assignment for adobe illustrator

Adobe Illustrator tutorials: 45 lessons to improve your skills

The best Adobe Illustrator tutorials, from beginner to advanced techniques.

• Generative AI tools

Adobe Illustrator workflow

Exporting and sharing work, adobe illustrator beginner tutorials.

• Basic tools

Intermediate features and creative techniques

More advanced techniques.

The best Adobe Illustrator tutorials can help you get up and running on the industry-standard vector graphics tool, and can also help advanced users discover time-saving features they might not have known about. Adobe Illustrator video tutorials, in particular, are a great way to find your way around the software or get to grips with specific tools and techniques, whether you want to design simple icons or complex illustrations.

Below, we've gathered a collection of Adobe Illustrator tutorials that cover everything from the very basics to the advanced techniques and we've organised them into sections to make them easier to navigate – you can use the menu to jump to the section you're interested in. If you still need the software, see our guide to how to download Adobe Illustrator and our regularly updated roundup of best Adobe deals – or go direct to Adobe's special offers page . For more ways to get the most from Adobe Illustrator, see our guide to the best illustrator plugins . 

The best Adobe Illustrator tutorials

We'll begin with the best beginner Adobe Illustrator tutorials. If you're getting started, these will give you a solid grounding in Illustrator's basic tools and techniques. You'll learn the ins and outs of the Illustrator workspace and how to open and save your images.

Adobe Illustrator AI tools

01. generative ai tools.

Illustrator now has generative AI tools thanks to its Firefly integration. Adobe suggests these are perfect for pros looking for ways to generate ideas, or create quick mockups for client presentations, or content creators needing quick graphics. 

The tools are:

• Text-to-Vector Graphic: Create vector graphics from text prompts
• Generative Recolour: Shift your colour scheme with one touch
• Mockup: See your 2D designs in situ
• Retype: Use AI to find a close match to any font you can find

See our complete guide to Illustrator AI tools here, for step-by-step tutorials.

02. Illustrator hacks

One of my all time favs this tip for Illustrator. Drawing inside.Click these minuscule buttons on the tool panel or hit shift+d until you see the bounding box around your artwork. Then simply draw inside, you can draw shapes, line work or just paste whatever inside. Simple! pic.twitter.com/r5cRUiFD9f June 25, 2020

Designer Matthew Lucas shared a whole bunch of useful Illustrator hacks in a post on Twitter . They went down a storm, with fellow designers asking for more. See one of them above, and check out our post about his Illustrator hacks .

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

03. Work with artboards

This tutorial offers another look at artboards in Illustrator CC . It explains the function of artboards, which are similar to pages in InDesign CC or Microsoft Word. Watch this and the video tutorial from Dansky above, and you’ll quickly learn how to create and edit multiple artboards.

04. Shortcuts to speed up your workflow

If you’re not using shortcuts, you’re probably not working as efficiently as you could. Here’s a great list of Illustrator shortcuts that can help you improve your workflow and save you time. There are options for handling layers, selections, text and more, along with some handy hints for brushes, saving and closing, and viewing options. 

05. Shortcut your logo design exports

Creatives will be all too familiar with the hassle of exporting logos in various sizes and formats for different client needs, but Dansky has created a handy free pack to make that a whole lot easier. In this helpful video tutorial, he shows how to streamline the process of exporting logo designs to meet different specs.

06. How to share artwork in Adobe Illustrator

This Adobe guide covers the basics of sharing in Illustrator CC . It covers the topics of how to share files, how to save them as PDFs and how to export images.

07. Export assets for web and app design

It’s important to be able to share your Adobe Illustrator assets in different formats. This tutorial explains how to export higher quality SVG artwork for use in web and app projects.

08. Adobe Illustrator crash course

Sometimes getting started with a new program can be overwhelming, but this helpful video equips you with all the knowledge you need to get started. This Adobe Illustrator Crash Course by Flux Academy is perfect for beginners, teaching you all the tips you need to get your new project off the ground. 

With expert insight on the essential tools you need to know as well as a guide on how to master Illustrator's interface, this is a great video to learn from and refer back to as you get more confident with the program. 

