How to Create an Abstract Vector Design in Illustrator This post was originally published in 2009 The tips and techniques explained may be outdated. A great looking abstract design can be created from the simplest of shapes. Let’s take a look at compiling various geometric shapes and objects to form a dynamic composition in Illustrator, then polishing it all up with some transparency effects to create a trendy vector illustration. Start work sketching out a rough plan for the design, taking into consideration the composition and general style of the illustration. Open up Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Choose a generic size such as A4, and set the Color Mode to RGB for a choice of nice, vibrant colours. Draw a 210x297mm rectangle onto the Artboard, align it centrally then add a soft grey to white radial gradient. Pick out a colour scheme of your choice. With all the coloured squares selected, click the New Brush icon in the Brushes palette. In the options panel, ensure the direction of the brush is correct.
Illustrator QuickFix – Document Raster Effects This post was originally published in 2007 The tips and techniques explained may be outdated. As mentioned in the last quickfix, there are some options in Illustrator that can catch you out. This particular one could cost you dearly if a job goes to print after overlooking this crucial option, resulting is a fuzzy/compressed and pure ugly rendering on the effects you added to your design. What we're talking about here is Illustrator's Document Raster Effects setting. Let's say you have an object within Illustrator, and you add an Outer Glow, Drop Shadow, Inner Glow or basically anything from the Stylize menu. Now the problem comes when you export that file as either an AI or EPS, Illustrator will convert those effects into a raster format but the default setting for this raster conversion is set to 72ppi, which will look hideous on any litho or large format print. So, how do you fix this? In the options box, select 300ppi. What next?
SMotA Create a Detailed Vector Emblem Badge in Illustrator Use a range of vector shapes in Adobe Illustrator to create a detailed black and white emblem badge. We’ll use a mix of basic tools to align the various shapes together, then add some cool detail using the more advanced Pathfinder and Blend tools. View full size design Open up Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Use the Ellipse tool while holding Shift to produce a perfect circle. Copy the circle (CMD+C), then paste in front (CMD+F) a duplicate. Paste in another duplicate and scale it down even smaller then give it a thicker stroke weight. Draw a star with the Star tool, along with a couple of lines using the, err… Line tool. Add some text to the design. Hold Shift while dragging a line to constrain the angle to 45 degrees. Head back into Object > Blend > Blend Options to alter the settings. With the lines still selected, go to Object > Expand, then select the Object and Stroke options. Select the main badge outline then go to Object > Path > Offset Path.
Wrapping Text Around an Image in Illustrator This post was originally published in 2008 The tips and techniques explained may be outdated. Usually putting together a layout for a printed document would be completed in a desktop publishing package such as Adobe InDesign, however for some smaller projects like a single page article it is sometimes quicker to produce it right inside Illustrator to save switching back and forwards between applications. Using the Text Wrap feature within Adobe Illustrator you can quickly and easily format your text to harmonise with your photographs and images. Put together your textual layout on the relevant page size, here I’ve roughly set out a few paragraphs of text pulled straight from an article on the topic of frogs. Go to File > Place and import your desired graphic (resized beforehand in Adobe Photoshop), move it into position on the page. Notice however the image sits over the top of the text rather than the text flowing around it. With this new shape selected, go to Object > Text Wrap > Make.
How To Create A Hero Tavern - The Hive Workshop - A Warcraft III Modding Site "How to Create a Hero Tavern" [broke="Remember to post comments and give me reputation points =)"]IMPORTANT !![/broke] Creators Note This tutorial was created to help people who never used Warcraft World Editor before, to people who have problems using it or to people who just want to create a Tavern with a hero. If you can't see the images, just click in them. “Tavern Tutorial by Flame Phoenix” This tutorial will teach you how to create taverns and heroes. To create a tavern we will use 3 tools of the world editor: -Object Editor -Map Editor -Trigger Editor This tutorial is Divided into sections: 1- Creating a place for your tavern, using terrain editor; 2- Creating the Tavern, The Hero, and the Hero Chooser using the Object Editor; 3- Creating the regions for the Hero and the Hero Chooser; 4- Managing the triggers; 5- Placing Map Starting Location, end of the tutorial; 6- Optional Section. "Section 1 - Creating a place for your tavern, using terrain editor" This is how my scenario looks:
How To Create an Intricate Vector Heart Illustration In case you haven’t noticed, today is Valentine’s Day, so I thought it would be fitting to base today’s tutorial on some kind of ‘lovey-dovey’ theme. Follow this step by step Illustrator guide to creating an intricate vector heart illustration. We’ll build the various patterns and shapes out of simple objects and modify their appearance with Illustrator’s handy distort tools in order to completely fill our heart graphic with detailed elements. Here’s the illustration we’ll be creating today. View the final heart illustration Open up Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Use the Pathfinder tool to merge all the shapes together, then go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Copy (CMD+C) and Paste Behind (CMD+B) the outline, then switch the stroke to 5pt weight with round options checked, then select the Dashed Line options and enter 0pt dash and 5pt gap. Make another offset path, this time with -2mm settings. Continue creating random shapes to build up the detail. Download the source file
