Result

Step 1

Let’s get started by inserting our sketch into Illustrator to begin the drawing process. I have a few tutorials which cover these techniques. I think you can refer back in details if you like. Here are the tutorials:

• Sketch To Vector – Bird
• Illustrate Image Into Vector

Step 2

Create a new document with 600px X 300px. Fill the background color with pink (#f08fb0). Create a new layer and rename it as color. Randomly paint the layer with a 200px soft brush with 60% opacity. The colors I am using are #e595b7, #f7c89c and #beeee2. You can use your own color set. Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius 70px. Duplicate the color layer.

Step 3

Create a new layer and rename as texture. Fill it with black and set the blend mode to screen. Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Add a 400% Gaussian Monochromatic Noise. Set the layer fill to 20%.Then, go to Filter > Artistic > Watercolor and apply the setting as show in the image.

Step 4

Create another layer and rename as line. Fill it with black and set the blend mode to soft light. Go to Filter > Noise > Add Noise. Use the setting below.

Step 5

With the line layer selected, go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur. Apply the setting below. Then, Erase the bottom part using a 300px soft brush. Then import the character vector from Illustration as a smart object.

Step 6

Draw a white shape like what you see in the animation below. Rasterize the shape. Erase most of the part as shown in the example image. Apply Color Overlay; I am using the same pink color. CTRL + J to duplicate the layer. CTRL + T to transform the layer. Set the transform angle to 15 degree for each new duplicated layer. After all, select all the pink layer and Press CTRL + E to merge all layers. Create a new layer above it. Set the blend mode to Soft Light. Paint the center of the shape with black using a soft brush. ALT + click in between the new layer with the pink layer to create a mask of the pink layer.

Step 7

Select a 40px hard brush. Press F5 to bring up the brushes setting and set accordingly. Paint as you like.

Step 8

Create a new layer above all the layers. Select a 400px soft brush. Press a few times as shown below. Set the layer blend mode to soft light.

Step 9

Almost there, type in the message you like. If you like, you can follow mine. I am using Myriad Pro, 60pt, semibold italic and white color. Apply a 1px outside stroke with #8b8782 color. Inner Shadow Distance 1px, Size 3px, -49 degree of angle, 24% opacity with Multiply blend mode. Drop Shadow with Soft Light blend mode, 100% opacity, 5px Distance and Size.

Step 10

I am trying to increase the realistic feel of the character. Create a new layer above the character smartobject. ALT + click in between the new layer and the smartobject to create a masking effect. Set the new layer blend mode to soft light. Gently paint the new layer according to the smartobject’s edge with white color to create a lighting effect. Create another layer and mask it as well. This time, we will be using black color to create the shadow effect.

Result

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Result

Step 1

First of all, we start from skecth. I skecth on a paper and then scan it into my PC.

Step 2

Open Illustrator, place the image (sketch) into the document. Place it as the bottom layer. Lock it. Create a new layer above it and set the transparency to 50% or 60%. Start draw out the basic shape. It doesn’t have to be very accurate. Smooth, natural and balance are the keys here. You can check out my previous tutorial on Illustrate Image Into Vector or Sketch To Vector. Below is the basic shape I got.

Step 3

We are not going to use the stroke here. We are going to draw out the outline manually. We will be using the pathfinder tool very often since now.

Step 4

Try to Zoom in and to draw out the details line. Below are some shortcut keys to speed up the work.

• Zoom in = CTRL + +
• Zoom out = CTRL + -
• Paste infront = CTRL + F
• Move a layer down = CTRL + [
• Move a layer top = CTRL + ]

Step 5

Draw out the eyes amd legs. We are going to use pathfinder too.

Step 6

Now, the cow is alomost donw. What we need to do here is to add some details and gradients.

Step 7

Hurray! Done!

Happy Chinese New year!

I take this chance to say Happy Chinese New Year to all of you. By the way, “cow”, pronounce in Mandarin is same as “new”. So, When you say Happy New Year to someone. It means you are greeting him a Happy Cow Year! Interesting, right? Alright, I have compile the e-card and the source file of the cow vector. You can download them now!

e-card

Download

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:-

Step 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.

Step 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:-

Step 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.

Step 4

Create a new layer, name it as mouth. Draw out the mouth and set the gradient as shown below:-

Step 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:-

Step 6

after all, you will get this:-

Step 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.

Step 8

Lastly, create a new layer and draw out the tree. Put this below the legs layer.

Step 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.

Step 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

Today I am going to show the basic way to illustrate and image into vector. Basically, it is quite simple to illustrate an animate rather than a real object. Its color tone is simple and easy to apply. It is a good practice method for the novice. This is the image that I am going to use, Princess Mononoke( one of my favourite characther of Ghibli’s product ). I think I watch it for not less than 10 times…okok! Let’s start then …

Before start, here is some tips for you to make the process faster and easier.
*Ctr + C and Ctr + F = copy and paste into the original position but forward.
*CTR + +/- to zoom in/out.

Step 1

Open the image, double click on the layer and rename as img, checked the dim image=50%. Create a new layer and make sure it is below of the img layer. Pick the pen tool, start draw from the face area. We will only draw the outer line of the image. For the color, just use the eyedropper tool to pick up from the image we use on the area which we are drawing. Rename layer as face_bg. After that, you will get the result as below:

Step 2

After that, we will draw out the shadow area which is the darker side. FYI, you only need to draw carefully when the area is intersect with the others. Rename layer as face_shadow. After that, you will get something like this:

Step 3

To create the shadow area, select the face_bg layer then CTR + C and CTR + F. While the duplicated face_bg layer selected, left click on the face_shadow layer by holding shift. Goto window > Pathfinder, click the intersect shape area, then expand. As below:

Step 4

Next, we are going to draw out her eye. You need to zoom in to draw this part.

Step 5

After that, we will add the border for the face area.

Step 6

After that, we will draw her hair and hat.

Step 7

So, just continue the drawing by using the technique stated above. After a while you should get some thing like this:

We are done! So, remember, it is always esay to start from simple. have a nice day!