09. Adobe Illustrator for beginners

To get you started this Adobe Illustrator for Beginners guide is the perfect launchpad to learn all you need to know about the programme. This in-depth video tutorial takes you through all the basics step by step and requires no previous Illustrator experience. With a beginner-friendly approach, you'll learn how to create effects, patterns and more easily and quickly, helping you to master all the basics in no time.

10. Illustrator tutorial for beginners 2024

For a super up to date tutorial, look no further than this. Illustrator can be a little intimidating for beginners, but this Adobe Illustrator tutorial for beginners breaks things down to make it easy to get started. This tutorial gives a tour of the interface in Illustrator 2024, including an overview of the main tools, how work with artboards and how to get started with drawing tools.

11. Illustrator for iPad beginners tutorial

Of course, as well as the desktop version, Adobe Illustrator is also available for the iPad. This tutorial offers a succinct beginners' guide to what you'll find in the iPad version of the software and how to get started. It provides a basic tools and gestures overview and walks us through working with layers, grids and guides, how to combine and edit shapes and how to apply colour and gradients. Users who are already familiar with the desktop version might also find this useful as a quick overview of what to expect from the iPad package.

Basic tools in Adobe Illustrator

12. how to use the color picker.

Adobe Illustrator's Color Picker allows you to select and apply colours to your artwork in Illustrator CC. This six-step Adobe tutorial offers a quick demonstration of how to use the Color Picker tool .

13. Add text to your designs

Want to add text to your designs in Illustrator CC ? This beginner-level Adobe Illustrator tutorial introduces the basics of how to do just that. You’ll learn how to add text, apply formatting, reshape and style it, and also how to place text on or inside a path.

14. Masking in Illustrator

As you probably already know, masking allows you to hide or reveal different parts of an image or design. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, you'll learn about three different masking techniques: clipping mask, opacity mask and draw inside. 

15. Transform and edit artwork

This Adobe tutorial runs through the basics of how to transform and edit artwork designed in Adobe Illustrator CC. You'll learn how to resize artwork, and how to use groups, align objects and more using the Selection tool, Transform panel, and other transform tools.

16. Get to know Adobe Illustrator's drawing tools

This handy tutorial focuses on the wide variety of drawing tools you'll find in Illustrator's Tools panel, each of which allows you to create in different ways. The tutorial will give you a good understanding of how to use the Pen tool, Pencil tool, Curvature tool and Paintbrush tool .

17. Add images and artistic effects

This tutorial on how to add images and artistic effects starts out by explaining the basics of how to add images to projects in Adobe Illustrator CC. It then walks you through how to add and edit effects, apply brush strokes, and more. 

18. Edit paths in Illustrator CC

This Adobe Illustrator tutorial shows how to edit paths in your artwork using a variety of tools and options, including the Pen tool, Curvature tool, Anchor Point tool and others.

19. A guide to Pathfinder Shape modes

There are four different ways to combine basic shapes in Illustrator: unite, subtract, intersect and exclude overlap. In this handy tutorial, Dansky runs through how to use each one in just two minutes. 

Adobe Illustrator tutorials for intermediate users

20. adobe illustrator 2023 new features.

If you're a seasoned user of Illustrator and simply want to know what's new in Illustrator 2023, the latest update, this clear and succinct Illustrator tutorial from Pixel & Bracket Illustrator Tutorials should be just the ticket. The video runs through all the new features in Illustrator 2023 in just over 3 minutes, including Illustrator Quick Actions, expanded 3D format support, new collaboration options and the Intertwine tool, which allows you to overlap parts of objects or shapes.

21. 10 incredible Adobe Illustrator tips and tricks

Will Paterson is full of tips that can be handy for both "professionals and normal people",  and there really are some true gems in here, such as tips for using multiple artboards in one file and scaling strokes and effects. Some of these tips and tricks can be highly effective when it comes to streamlining your processes and improving your workflow.

22. Design a gradient logo in Illustrator

Gradients just aren't going out of fashion, especially in brand schemes. In this popular video tutorial, Dansky walks us though how to create a simple gradient logo in Adobe Illustrator.

23. Learn how to draw anything in Illustrator CC

This Illustrator tutorial is taught by certified Adobe Design Master Martin Perhiniak, who was voted one of the top 10 Adobe instructors back in 2015. His video explores different drawing techniques in Adobe Illustrator CC. He offers advice to help you improve your skills when working with shapes . It's well worth a look.

