Basic Vector Style Illustration Tutorial

[d_palapuz]

READ BEFORE YOU POST!

NOTE:

I'm going to start on this tutorial now because I know that this is going to take weeks, probably months!

Right now I have to close this thread so I can concentrate on the important steps first so I don't end up teaching you a lot of things during the tutorial.

So I might as well teach you now before we start the tutorial for some thirst of knowledge.

Since this tutorial requires so many steps, I will post them in a different manner in different days to avoid confusions.

The First and most important step that's required to learn is Selecting an area using the pen/path tool.

Second will be turning the path into a selection.

Then we'll go on with the tutorial..

By the end you'll have enough information and practice to create your own. Although, it doesn't require any special ability you should be proficient in the use of the Pen Tool. Drawing skills would also help.


FEEL FREE TO VISIT THIS THREAD ANYTIME TO LEARN THE REQUIRED STEPS BEFORE I POST THE TUTORIAL IN THE FUTURE!! (VERY SOON, I PROMISE!)

[d_palapuz]

SELECTING WITH THE PEN TOOL
- Using the Pen Tool to make selections allows for a high degree of precision due to the anchor points. Anchor points can be adjusted after the path is created. You will begin by creating a path around the object you want to select, which you will then turn into a selection.


CREATING A PATH

1. From the Toolbox, select the Pen Tool.

2. From the Options bar, select the Path Tool button.

3. Select your object by creating a path of anchor points around it.

NOTE: A path is a line of anchor points.
HINT: This is like creating a shape with the pen tool, except the shape is not filled with the foreground color.

---

TURNING A PATH INTO A SELECTION

1. To select your path, select the Path Selection Tool.

2. From the Window menu, select Paths.

3. From the Paths palette, select Menu button » Make Selection OR From the Paths palette, select Load Path As A Selections button. The Make Selection dialog box appears.



4. To feather your selection, in the Rendering section, in the Feather Radius text box, type a number. The higher the number, the more pronounced the feathering action will be. (I'd ignore this for now)

5. To smooth the corners of the selection, select Anti-Aliased.

6. Click OK. The path becomes a selection.

[d_palapuz]

TRACING BODY PARTS USING PEN TOOL

1. Zoom in to a specific body part when tracing. For example, I'll be tracing the face and hair.

2. Grab the Pen Tool (P), and make sure it's set to Paths. Because if you don't set it to paths, you can't select an area.

3. Trace ONLY the outline of a face or any body parts. If it's covered with clothing or hair, don't worry about it, they'll be taken care of as soon as we go on with the tutorial.

4. After finishing, apply the Turning Path Into A Selection above to be able to turn the area into a path selection.

5. After that, go to Edit menu >>> Fill, and select the same color as the skin or body part. If you're unsure about the color, use the Fill tool and select the body part.

---

Sorry about the wait guys..
I have a hectic schedule at work and summer school and everything else so I couln't continue the tutorial like I should've done weeks ago..
Right now, I've posted the final step that's required for you to learn before we go on with the tutorial..
So make sure you try this out first, if it doesn't work for you or you think that something's missing, just post on "Questions | Comments | Concerns | FAQs" thread about the problem you're encountering..
One of these days, I'll start on the tutorial but I do not promise to finish it all at once..

[d_palapuz]

TITLE: BASIC VECTOR STYLE ILLUSTRATION TUTORIAL
DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A BASIC WAY TO CREATE A VECTOR STYLE ILLUSTRATION USING PREDOMINANTLY PHOTOSHOP'S VECTOR-BASED TOOLS. AFTER COMPLETING THIS TUTORIAL, YOU'LL BECOME A MASTER OF THE PEN TOOL.
DIFFICULTY: FOR ADVANCED/EXPERIENCED USERS ONLY!
REQUIRED PROGRAMS: ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 7 OR HIGHER
PROGRAM USED IN THIS TUTORIAL: ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS5


INSTRUCTIONS:


STEP ONE:
BEFORE WE START, WE NEED TO FIND AN INSPIRATION. THIS IS THE IMAGE I USED FOR THIS TUTORIAL. THE LINK CAN BE FOUND HERE. NOW OPEN IT IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. DOUBLE CLICK THE BACKGROUND LAYER TO ACTIVATE IT. THIS WILL BECOME LAYER 0. NOW DUPLICATE THE LAYER BY DRAGGING LAYER 0 INTO THE "CREATE A NEW LAYER" BUTTON ON LAYERS PALETTE. NOW CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF LAYER 0 AND FILL IT WITH WHITE. THIS WILL BE OUR BACKGROUND. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT FOR EVERY NEW LAYERS WE'LL CREATE, WE'LL HAVE TO PUT IT ON TOP OF THE LAST CREATED LAYER BECAUSE WE'LL BE CREATING PLENTY OF NEW LAYERS FROM BEGINNING TO END. BUT THE DUPLICATED LAYER MUST ALWAYS REMAIN AS THE TOP LAYER.

*NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS IMAGE BEFORE, AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT AS A "VEXEL" NOT A VECTOR. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO TEACH YOU VECTOR, NOT VEXEL, SO I'M CHANGING PRETTY MUCH SOME OF THE TOOLS AND STEPS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A VECTOR. ALTHOUGH I WILL IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE STEPS, BUT ONLY TO ADD INTERESTING TEXTURES.


STEP TWO:
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS TO YOU NOW, YOU'LL BE USING MANY LAYERS TO CREATE THIS ARTWORK, SO THE BEST WAY TO STAY IN TOUCH WITHIN THE TUTORIAL AND NOT GET CONFUSED OR LOST IS TO GET ORGANIZED. WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO CREATE A NEW LAYER OVER THE WHITE BACKGROUND LAYER AND NAME IT "BGLINES". THEN GRAB THE PEN TOOL (P), AND MAKE SURE IT'S SET TO PATHS. NOW TRACE THOSE YELLOW STRIPES ONE AFTER ANOTHER. ONCE YOU'RE DONE, USE THE TURN PATH INTO A SELECTION METHOD ABOVE, THEN GO TO EDIT MENU >>> FILL AND PUT THE SAME COLOR WHICH IS #FFE400.




STEP THREE:
NOW WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF "BGLINES" AND CALL IT "SHIRT" AND TRACE IT. USE THE SAME METHOD TO TURN THE PATH INTO A SELECTION AND FILL IT WITH COLOR WHITE (#FFFFFF).

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3532/tshirttt.jpg

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/5667/...ayerrr.jpg


STEP FOUR:
CREATE ANOTHER NEW LAYER AND CALL IT "HAND". HOW I DID IT WAS I TRACED EACH HANDS ON TWO DIFFERENT LAYERS TO ACHIEVE THE ACCURACY WE NEED. CREATE ANOTHER LAYER AND NAME IT "2ND HAND" AND TRACE THE OTHER ONE. ONCE DONE, TURN BOTH HAND LAYERS INTO A SELECTION AND FILL BOTH WITH #ECA876, WHICH IS NORMALLY THE FAIR COLOR OF A HUMAN SKIN. REMEMBER TO PUT THIS ON TOP OF THE "SHIRT" LAYER.

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4798/80807179.jpg


STEP FIVE:
AS FOR THE JEANS, WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF THE "2ND HAND" AND NAME IT "PANTS". TRACE THE PANTS, TURN IT INTO A SELECTION AND FILL IT WITH COLOR BLUE OR #002352.


STEP SIX:
NOW WE'RE ONTO THE HEAD. SO CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF "PANTS" AND NAME IT "HEAD". JUST TRACE THE HEAD BUT LEAVE THE HAIR ALONE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SKULL RIGHT AND THE EARS AND YOU'LL BE FINE. COLOR THIS THE SAME AS THE HANDS (#ECA876).




STEP SEVEN:
CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF THE "HEAD" AND NAME IT "HAIR". TRY THE BEST YOU CAN TO TRACE THIS. IT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST TO SOME. AS LONG AS WE GOT THE DETAILS WE SHOULD BE FINE, BUT IT'S YOUR CHOICE. TURN THE "HAIR" LAYER INTO A SELECTION AND COLOR IT WITH #7E4A22.




STEP EIGHT:
WE'RE ALMOST THERE! WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF THE "HAIR" AND NAME IT "SUNGLASSES". FOR THIS ONE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TRACE THE OUTLINE OF THE SUNGLASSES AND FILL IT WITH COLOR #212121.




STEP NINE:
AT THIS POINT, WE GET THE BASIC SHAPE OF THE GIRL. NOW IT'S TIME TO ADD SOME DETAILS INTO IT. FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE GREEN STRIPES ON THE SHIRT. SO CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF THE "SUNGLASSES" AND NAME IT "GREEN STRIPE" AND TRACE THE GREEN STRIPES ON THE SHIRT. IT'S NOT THAT HARD, JUST FOLLOW ALONG THE EDGE OF THE LINES, DOT BY DOT, AND YOU'LL DO FINE. NOW FILL IT WITH COLOR GREEN OR #03B72D.




STEP TEN:
WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW LAYER AND CALL IT "LIPS". MAKE SURE YOU TRACE THE UPPER LIP AND LOWER LIP SEPARATELY LIKE THE HANDS AND FILL IT WITH #A33B1E. ALSO, DRAW THAT LITTLE NOSE HOLE AND FILL IT WITH BLACK (#000000).


STEP ELEVEN:
NOW WE'LL ADD THE FINAL DETAIL. CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF THE "LIPS" LAYER AND ADD THE SUNGLASSES CRYSTAL BY TRACING THE TWO INSIDE CIRCLES OF THE SUNGLASSES AND FILL IT WITH A GRAY COLOR OR #404040.




