This week we'll get to know the basics of vector graphics and make a sketch for our first vector illustration

If you don't know much about vector illustration , you should google it


When you have watched the introductory lecture, you can start learning Illustrator basic tools. After these, you'll do two form exercises V1 and V2.
After this, you'll continue on studying and finish the exercise V3.


The last exercise is to create a sketch of a character in Photoshop, that will be vectorized next wwk.

Please watch the lectures super carefully and repeat everything done on the lecture until you get really get how the feature works.
In Illustrator you should be careful not clicking if don't know what you are doing.


Illustrator basic tools


This set consists of five videos. 1. New file and Workspace, 2. Pen, 3. Selection, 4. Selecting colour, and 5. Anchor point tool

After these lectures, do the exercises V1 and V2.






This weeks exercises V1.-V3. are returned in one file. Please copy the forms into one file and scale them to fit the artboard.


V1. Form exercise */-


Tools

Basic tools: Pen, Anchor point, Selection, Direct selection

Assignment

Draw the forms in “muotoharjoitus.jpg” as vectors

Instructions

  • Paste or Place the image, don't Open it
  • Lock the layer (empty square next to the visibility symbol in layers panel) you pasted the file into and create a new layer on top
  • Colours don't matter, it might be easiest to do with a coloured stroke

Assessment criteria

  1. Anchor points are in smart places

  2. Forms are perfect

Time to be used

10-30 min

Video

Demo Form exercise




V2. Heart */-


Tools

Basic tools: Pen, Anchor point, Selection, Direct selection

Assignment

Create a heart with as few points as possible

Instructions

  • First use several points
  • Redraw the heart with fewer and fewer points

Assessment criteria

  1. There's a smart amount of points

  2. The forms are beautiful

Time to be used

5-15 min

Video

Demo Red heart




You can save an Illustrator file in many forms. The exercises are returned as illustrator PDFs. Here are the instructions on how to save



Auxiliary tools

You will now learn to use form tools and change the order of the elements.
You will also learn to create a keyboard command.


Next you'll learn how to join forms and use the powerful feature Pathfinder.

This panel can be found from Window>Pathfinder



When you have learned these tools, you can have a go on exercise 3.

V3. Saturn */-



Tools

Ellipse, Pathfinder,  Selection, Direct selection

Assignment

Create a planet with a ring using only the Ellipse tool and the Pathfinder panel

Instructions

  • Try different ways how to achieve the goal

Assessment criteria

  1. The image looks like a planet

  2. The forms are beautiful

Time to be used

5-30 min

Video

Demo Saturn




Vector illustrations are formed from vector forms that are piled in.
In the next lectures, you will learn how to group these forms and how to create a basic symmetry.
You might need these skills next week.
Do a small test on the symmetry with three forms. This you don't have to return.



This weeks exercises V1.-V3. are returned in one file. Please copy the forms into one file and scale them to fit the artboard.

The assignment this week is to create two characters.
This week we paint sketches in Photoshop that are vectorized next week.
You only need to do one sketch, but if you want to, you can do two: the other more freeform the other geometric



V4. Character and friend, part 1. Photoshop sketch


Tools

Brush and other painting tools

Assignment

Create a painted sketch of your 2 characters

Instructions

  • The characters are humanized animals, object etc.
  • Google example characters
  • Paint the sketch quite precisely 

Assessment criteria

  1. The sketch can be vectorized using only filled forms

  2. The characters are similar in style

  3. There is no details in the wrong places - the focus in the face, hands etc.

Time to be used

1-3 hours

Video

Demo Character and Friend 1



Last modified: Monday, 15 April 2019, 8:28 PM