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The Mechanics of Comics

As an audience we accept comics for what they are; a medium, conveyors of information. What we less often realize is the technicality and process of how that information has been communicated to us. This is a good thing. When the artist gets it right, the comic book reader becomes immersed in what's being told - not how.

Vectortuts+ Exclusive Freebie Announcement: Stationery Vector Pack

This is a new Pack of Vector Freebies is available exclusively from Vectortuts+. We have a new set of stationery vectors for you. If you're looking for high quality graphics to mock up your next client presentation with, then check out these graphics. This set of high quality freebies is available to download today!

How to Make a Foolproof Flowery Wallpaper Pattern

Pattern possibilities in Illustrator are endless and knowing them back-to-front can only be a good thing. The key lies in perfect tessellation and while there are several ways of achieving this, it needn’t be more complicated than the following steps describe.

Nine Quick Steps to Create an Atmospheric, Misty Woodland Backdrop

Backgrounds in illustration are often solely responsible for supplying the mood, without detracting from the main point of focus. The following nine steps make use of a few of Adobe Illustrators tricks to quickly demonstrate just that.

Illustrate and Animate a Bouncing Ball: Part 2 - Adobe Illustrator + Flash

This tutorial expands on techniques covered in Part 1 of the Illustrate and Animate a Bouncing Ball series. We’ll be using Illustrator’s 3D tools to improve Flash’s spinning movement of the bouncing ball and taking a look at working between the two applications. The steps involved can also be followed independently of Part 1.

Create a Traditional Japanese Koi Carp Illustration

Traditional Japanese paintings are instantly recognizable; their style, composition and colors are a dead give away. Even more so, the subject matter. Koi Carp have been painted and illustrated by the Japanese for centuries and are familiar to people all over the world. This tutorial will take the intermediate Adobe Illustrator user through the techniques and processes needed to imitate what the Japanese have perfected.

Create the First Page of a Fairy Tale Story Book, with a Hint of Kitsch

Once upon a time there was a tutorial. A tutorial which told of magical and enchanting ways to create Fairy Tale pages in Adobe Illustrator. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

Rendering a 2D Spark Plug Diagram from 3D Components in Illustrator

Often, the best way to be sure of your depth and angles is to render objects using Illustrators 3D tools. This tutorial will take you through building a 3D spark plug from multiple components and then expanding the image into a 2D vector diagram. Previous experience with Illustrators Revolve and Extrude tools will be necessary for this.

Illustrate and Animate a Bouncing Ball: Part 1 - Adobe Flash

Part 1 of this tutorial will take Flash novices through the fundamental principles behind drawing and animating vectors in Flash. We’ll be drawing and animating a bouncing beach ball. Prior knowledge of Flash will of course help, but the following techniques should be accessible to everyone and with most software versions. Part 2 coming soon…

Photoshop’s Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide

The Pen Tool makes appearances across almost the entire Adobe product range. Its function and behavior varies depending on the application, but by mastering it youll find you work quicker, smoother and with better results. This guide will give you a comprehensive basis for working with the Pen Tool in Photoshop.

Preparing Multiple Instances of a Bumper Sticker for Print

Adobe Illustrator offers plenty of alternatives to good old Copy and Paste, depending on what you’re doing at the time. In this quick tutorial we’ll look at creating multiple instances of a single bumper sticker on your artboard. With this method you’ll need only edit the original to change all copies on your page. We’ll also look at how the Graphic Styles palette can help us round off the process.

Producing an Informative Map In Perspective with Illustrator

By illustrating a map in this tutorial, we're going to give the final product personality, flair, a bit of life - we're going to hope that the user is drawn into it, attracted to it and once we have their attention - that they can use it. In producing this map we're not only illustrating, but also designing information graphics; finding that age-old balance between form and function.

How to Turn a Sketch into a Fat Cat Vector Illustration

This tutorial aims to guide you from sketchbook to screen; a "Fat Cat" doodled with biro translated into a neat vector caricature. Intermediate knowledge of Adobe Illustrator is advised. Let's take a look at how to create a cheeky cat illustration - from initial concept through to vector goodness.

Illustrator’s Type Tool: A Comprehensive Introduction

Type is an essential part of Illustrator; whether you're desktop publishing, designing logos, or using type for image building, you'll be reaching for the Type Tool. This guide comprehensively covers the essentials of what is a huge amount of Illustrator functionality, which is type.

Publishing a Multiple Paged PDF Document Using Illustrator

One of Illustrator’s lesser-known functions is it’s ability to produce and publish multiple paged documents in PDF format. Why is it a lesser known function? Well because applications such as InDesign and Quark Xpress are dedicated to producing such documents and it’s unlikely you’ll ever be advised to use Illustrator.

It is possible though, and in a pinch this technique may come in handy, especially when you’re creating documents that are only a few pages long. This tutorial will explain how it’s done, while discussing some grid layout theory to produce an Annual Report.

It’s Going to Be Brilliant: Adobe Illustrator CS4

Some of us have been eagerly awaiting it, others have been casually disinterested, and some have even expressed irritation. The fact of the matter is, though, that this September 23rd saw the official announcement of Adobe’s latest release of their Creative Suite. Here at VECTORTUTS we thought it fair to give vector fans a taste of what’s new in Illustrator CS4.

It’s Going to Be Brilliant: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Some of us have been eagerly awaiting it, others have been casually disinterested and some have even expressed irritation. The fact of the matter is, though, that this September 23rd saw the official announcement of Adobe’s latest release of their Creative Suite. Here at PSDTUTS we thought it fair to give fans a taste of what’s new in Photoshop CS4.

Make an Aurora Borealis Design in Illustrator

To recreate the light patterns of the Aurora Borealis you’d probably turn to Photoshop’s filters and effects. Use Illustrator however, and you’ll not only achieve a stunning end result, but you’ll also benefit from the flexibility of working with vectors. This is an intermediate level tutorial rewarding you with an attractive desktop wallpaper for your efforts!

Illustrator’s Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide

If you use Adobe Illustrator, then it’s almost certain that you use the Pen tool when creating your paths. This comprehensive guide aims to introduce or remind you of features, shortcuts, and methods for working with what is arguably Adobe’s most essential tool.

Working with 3D Objects and Transparencies to Make a Vector Cola Bottle Design

VECTORTUTS has covered Illustrator’s 3D effects a few times, so the basics should already be familiar to you. In this tutorial, we’ll be taking those skills up a notch and discussing how Illustrator deals with transparency in 3D objects. In just a few steps you’ll have created a plastic cola bottle, which is ideally suited for those of you involved in product marketing.

Turning a Photo into Lichtenstein Style Pop Art with Illustrator

Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art comic book images are as familiar now as they were in the 1960’s. They demonstrate a stylized way of presenting a photo of yourself or anything else you can think of. Using Illustrator’s custom brushes and swatches, we’ll be recreating a Lichtenstein style of effect in this intermediate level tutorial.

Create a Can of Beans by Mapping Vectors to a 3D Object

Illustrator has offered a range of 3D tools for some time and this tutorial aims to get you started familiarizing yourself with them. We’ll be creating a can of beans, built entirely from vectors, using the Symbols palette, the Extrude tool and Illustrator’s Image Mapping. Enjoy!