Creating Photo Inspired Vector Artwork in Illustrator
In this Illustrator tutorial, we'll learn how to use a photograph as the basis for a portrait created entirely with vector shapes and effects. Software required: Illustrator CC 2015.
What you'll learn
In this Illustrator tutorial, we'll learn how to use a photograph as the basis for a portrait created entirely with vector shapes and effects. We begin by blocking out the main shapes and then building upon those with shadows and highlights. We'll learn how to discern what shapes to draw exactly the same as the photo and which ones can have a little more artistic liberty while still capturing the portrait. We learn how to define certain features not with lines but with shades, shapes, and shadows. We'll also learn how certain tools and effects within Illustrator, make our job easier and give us the ability to edit them as much as we want. By the end of this Illustrator training, you'll know how to overcome the challenges of translating a photo to a portrait and you'll have the ability to make your own vector portraits from photographs. Software required: Illustrator CC 2015.
Table of contents
- Discerning the Major Shapes 10m
- Highlighting and Shadowing the Face 13m
- Continuing to Add Shadow to the Face 12m
- Creating the Eyes from Simple Shapes 14m
- Finishing the Other Eye 6m
- Effectively Rendering Mouths 15m
- Working on the Neck and Arms 11m
- Detailing the Hair with Strokes and the Width Tool 10m
- Finishing the Hair Details 12m
- Creating the Ear and Jewelry 12m
- Building the Shirt 13m
- Adding the Background 3m
About the author
Laura is a passionate visual effects and motion graphics author at Pluralsight. Ever since her first exposure to After Effects in college, Laura has had an eternal drive to learn more about motion graphics, and teach others what she has discovered. Laura began working at Digital-Tutors (now a Pluralsight company) as a motion graphics artist, creating visually-appealing advertisements and informative art for the site. Throughout her time at Digital-Tutors, Laura contributed greatly to both the ... more