HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
GETTING STARTED GUIDE
If you are looking to follow along to our Beginner Playlists on the Website or YouTube, Download our Adobe Illustrator Brushes + Resources. You can Follow Along or use the Resources with Your Own Artwork in Adobe Illustrator. Our Getting Started Guide will assist you with our Tutorial Resources and How to Follow Along with our Tutorials and Playlists on the Website and YouTube.
STEP #1: DOWNLOAD ILLUSTRATOR BRUSHES + RESOURCES. You can download our Adobe Illustrator Brushes + Resources to Follow Along with our Tutorials or Use them with your Own Artwork. Our Tutorial Resource Folder is Included with 200 Illustrator Brushes to Follow Along with the 50 Step by Steps on the Website or 100 Tutorials Playlists on YouTube.
STEP #2: PICK AN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TUTORIAL. The Beginner list of Adobe Illustrator Tutorials will focus on our Build Tools, Illustrator Brushes, Editing Tools, and Basic Coloring Techniques. This list is organized from easiest to more challenging as you scroll down. Each of our Tutorials and Challenges is in a Follow Along Format. Click on any of the Thumbnails to Start a Tutorial.
STEP #3: FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE + YOUTUBE. If you are Following Along on YouTube, I recommend starting with our Adobe Illustrator Beginner Playlists (YouTube 100). Our 50 Step by Steps (website) will have more content than what is available on YouTube. Follow Along to the Tutorials to Learn the Basic Building Tools, Editing Options, and Coloring using the Live Paint Bucket.
Downloading Resources: The Resource Folder will be in its own section on Teachable. Look for the Pink Paper Clip (icon) for the Direct Download. Once you have Downloaded the Folder, Extract All. I do recommend remembering the location of the folder on your own computer for fast access.
Troubleshooting: Try to avoid opening directly from the folder to prevent error messages. Swatch Files will look like Adobe Illustrator Icons, they will give you an error message if you Open them Directly from the Folder. Follow Along to the Getting Started Guide (below) to Place Anchor and Tablet Friendly Guides.
Organization + Resources: The folder is already organized by the Tutorial (subject). Start on the Video Tutorial (on the Website or YouTube) first. We will Place in our Guides after we Create our Artboards. Depending on the Tutorial, there will be a few options for Guides With or Without Anchor Points or Handles.
200 Illustrator Brushes: Designed for Illustrators who are looking to speed up their workflows. Use the Cartoon Brushes with the Pen, Pencil, or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork.
Anchor Point Guides: If you are following along with our Pen Tool Tutorials, there will be Anchor Point Guides for you to use. I do recommend using the Guides as you are Getting Started so you know where to Place Anchor Points.
Tablet Friendly Guides: Tablet Friendly Guides are simply the completed path without Anchor Points or Handles. You can use this with the Pencil Tool, Blob Brush, Paintbrush, or Pen Tools in Adobe Illustrator.
*I have included the Anchor Point and Tablet Friendly Guides (as a Free Bonus) with our 200+ Adobe Illustrator Brushes for our 100 Beginner Tutorials Playlist on YouTube and the 50 Step by Steps on the Website.
Creating a New Document: Open Adobe Illustrator. File - New. Create an Artboard 5" x 5" or 360px x 360px. All of our Tutorials, Challenges, and Workflow will follow along within this same size. You can modify the size of the artboard at any time using the Artboard Tool.
Placing Resource Images: Under File dropdown to Place. Find the Downloaded and Extracted Tutorial Resource Folder on your computer. The Tutorial Resource Folder is organized by the Tutorial, Challenge, or Workflow by the name. You can select the Anchor Point or Tablet Friendly Guide to Place into the Artboard.
Scale to Fit (Transform): Once you have placed it in the Tutorial Resource Image, the image automatically is selected. In the Transform section in the Control Panel enter 5" or 360px in the largest value. The Maintain Proportion (chainlink icon) should be selected. Click Enter. Align to Artboard (center).
Creating a Template Layer: The idea behind the Template Layer is to see the Reference Image while not becoming too distracting when building in Adobe Illustrator. There are a few ways to modify the Transparency of the Resources and Lock Out the Layer. Do this step after you have placed, scaled, and centered the tutorial resource image.
Creating a Basic 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)
Using Transparency Panel or Properties Panel: The Transparency Panel can be found in multiple locations. Have your Resource Image selected, and use the Opacity Slider to manually adjust the Opacity or Transparency. My personal settings are between 10-25%. Lockout the Layer and Create a New Layer above to start working in Adobe Illustrator.
(Updated) Adobe Illustrator Cartoon Brushes specifically designed for Cartoonists and Illustrators who are looking to speed up their workflows. Use Cartoon Illustrator Brushes with the Pen, Pencil or Paint Brush Tools to Apply different Line Variation to your Vector Artwork. Includes 70+ Cartoon Brushes (libraries include the Updated Cartoon, Cartoon 2, and Original Cartoon Brush Libraries).
Includes Hand Painted + Comic Strip Sets 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 100+ Brushes (libraries include the Updated Comic Strip, Hand-Painted, Paintbrush, and Fine Liner Brush Libraries).
Jittery Hand, Caffeinated Cartoonist + Rough Ink 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 with heavy ink and a little more wobble. Includes 50+ Brushes (libraries include the updated Caffeinated Cartoonist, Rough Ink, and Jittery Hand Brush Libraries).
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
BRUSHES + RESOURCES
DOWNLOAD BRUSHES $19