How to Create a Crafts Inspired Vector Kids Illustration This post was originally published in 2009 The tips and techniques explained may be outdated. Learn how to create a couple of cute and simple kids illustrations of a car and airplane using Adobe Illustrator’s basic shapes. Take inspiration from hand crafted artwork to give each graphic a plaid effect fabric texture and stitching effect. Start work by opening up Adobe Illustrator. Grab the ellipse tool and draw a large oval on the artboard. With the direct selection tool, select and move the lower most point vertically. Next, select each of the two Bezier curves from the bottom point, and extend them outwards to create a tighter curve on the two lower corners. Draw another oval, this time smaller and size. Use the direct selection tool to manipulate the shape to blend into the main body. With both shapes selected, merge them together with the Add to Shape Area option from the Pathfinder tool. Elsewhere on the artboard, draw a small square and fill with a light green. Download the source file
a list of tools : Map deprotection/Cheating Quick JumpWorld Editor EnhancementsJass NewGen Pack v2World Editor UnlimitedUMSWEWe-No-LimitsGrimoireWorld Editor HelperPreprocessorsJass HelperWEWarlockArt (Modelling and Skinning)War3 Model EditorWarcraft 3 ViewerWc3 Image Extractor IIOinkerwinkle's MDL toolsAnimation RemoverWar3 File ConverterGradientMixerIcon Border PackMDX SquisherBLPaletterWarcraft III Art ToolsGMaxthe GimpMPQWinMPQPowerMPQMPQEditorMPQMasterSFMPQStormLibMPQLibMiscellaneousWC3 Map OptimizerWidgetizerPJassJass Shop ProJassCraftSilly Jass UtilityColor TemplateUnit BalancerRandomsXvi32MiniisoRegistry fixerWorld Editor EnhancementsThese are the tools that can improve your world editor by adding new features to it. Note that these are not officially supported by Blizzard so use them on your own risk, the authors are not responsible for any potential damage they may cause to your map.Then again keep in mind that these things don't happen very often (read never). UMSWEAlmost the same as WEU. MiscellaneousUnsorted tools...
How To Create a Colorful Logo Style Icon in Illustrator Follow this step by step to create a vibrant and colourful logo style icon graphic. This style of abstract three dimensional shape has become a popular trend in the world of logo design. Today we’ll look at how to build the graphic in Illustrator using a range of tools and techniques. Usually I’d always recommend for a logo to be developed in relation to the company or brand it is representing, but today we’re just going to look at the technical part of building this generic icon. Open up Illustrator and create a new document. Zoom in and press CMD+Y to switch to outline view. Use the Scissors tool to clip each path where the two lines meet, then select the unwanted portions of the shapes and delete them. Zoom in and select the two open points from each paths, right click and select Join. Draw another circle over the shape so the outline cuts across and neatly flows back into its outline. Select the Pen tool and click on the open point of the line to continue the path.
How To Create a Stylish Skull Based Vector Illustration The skull and crossed pistons mark is a popular adaption of the tradition skull and crossbones symbol and is commonly seen in motorcycle culture, amongst other. Follow this Adobe Illustrator tutorial to create your own underground skull & crossed pistons graphic. We’ll start with a simple sketch, then build up the detail using a range of linework and vector shapes. Here’s the graphic I’ve put together for this tutorial. View full size skull & crossed pistons illustration The illustration begins with a sketch with pencil and paper. Place the scanned or photographed sketch in Illustrator and reduce the opacity. Select all the linework that makes up the first half, copy (CMD+C) and paste in front (CMD+F), then go to Object > Transform > Reflect to flip the design for the opposite side. Increase the stroke weight to around 6pt and align it to the outside using the small icons. Elsewhere on the artboard draw a triangle. Select the main outline, copy (CMD+C) then paste behind (CMD+B).
The Hive Workshop Retro Style Geometric Lines Poster Design Tutorial This post was originally published in 2011 The tips and techniques explained may be outdated. In the recent typography inspiration showcase a design by Jordan Metcalf particularly caught my interest, which reminded me of the design style used in the Mexico 1968 Olympics branding. I decided to combine these inspirations and create my own poster design artwork in a similar style. Follow this step by step tutorial to create a flowing composition of geometric lines based on the retro style of the Mexico 1968 Olympics branding. The design we’ll be creating features a series of flowing striped lines interweaving and looping around the page to form an intriguing composition. View the large scale retro geometric lines design Start work in Illustrator by drawing a long thin rectangle on the artboard. Press CMD+D to repeat the transformation to generate a series of lines, then select each alternate line and change the fill to white, leaving a striped effect. Download this file
How To Create a Cubist Style Logo Design in Illustrator Follow this logo design process walkthrough to see the making of a cubist style logo design made up of lots of detailed vector facets. Not only will we be creating the actual design in Adobe Illustrator, but I’ll also be describing the whole logo design process in this tutorial, from the initial sketches right through to finishing off the final design. The logo we’re creating as part of this tutorial is a trendy “Cubist” style logo made up of lots of detailed elements to form an larger object. The design is based on a fictional brand or company named Raven, but the whole process is the same for a live client (just without the infinite cycle of changes and revisions!). It’s worth starting any logo design project with a sketch. Once you’re happy with your overall silhouette or profile open up Adobe Illustrator and draw your outline with the pen tool using simply clicks. The design we’re creating is based on the cubist style to spice up the design with some fancy effects.