding complex vector paths containing millions of jagged anchor points. Utilizing BMP image masks keeps the document's internal vector math incredibly lightweight, resulting in lightning-fast rendering speeds and minimal file sizes. CRACK TEXTURES / PAINT + PAPER TEXTURES / GRUNGE TEXTURES / HALFTONE TEXTURES

What is the best file format to export my finished vector illustration from Adobe Illustrator?

For print, export as a high-resolution PDF (File > Save As > PDF) or EPS to preserve full vector quality. For digital use, PNG (File > Export > Export As > PNG) at 150-300 PPI gives crisp results. If you need the vector file for clients, use AI (native Illustrator) or EPS. For web display, SVG is ideal as it scales infinitely without losing quality. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

How do I export my illustration as a transparent PNG from Adobe Illustrator?

To export a transparent PNG, first make sure your artboard has no background rectangle. Then go to File > Export > Export As, choose PNG, and in the PNG options dialog, check "Background Color: Transparent" (or set it to None). Select your desired resolution (72 PPI for web, 150-300 PPI for print). The resulting PNG file will have a transparent background ready for use in any design project. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

Can I export individual layers or artboards as separate files in Adobe Illustrator?

Yes! To export each artboard as a separate file, go to File > Export > Export As, check "Use Artboards," and choose a range or "All." For exporting layers as separate files, use File > Export > Export for Screens. This opens a dialog where you can choose specific artboards or assets to export at multiple sizes and formats simultaneously, which is very useful for preparing illustrations for clients or production. BEGINNER GUIDE 1 / BEGINNER GUIDE 2 / BEGINNER GUIDE 3 / BEGINNER GUIDE 4 / BEGINNER GUIDE 5 / BEGINNER GUIDE 6 / BEGINNER GUIDE 7 / BEGINNER GUIDE 8 / BEGINNER GUIDE 9

CHECKLISTS + WORKFLOWS

WORKFLOW GUIDES

Download our ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES + RESOURCES to Follow Along with our Tutorials or use them with Your Own Vector Artwork.

The Workflows and Guides have been specifically designed so you can easily switch out the subject matter to align with your own artwork and designs. FAQ: I have created an FAQ list based on the last 10 years of YouTube comments. This could be a great place if you are looking for quick answers. PRINTABLE CHECKLISTS: If you are new, start with the printable checklists and workflows. FREE TOOLS: I have introduced new tools to assist you with your workflows; these can be found on the Free Resources page of the website. The tools are also organized throughout the workflow.

TUTORIALS: I have organized tutorials by core areas of your Workflow: Building, Editing, and Coloring. LEARNING TARGET (1): Understand the Building Tools and Options. LEARNING TARGET (2): Apply Line Variation along with Live and Expanded Editing Tools. LEARNING TARGET (3): Apply Color, Values, and Gradients using Advanced Coloring Techniques.

GETTING STARTED: Our Getting Started Guides will walk you through the process of downloading, saving, and gathering resources for your own artwork. LEARNING TARGET (1): Download Stock Photos to use as a Resource Images. LEARNING TARGET (2): Download and Save Brush Libraries. LEARNING TARGET (3): Download or Save Color Swatches.

BEGINNER: The major decision you'll need to make is your starting point and build mode. First, determine whether you have drawings and sketches ready to use, or if you will be starting from stock photos. We are looking to align the starting point, build mode, and export size.

INTERMEDIATE: The purpose of our Beginner Guides and Tutorials is to provide an overview of a workflow, allowing you to see the steps in sequence. These are designed to assist you as you go through our Free Tools and Workflow Guides. Clarifying these details will simplify your learning process in Adobe Illustrator.

ADVANCED: Pay attention to the Sequence of Events, Resources, and Tool Options as it relates to building a "Workflow." As you create your artwork, outline the steps in your workflow. Start with an initial workflow, then look to streamline or add AI components.

STARTING POINT: The major decision you'll need to make is your starting point and build mode. First, determine whether you have drawings and sketches ready to use, or if you will be starting from stock photos. We are looking to align the starting point, build mode, and export size.

PRIMARY BUILDING: The purpose of our Beginner Guides and Tutorials is to provide an overview of a workflow, allowing you to see the steps in sequence. These are designed to assist you as you go through our Free Tools and Workflow Guides. Clarifying these details will simplify your learning process in Adobe Illustrator.

FILE EXPORT: As you create your own original artwork, think about where you are posting, exporting, and uploading. Start with the end in mind, all requirements must be addressed before starting your workflow. I have created a full series of artboard, social, and POD size and requirement tools for you to use.

REFERENCE IMAGES: Look for Free Stock Photos to use as Drawing References for Proportions, Details, and Values. I recommend gathering a few different options based on the subject matter you are drawing. For your own artwork, I recommend gathering and organizing resources within the same project folder (Stock Photos / Sketches / Color Swatches). LEARNING TARGET: For your own artwork, I recommend starting from a Drawing, Sketch, or Traced Stock Photo. LEARNING TARGET: Use either Paper or Digital Drawing Methods.

DRAWING TEMPLATE: I have created a Drawing Template of 2160px by 1080px in Adobe Photoshop. This will allow me to Export my Drawing or Sketch from Layers at 1080px by 1080px. I have created a Frame of 1080px by 1080px. File - Place in your Photo Reference. You can add Adjustment Layers to assist your drawings and sketches. LEARNING TARGET (1): Create a New Document 2160px by 1080px. LEARNING TARGET (2): Add Adjustment Layers to your Photo Layer.