24. Create sets of product icons in Illustrator

Icons are a world all on their own. Here Ben O'Brien – aka Ben The Illustrator – walks us through the process of creating simple yet effective sets of illustrated icons using Illustrator in an easy to follow tutorial.

25. How to design graphic figures in Illustrator

Learn how to turn your basic stick men into graphic figures with their own style and personality in this Illustrator CC tutorial from Ben O'Brien.

26. Creative shapes for logo design

Here, the ever-informative Dansky explores how to take shapes to the next level . He offers a range of techniques that you can use to transform basic shapes into more complex shapes by working with elements such as gradients, opacity and the Shape Builder tool.

27. Create a calligraphic brush in Illustrator

One of the great things about Adobe Illustrator is the ability to create your own brushes. Here, Chris Rathbone explains how to create your own vector Illustrator brush in three simple steps.

28. Design more efficiently with Dynamic Symbols

Illustrator CC's Dynamic Symbols tool allows you to dynamically change a symbol's attributes to streamline the creation of artwork. This tutorial explains how to use the tool to create multiple instances of a master symbol , which then retain their link to the master symbol even when their shape and visual attributes are altered. 

29. Use the Perspective Grid

With Illustrator CC’s Perspective Grid, you can either place existing artwork in a perspective plane or draw directly on to the grid. This tutorial from Matthew Pizzi uses both methods to show us how to create a 3D gift box . He also teaches us an easy way to create a reflection.

30. Design a logo in Adobe Illustrator

Want to create a logo that will look just as good in print and on screen while combining imagery with text? This tutorial shows you how to design a logo .

31. Create a web icon in Adobe Illustrator 

This tutorial teaches you how to make a web icon . Learn how to modify simple shapes to create a camera icon that can be used as a social media profile avatar and as a button linking to a portfolio on a digital CV. 

32. Create an app icon in Adobe Illustrator 

Another step-by-step tutorial from Matthew Pizzi, this one shows how to create a calculator app icon in Illustrator . You’ll use a variety of shape tools, the Pen tool, and the 3D features of Illustrator CC.

33. Create a geometric logo design in Illustrator 

This tutorial looks at how to create a perfectly geometric logo design . Begin by creating an initial pattern using smart guides, then remove areas from shapes using the Shape Builder tool or Pathfinder tool. Then add gradients. 

34. Quickly join and trim paths

Learning how to join paths is a great way to clean up your line work in Illustrator CC. This tutorial explains how to trim excess line segments from intersecting paths and how to close the gaps between two open paths.

35. Vector avatar characters with Illustrator

Cartoon-style avatars are a halfway house between formal representation and stylised illustration, allowing a degree of anonymity for the person pictured. Another tutorial from Chris Spooner, this one shows how to use the vector tools in Adobe Illustrator to produce a simple avatar with a line art style and flat colours.

36. Create a line art badge logo in Illustrator

Chris Spooner has a host of useful Illustrator tutorials. In this tutorial, he goes through the process of creating a line art badge logo design . There's been a trend of designing logos in the style of line art, featuring simplified illustrations to produce a minimalist design. This shows just how to do it.

Adobe Illustrator tutorials for advanced users

37. create a custom brush in illustrator.

Building a custom Illustrator brush is a great way to put a unique stamp on your work. While the software comes with watercolour-style brushes out of the box, this advanced Adobe Illustrator tutorial explores how you can make your own custom brush .  

38. Create 3D sushi in seconds in Adobe Illustrator

In this quick and entertaining Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Montenegro-based graphic designer Elena Baryshkina shows how to create 3D sushi in Illustrator . So this may seem like a very specific brief, but it doesn't have to be sushi. Once you've learned the technique you can apply it to create 3D illustrations of other kinds. Illustrator has been gradually expanding its 3D support, and this process allows you to create 3D imagery starting from a flat illustration using the 3D and Materials panel.

39. Create a multi-exposure image

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Ruslan Khasanov creates a multi-exposure illustration to express the concept of multilocalism. He explains how he created it from vision to the finished artwork using Photoshop , Illustrator, Dimension, Adobe Stock, and traditional paints. Follow the tutorial to learn how you can create a multi-exposure image .

