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mrslevite
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 2907
Location: Dover, DE
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:22 pm
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I'm just a beginner with Illustrator and am stumbling around in the dark pretty much - looking what I need to know when I need it.
Perhaps we could start of list of tips and tricks to share with one another.
Anyone want to start?
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=3411120 |
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davorr
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 97
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:30 pm
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Search on the net for plug-in select( http://rj-graffix.com/software/plugins.html ), it's free, and will help you to find open paths, unfilled paths, brush strokes... Try it out it will help you. |
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alina
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Posts: 967
Location: Phillips Ranch, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:53 pm
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Well, a good tip is to always save at least one file with good, reliable elements, like patterns, body parts, little flowers, leaves and whatnots that you can go to whenever you need something extra for the illustration you're working on. It will be like your own private resource treasure chest you can always go to.
Another trick I have is to have a sketchpad and pencils on my nightstand that are always accessible should inspiration strike. Doodling just to relax is a good way to doze off. Then, when you're ready to work, leaf through that thing...you may find that you have great jumping off points from which to start a great drawing!
Good luck,
Alina |
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krisdog
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 161
Location: United KIngdom
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:55 am
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couldn't agree more about the rj plugin, it's a must for stock illustration.
Other great time savers are the "close all paths script" which I have mentioned in the other thread and Phantasm plugin which lets you adjust colours in meshes gradients etc. like you would in PS with raster images.
If you are switching from Freehand to AI I also hear that "Betterhandles" is a must have. |
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red06
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 1283
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:42 pm
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| alina wrote: | Well, a good tip is to always save at least one file with good, reliable elements, like patterns, body parts, little flowers, leaves and whatnots that you can go to whenever you need something extra for the illustration you're working on. It will be like your own private resource treasure chest you can always go to.
Another trick I have is to have a sketchpad and pencils on my nightstand that are always accessible should inspiration strike. Doodling just to relax is a good way to doze off. Then, when you're ready to work, leaf through that thing...you may find that you have great jumping off points from which to start a great drawing!
Good luck,
Alina |
This is a very useful tip!!! I do it myself..
A question you must ask before starting the long road of illustration... do I want to do this for money or for myself...and or both!! both are valid reasons. |
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frozenpeas
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 1277
Location: C:/DOS, C:/DOS/RUN, RUN/DOS/RUN
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:56 pm
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Things I try to do:
1) Stand back from the monitor screen and take a look from across the room.
2) Never be happy with your first choice of colours.
3) Never upload the illustration on the same day as you created it. Take a fresh look at it in the morning.
4) Where possible, avoid using gradients
5) If stuck for colours find a photo and use the colour picker.
Rob |
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davorr
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 97
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:38 am
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Make actions for frequently used actions
(Pathfinder, select same colors...) with hotkey.
That will save your time
for joining objects, cropping paths, closing paths... |
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