STEP TWELVE:
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP! WE'LL ADD SOME VECTOR SHADOWS TO THE SKIN TO CREATE A LIGHTENING ILLUSION. CREATE A NEW LAYER ABOVE THE "HANDS" LAYER AND NAME IT "SKIN SHADOWS". FOR THIS ONE, THERE'S NO SUCH SHAPE TO FOLLOW. YOU MUST USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. A GOOD WAY TO DO IT IS LOOKING AT THE DARK AREAS OF THE SKIN TO CREATE SIMILAR SHAPE. I USED A DARK ORANGE COLOR (#D29115) FOR THE SHADOWS. NOW, TAKE NOTE THAT THIS IS WHERE OPACITY COMES TO RESCUE. JUST PLAY AROUND THE SLIDERS UNTIL YOU'RE SATISFIED WITH HOW THE SHADOWS WILL LOOK LIKE.




STEP THIRTEEN:
CREATE A NEW LAYER ON TOP OF "PANTS" LAYER AND NAME IT PANTS SHADOW. AS FOR THIS ONE, I JUST DREW SHAPES ON BOTH SIDE AND THEN BETWEEN THE LEGS TO SHOW THAT THERE'S A SEPARATION IN BETWEEN. APPLY THE SAME TECHNIQUE I SAID ON THE OPACITY. IT CAN'T BE TOO DARK AND CAN'T BE TOO LIGHT TO BE A SHADOW.




AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE FINISHED THE BASIC VECTOR IMAGE OF THE GIRL. BUT YOU CAN ADD MORE DETAILS IF YOU WANT TO.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4353/...rfinal.jpg


STEP FOURTEEN:
NOW YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THE SHAPES COLOR USING YOUR IMAGINATION. I'LL BEGIN CHANGING THE COLORS AS FOLLOWS: SHIRT STRIPES (#C50505), AND THE BACKGROUND STRIPES (#C50505).




STEP FIFTEEN:
FINALLY, SELECT THE "SUNGLASSES CRYSTAL" LAYER. DOUBLE CLICK THE ICON IN THE LAYERS PALETTE AND ADD A GRADIENT OVERLAY. JUST PLAY AROUND AROUND WITH IT UNTIL YOU GET AN EQUAL GRADIENT ON BOTH CIRCLES. I ALSO ADDED A PATTERN BY ADDING A PATTERN OVERLAY AND USED TIE DYE PATTERN. ENSURE THAT LINK WITH LAYER OPTION IS SELECTED. YOU CAN DRAG THE PATTERN A LITTLE TO GET A BETTER RESULT AND YOU CAN ALSO DRAG THE SLIDER ON HOW BIG OR SMALL YOU WANT THE PATTERN TO LOOK LIKE.


SO YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE! YOU CAN ADD AS MANY THINGS AS YOU WANT! BUT I'LL STOP FROM THERE. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST AND MINE'S VECTOR? IT'S NOT SATISFYING TO ME SINCE ITS JUST BASICS, BUT YEAH, KEEP AT IT AND YOU'LL BE A MASTER IN VECTOR ILLUSTRATION IN NO TIME! SO LEARN THE BASICS AND YOU'LL GET IT! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT! HERE'S THE FINAL IMAGE:

[d_palapuz]

EDIT* SORRY FOR KEEPING YOU ALL FROM WAITING, BUT THE OLDER VECTOR TUTORIAL I POSTED WAS WAY TOO HARD AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO FINISH AND WOULD ALSO NEED FEW PERSON TO WORK WITH IT. BUT SINCE I'M ONLY WORKING ON IT BY MYSELF, AND SINCE YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO WANT TO LEARN THE BASICS, I'D FIGURED OUT THAT AT LEAST TEACH YOU A MUCH EASIER, QUICKER ONE. I'M REALLY SORRY FOR NOT POSTING ANY TUTORIALS THIS PAST SUMMER, IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER FOR ME. NOW THAT SCHOOL'S COMING TOMORROW, I HAVE TO FINISH IT. I'LL TRY TO FINISH IT BEFORE THE END OF NEXT WEEK THE LEAST. THANKS FOR VIEWING THE CATEGORY THOUGH, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! AND IF YOU HAVE SOME TO SHOW US, THEN DON'T BE AFRAID, WE WON'T BITE! WE COULD USE FRESH IDEAS AND ARTWORKS AROUND HERE DURING TIMES LIKE THIS. THANK YOU ALL!

NEW* I FINALLY FINISHED THE TUTORIAL! I WILL NOW OPEN THIS THREAD FOR COMMENTS, ETC. THANKS YOU FOR STICKING UP THERE FOR ME!
MY CLASS STARTS TOMORROW, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE ANOTHER TUTORIAL.
BUT HOPEFULLY SOON. FOR THE MEANTIME, TO ALL THE READERS/MEMBERS, POST YOUR ARTWORKS, SO EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM! THANK YOU ALL! PEACE!

[dominicuz]

nice 1 daryl!

[d_palapuz]

Salamat, Kuya Domz!
Sa wakas, natapos din! lol