40. Unlock Adobe Illustrator's secret symmetry mode

Illustrator doesn't have a dedicated symmetry mode, but in this video, Dansky shares a smart hack that enables you to create a similar effect using the Distort and Transform tool. This is one of those tricks that's fun to play around with to create unexpected effects. 

40. Pose characters using the Puppet Warp tool

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Ben O'Brien looks at how to get started with the Puppet Warp tool . He explores how to use the tools various functions, how to rig characters in preparation for posing using the tool and how to use the Puppet Warp tool to adjust graphic lines or objects. He also discussed how to use your skills to bring personality to a character using the tool.

41. Warp, pose, and sculpt your artwork with ease

This advanced Adobe Illustrator tutorial teaches you how to make smooth adjustments to parts of vector drawings. The technique involves placing pins using the Puppet Warp tool, and then manipulating specific areas of your artwork.

42. Create a busy city scene

Learn how to add dynamism and atmosphere to a bustling street scene with this step-by-step guide from Ben O’Brien. You’ll build architecture, add figures, place street furniture and experiment with colour to create a lively illustration in Illustrator.

43. How to create colourful gradient orbs

This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Gradient Mesh tool to create a colourful circular orb , which can then be modified into an abstract shape with Illustrator's Warp tool. The design can then be used in all kinds of branding or art projects.

44. Prepare Illustrator graphics for After Effects

Adobe Illustrator files often get passed over for animation when they're clearly not ready for After Effects . Jeff Hurd's checklist will help you ensure your designs are ready for animation before you hand them over.

What is Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program. First launched in 1985, it's still widely seen as the industry standard tool in graphic design. It's different from a tool like Photoshop because it's used to create vector images, which comprise points, lines, shapes, and curves based on mathematical formulas rather than a set amount of pixels. This means they can be scaled up or down, so you can design things to print at a very large scale without losing image quality.

How do I access Adobe Illustrator?

You can use Adobe Illustrator as a desktop software program or as an iPad app. To do so, you'll need to download Adobe Illustrator with a free trial or a paid subscription.

How many days it will take to learn Illustrator?

It all depends on your intentions. If you're learning how to use Illustrator for small personal projects you can easily get to grips with the program in a few hours. If you're looking to implement Illustrator into your daily workflow, it could take a few weeks or even months before you've efficiently mastered it.

The more you progress, the more shortcuts and tricks you'll pick up. If you're starting from scratch it's best to take a course or watch a couple of tutorials to get you started. Once you're familiar with the program, don't be afraid to learn as you go. Follow tutorials that suit the needs of your project and you'll soon find a natural rhythm that's efficient for your creative flow.

Does Adobe Illustrator have AI tools?

Illustrator now has generative AI tools powered by Firefly. These are Text-to-Vector, Generative Recolor, Mockup and Retype. Adobe says AI isn't meant to replace human creativity, but is there to help unlock it. Suggested uses for pros for these tools are mockups and idea generation.

For the latest Illustrator updates, take a look at the new Illustrator tools that are super useful for packaging design. If you're after more creative inspiration, check out Adobe's latest AI tool for Premiere Pro which has been called 'Photoshop for audio'.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Georgia is lucky enough to be Creative Bloq's Editor. She has been working for Creative Bloq since 2018, starting out as a freelancer writing about all things branding, design, art, tech and creativity – as well as sniffing out genuinely good deals on creative technology. Since becoming Editor, she has been managing the site on a day-to-day basis, helping to shape the diverse content streams CB is known for and leading the team in their own creativity. 

