Today I am going to illustrate a ‘bird’ from sketch to vector. To do this tutorial, you need to have some basic of illustrator drawing technique or you can refer to my previous tutorial. Ok, let’s start then.
This is my sketch:-
This is the more detail hand drawing:-
1. Here we start the process. Scan the artwork into your pc. Open a new document with RGB color mode. Go to
file > Place. Place the artwork on the stage. Reduce the
opacity to 50% and lock the layer.
2. Create a new layer and move it below the artwork. Rename it as
feather. We start with the feather because it is at the
backward of all part for the ‘bird’. Start illustrates and fills it with
black color. You will get this:-
3. Secondly,
create a new layer and rename it as
body. Draw the white feather as it is just above the feather layer. Sure, fill it with white color.
4. Create a new layer, name it as
mouth. Draw out the mouth and set the gradient as shown below:-
5. This is the process to draw out the eyes. Still,
create a new layer and name it as
eyes. You need to use the
pathfinder for this part:-
6. after all, you will get this:-
7. This part will be a bit more difficult but still using the same technique.
Create a new layer and rename it as
leg. Simply follow the steps shown below. You may also use your own color for this part.
8. Lastly,
create a new layer and draw out the
tree. Put this
below the legs layer.
9. To make it look more real.
Simply create a new layer and draw out the shadow for each part that you think is necessary.
10. Here is it! Cheers! Hope you enjoy this. Any question, simply email me or leave a comment here. Thanks!
Tips:
- Differentiate each part with different layers and rename it properly. You can modify or enhance the work easier and in a better way.
- CTRL + C to copy
- CTRL + F to paste in front in same position
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Comments' Pages: 3 2 1 » Show All
Rajita - Logo Design
17 May 2008
WOW!!I love this bird.Can you please give another tutorial for another type of bird also.
kailoon
24 Feb 2008
Deron Sizemore, hi there. Not really understand what you mean … Try to select the exact shapes you need. Try and error and you must get it soon
Thanks for your interest in my tutorial 
Deron Sizemore
21 Feb 2008
I’m a little confused on step 7. I’ve got the leg shape drawn. I then draw the round shapes over top of the foot and select them and click add shape to area and the whole foot turns the same color as the lines I drew over the foot. I tried intersection shape and then the foot goes transparent with no fill and the only thing left is the shapes I drew on top of the foot.
Does that make any sense?
Thanks
Maximus
20 Dec 2007
I would like to see a continuation of the topic
hiutopor
18 Sep 2007
Hi
Very interesting information! Thanks!
G’night
NI-LIMITS
26 Aug 2007
We have two WACOM graphic tablets at the office, and only Shanon (our intern) has been able to use them successfully…
They take a good month or two of pretty much solid use to make the most of them, but once you have your head around it (the use of a mouse and a pen at the same time), graphic design artists are then able to enter a whole new league of elite.
kailoon
26 Aug 2007
@> NI-LIMITS : Thanks!
@> Gopherrug : Welcome Gopherrug, I din use any tablet and never try before
Sorry, cant give you comments 
But I did heard my friend said it is good to use for graphic design but it take times to get use with it.
Gopherrug
25 Aug 2007
Thanks for the brilliant tutorial. Do you use a graphic tablet for outlining? I was able to do the tutorial with a mouse - (took forever…:) wonder if a tablet would be faster?
NI-LIMITS
23 Aug 2007
Thanks for the help, it really is appreciated…
We just wish we were able to squeeze you in somewhere, but at the moment, we only have one work-space available, and that space simply MUST be filled with someone eager to develop Wordpress themes and plug-ins for us…
You will not be forgotten; we can assure you of that…