How to vector anime with Illustrator CS3 (2 of 5)

Basic Illustrator and Vectoring Links
http://www.vectorials.com/tutorials/Illustrator-s-Pen-Tool-The-Comprehensive-...
http://rrhp.info/vectors/_tutorial/
http://www.vectorials.com/tutorials/Getting-started-with-Illustrator-46118.html

Music is Schodt - Tokyo Dawn (Dinka remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR28gI4QyKk

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTqOCeEEdbY

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Vector
• Vectoring
• Illustrator
• CS3
• Anime
• Tutorial
• Howto

[BlubbaPinecone]

You mentioned to use the fill instead of the stroke, but I was wondering, with the addition of the stroke-width tool in cs5, would stroke work just as well?

[spooksmagee]

@BlubbaPinecone I honestly don't know. I've never worked with anything past CS3. Personally, I'd play around with both methods and see which one looked better. Although the traditionalist in me would say to stick with the proven stroke method.

[GrandDewalt]

Um I cannot for the life of me get the hang of the pen tool, I know you said that using strokes wouldn't look as nice, but if I was using a graphics tablet, or tablet pc, would it look nicer then? I have resorted back to using the brush and pencil because of the indescribable headache I got from that pen!!!

[spooksmagee]

I've never used a tablet, but I imagine it would look just as good yea. I agree the pen tool is hard to get a feel for, it just takes practice though. I'm still not the best with it, vectors like this one still take me several hours to complete.

[Awesomeness1I]

@JapplengUniversity On last thing... DON'T BE AFRAID TO OBSERVE THE WORLD AROUND YOU! Look at shadows and highlights on everyday objects! Look at the moon, which by the way is the perfect example of shadows (dark side of moon) and highlights (bright side of the moon). Also, by watching anime, observing the shadows in different types of light could be useful too. Finally, two last things... GAUSSIAN BLUR AND GRADIENTS!

[Awesomeness1I]

@JapplengUniversity (Consistent hair color, consistent shadow color, consistent highlights .etc) Also, if you have trouble on where to put your shadows ALWAYS refer to the original photo. If your doing it from scratch, then imagine places where your light source would make shadows and where it would make highlights. There's no real professionalism in shadowing. It all comes down to whether it makes sense or not.

MISS PLACED SHADOW=BAD

SHADOW PLACED CORRECTLY AND MAKES SENSE=GOOD

[Awesomeness1I]

@JapplengUniversity Shadowing is a pretty basic if you understand how light works at different angles. One thing to keep in mind when choosing which colors to use for shadowing, is using a darken color of the main color of an object. Lets say that I have brown hair, a good color to use for shadows 'ON' my brown hair is dark brown. If there is a bright light source you would go for darker more vivid shadows. When doing anime vectoring, ALWAYS remember to keep your colors CONSISTENT (depends).

[fisherwomen1515]

I'm stuck, I didnt download the program yet cause i wanted to see what I would be doing before I start, also i'm a complete noob, So i'll have to play around with it first, layers look hard but it probly wont take me no longer than an hour or 2 to under stand it but at 2:48 when ever you make a vector line does it all come together on another layer or do you to place it there yourself?

[JapplengUniversity]

Does anyone know where I can learn how to shadow? I don't know what colors to use when shadowing mid-tones and highlights. I also just "guess" what to do with shadows so to a professional, it might be very confusing on why there are shadows here when it should be there etc... :(

[iequalcool]

Thanks for these tuts! I also like the music you use in them. This one is making me laugh though because it whispers, "Choke your dog!" It took me a few minutes to realize that, lmao! awesome tutorials!

[Bireno]

@GrandDewalt No, the pen tool creates exact, consistent curves and sharp points that aren't anywhere as easy to do with freehand & a pen.

[MobsterOO7]

@GrandDewalt I've used a tablet before and I can only imagine that the pen tool with a tablet would just be really awkward and weird. Those things are really best for brushes etc. Use the mouse with the pen tool.