Related articles

Explore your training options in 10 minutes Get Started

• Graduate Stories
• Partner Spotlights
• Bootcamp Prep
• Bootcamp Admissions
• University Bootcamps
• Coding Tools
• Software Engineering
• Web Development
• Data Science
• Tech Guides
• Tech Resources
• Career Advice
• Online Learning
• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Tech Salaries
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• University Admissions
• Best Schools
• Certifications
• Bootcamp Financing
• Higher Ed Financing
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Best Coding Bootcamps
• Best Online Bootcamps
• Best Web Design Bootcamps
• Best Data Science Bootcamps
• Best Technology Sales Bootcamps
• Best Data Analytics Bootcamps
• Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps
• Best Digital Marketing Bootcamps
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Browse All Locations
• Digital Marketing
• Machine Learning
• See All Subjects
• Bootcamps 101
• Full-Stack Development
• Career Changes
• View all Career Discussions
• Mobile App Development
• Cybersecurity
• Product Management
• UX/UI Design
• What is a Coding Bootcamp?
• Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?
• How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp
• Best Online Coding Bootcamps and Courses
• Best Free Bootcamps and Coding Training
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Community College
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Self-Learning
• Bootcamps vs. Certifications: Compared
• What Is a Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantee?
• How to Pay for Coding Bootcamp
• Ultimate Guide to Coding Bootcamp Loans
• Best Coding Bootcamp Scholarships and Grants
• Education Stipends for Coding Bootcamps
• Get Your Coding Bootcamp Sponsored by Your Employer
• GI Bill and Coding Bootcamps
• Tech Intevriews
• Our Enterprise Solution
• Connect With Us
• Publication
• Reskill America
• Partner With Us

• Resource Center
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

Top Illustrator Projects to Sharpen Your Skills and Build Your Illustrator Portfolio

If you dream of becoming a graphic designer , some of the key technical skills you will need to learn are digital illustration and vector drawing. Adobe Illustrator is the gold-standard tool used by professional designers to create beautiful and scalable logos, vector icons, and digital art. It is also popular among content creators to produce attractive digital marketing assets.

Designs produced in Adobe Illustrator are used everywhere, from product packaging, infographics, to billboard advertising. Adobe Illustrator allows you to create vector artwork that can be made very small or extremely large without losing resolution or picture quality. Read on to discover the top Illustrator projects to practice your skills and build your portfolio. 

Find your bootcamp match

5 skills that illustrator projects can help you practice.

Whether you’re just starting out, or are sharpening your Adobe Illustrator skills, the beginner, intermediate, and advanced projects outlined in this article will help you practice the following technical skills. Professional graphic designers and illustrators use these foundational skills throughout their creative process in designing anything from company logos, simple kids illustrations, to marketing media.

• Simple Shapes. Drawing basic shapes is one of the first skills to learn as a foundation for all your designs and logos. Adobe Illustrator offers vector shape tools, which you can find by clicking on the rectangle shape in the Toolbar. Basic shapes can be combined to make more complicated and complete artwork.
• Vector Skills. Vector drawing is what Illustrator is based on. Vector graphics are made from points, lines, curves, and shapes. To draw with vectors, you can use different tools, such as the Pen tool, with which you can create and edit the anchor points in a very precise way and make vector paths. 
• Layering. The layers function offered by Adobe Illustrator is very useful to use as an overview of the edits you make in a design. This function lets you place different elements in each layer and activate or deactivate layers. This way, you can add or remove elements without affecting the whole design. It is one of the most useful tools when making any design, especially one that has many details.
• Painting. Illustrator has a wide range of paintbrushes that can be used to create realistic artwork. You can also combine brushes with the fill function to create gorgeous digital graphics. Illustrator offers the most varied range of colors so that you can get unique colors and textures. 
• Pathfinder. The Pathfinder tools are extremely efficient in helping you develop unique shapes. The tool allows you to combine different basic shapes to unite them, subtract one shape from the other, intersect, or exclude overlap. Once you learn the basics it’s easier to use than it seems, and will surely speed up your design process. 

Best Illustrator Project Ideas for Beginners

If you’re new to digital graphics, Adobe Illustrator can be an intimidating program at first glance. The best way to learn Adobe Illustrator is to practice with small projects to build your foundational vector skills. As you work through the following projects you can also begin to curate a portfolio, as executing and finishing projects will help your creative process. 

Create and Edit Shapes

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Simple shapes, vector skills

With the shape tools in Adobe Illustrator, you can draw, combine and trace different simple shapes. It’s a great basic exercise that will help you a lot in later projects. Creating basic shapes that can be used to develop simple icons is a great way to start developing your skills. Adobe Illustrator has a fun tutorial that covers drawing basic shapes and editing them.  

Create with Drawing Tools

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector skills

In this design project, you can practice the best tools for making strokes and curves in Adobe Illustrator. With the Pencil tool and the Curvature tool, you can design and edit endless illustrations. You will also learn about paths and anchor points which are key concepts in vector skills, and how to join paths to create a whole shape. 