BASIC TRACE: I will recommend to new users to Adobe Illustrator a Breakdown Process so you can see the Design Elements within the subject. This will allow you to quickly assess the Building Tools that align with the Elements (Lines + Shapes). There will be some of you who will be asking: 'Why don't we just go directly from the Stock Photo?" If you chose to go directly off of a photo, there is a breaking point with the transparency of the photo layer and being able to see your new paths. At this point the Photo Details become challenging to see and your eyeballs will explode. LEARNING TARGET: Breakdown your image into Design Elements (shapes and lines) before moving to Adobe Illustrator.

DESIGN ELEMENTS: Look for obvious shapes first ie. Circles. This will align directly with the Ellipse Tool. You can quickly create an "Anchor Point Guide" by adding markers for Center of Circles, Corners, and the Ends of Lines. This step is a "Connect the Dots" Approach for the Ellipse, Pen, and Curvature Tools to drop down your lines. LEARNING TARGET (1): Look for obvious Shapes/Circles. LEARNING TARGET (2): Look for the Start/End/Corners of each Line Segment. LEARNING TARGET: Look for elements of your design that can "repeat" or "mirror" to save time.

COUNTOUR LINE WITH VARIATION: I recommend starting from a Clean Contour Line Drawing for your artwork and designs. You will spend a little more time on the drawing, but you have taken away some of the guesswork in Adobe Illustrator. I would prep your drawings for Building, Brushes, and Values. You can trace your drawing using the Ellipse and Pen Tools. LEARNING TARGET (1): For your artwork, create a "Traceable Path" to align with the Building Tools in Adobe Illustrator.

SKETCH TO VECTOR: As you become more aware of the building tools and options in Adobe Illustrator, you can save time in your workflow by using a quick sketch. PAPER: For those of you sketching on paper, this can be quick and small. I recommend having an idea of the building tools before moving to a rough or quick sketch. DIGITAL: Use any sketching or drawing program you like. The goal is to get the initial elements down quickly to assess the building tools you will use in Adobe Illustrator.

EXPORTING FROM LAYERS: When you are all done with your Sketches, Drawings, or Traced Stock Photos, I recommend Exporting from the Layers Panel. Select All of your Drawing Layers. Click on Export As from the Layers Panel Menu. This will Export All of your Drawing Layers.

EXPORT VS. DRAG: If you are creating multiple drawings or sketches, it is recommended to save and export them from Adobe Photoshop. If you plan to move directly to Adobe Illustrator after sketching, I recommend dragging your finished sketch to a working artboard. Remember to save your Sketch Document.

TEMPLATE LAYER: File-Place in your Resource Image (Traced Stock Photo, Drawing, or Sketch). Scale to Fit Artboard Size. 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 (1): Create a Template Layer. Add a new Layer above for "Building."

PREPPING FOR BUILD TOOLS: As I am creating my artwork, notice I am aligning the Tools to the Shapes and Lines within my Sketch or Drawing. Many of you will be using Shape, Pencil, and Pen Tools as your Primary Building Tools. LEARNING TARGET (1): Understand the Building Tools and Options in Adobe Illustrator. LEARNING TARGET (2): Align the Building Tools (Ellipse, Pen, and Curvature Tools) to the Design Elements (Shapes, Lines, and Curves) in your artwork.

PREPPING FOR BRUSHES: As I am inking my artwork, notice I am aligning each path to a Brush Stroke. If I handed you a marker and said to trace your drawing, you would build in this method naturally. You hand or pen would lift up after each new stroke. Match the Brushes to the Line Variation within your drawing. Pay attention to the ends and the floating ends to align with your brushes. If you planned out your variation in your own contour drawing, this step is much easier. LEARING TARGET: Plan out your variation in your own drawings.

PREPPING FOR VALUES: As I am coloring my artwork, notice I am adding in the values that were created in the initial sketch. This can be done quite quickly within your sketch. You will have more control over the values with the pen and curvature tools using the Divide Pathfinder Tool. LEARNING TARGET: Include a light source and value areas your drawings or sketches.

I appreciate your videos. I have been an illustrator user for years and have my own ways of doing things. It's great to see other ways of using tools and learning tricks I didn't know were available! It's also good to see you doing the same thing as me in other instances, confirming I'm on the right track!Andy Zenz

Awesome tutorial! I don't think I've picked up something so easily from someone who knows what they are doing. I managed to draw my first vector art and it was a joy! Great work keep it up!blitz145

Thank you loads! Compared to other tutorials, yours are just really well-explained and easy-to-follow. Can totally see that you've got a passion for what you're doing and that's just wonderful! 🙂 Keep it up, you're doing an amazing job. Yulia Kachurova

Love your video thanks so much. you blow Lynda.com out of the water!!!!Steve Yensel

Brilliant video. So much great info packed in here. I'm just getting started drawing cartoons with my Wacom tablet, and this was a huge help. Thumbs up and thanks!Dorian Staten

Wow Thanks Jason...was really struggling with making images with basic shapes. Your tutorial is helping me out!!Kishor Rajani

thanks a lot you are really one of my favorites, I like the steps you give us, and I'm so thankful for that effort you do for helping us :)Wessam Lotfi

Keep up the good work Jason. I’ve been doing Lynda.com tutorials for a few months now and I got more out of your videos than what I’ve received at Lynda. Keep it up and Thank You!!bobby jacobs • 1 year ago

These tutorials are amazing. Just started using illustrator and really glad I found your channel. The only videos that explain everything step by stepAida Stan

You are definitely one of the best teachers I've found dealing with start to finish creative process. Great work!!!Jasen Fisher

Thank you so much man, I loved the way you explain this, I spent days looking for a good tutorial vid, thanks a lot, gonna keep watching your videos!!!Karel Marccenaro