Create an Owl Character Using a Circular Grid

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Simple shapes, vector skills, painting, layer, pathfinder

Learn how to create an owl using a circle grid. You will first draw circles to make a simple grid of circles, and then build the owl figure using only the simple shapes created by the circles in your grid. Finally, you will bring the design to life by adding color to paint your design. 

Create an Isometric Illustration

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Simple shapes, vector skills 

An isometric illustration is a simple technique that’s very useful for illustrating without using a grid. Apply your knowledge of simple shapes to create a two-dimensional object that visually represents a three-dimensional object. Isometric illustrations are a trending vector graphic style often used in web design. 

Create a Set of Productivity Icons

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Simple shapes, vector skills, layers, pathfinder

This step-by-step tutorial by Adobe Illustrator uses the Rectangle, Pathfinder, and Direct Selection tools to make a set of shapes that represent office icons, such as a document, a computer monitor, and stationary. This idea is very useful for many other projects, like creating social media icons. 

Best Intermediate Illustrator Portfolio Ideas 

Intermediate Adobe Illustrator techniques are great to continue reinforcing your knowledge and learning. Doing the projects in this section will help you improve your Illustrator designs and creative process. Add these projects to your portfolio to demonstrate your skills and show off the designs that prove you have intermediate Adobe Illustrator skills. 

Create a Tropical Pattern 

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Simple shapes, painting, pathfinder, vector skills

To create a tropical pattern in Adobe Illustrator, you will set up a grid to build elements. You will also use the Shape Builder Tool, Warp Effects, the Pen Tool, the Pattern Tool, and geometric shapes in your creation process. It is a very good project for creating a fabric pattern with applications in fashion design and interior design.

Create a Lettering Postcard

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Sketching, simple shapes, pathfinder, layers. 

In this project, learn how to make and decorate a lettering postcard. You will use the Pen Tool and other elements that you consider necessary to decorate the card. The important thing is that you master the lettering technique with the Pen Tool. 

Vector Hair With Brushes

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector drawing, sketching

This project is very useful for improving your drawing techniques and making your designs look more realistic. In this project, you will learn how to use vector shapes to draw hair, and then use the brushes to draw a full head of hair. 

Create an Emoji iMessage Stickers

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector drawing, painting, layering

In this excellent project, you will learn how to create a custom emoji pack. First, you will learn how to turn your hand-drawn artwork into a vector format. Next, you will use the Ellipse tool to make your own calligraphy brush, then trace the sketch using the Paintbrush tool, color in your stickers, and finally import the emojis into Xcode. 

Create a Flat Winter Scene

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Layering, simple shapes

Here you have an awesome holiday-themed pattern idea. To make this Adobe Illustrator flat illustrations project, you will ]use basic shapes to create the winter scene with the help of the Pen Tool and the Pathfinder panel. You will also use some colors and add highlights and shadows to complete this flat design. 

Advanced Illustrator Project Ideas

Advanced Adobe Illustrator projects will help you demonstrate your ability to complete the most challenging digital graphics, and present a complete portfolio of designs that include the most advanced techniques. Read on to discover several online advanced tutorials that can help you develop a wide range of expert-level skills.

Create a Watercolor Mermaid Illustration

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Layering, painting

For this advanced project, you will design a realistic watercolor painting of a mermaid. Just like in the previous tutorials, you will start by sketching the mermaid and then vectorizing it. Alternatively, you can sketch directly in Adobe Illustrator using a drawing tablet. Next, you will use the drawing tools that Adobe Illustrator offers, such as custom brushes to add details and finish your work.

Create a Surreal Portrait

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector drawing

For this Adobe Illustrator project, you will practice your skills to transform a real portrait into a surreal one using Illustrator’s image tracing tool or Live Trace tool. Follow the in-depth tutorial to add texture and layers to compose a surreal vector portrait. 

Design a Logo

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector drawing, simple shapes 

Adobe Illustrator is the best tool for designing a logo. Depending on what you want to make, a logo design can range from being basic to difficult. Therefore having more than one logo design in your portfolio is a good idea. Throughout the creative process of designing a logo, you will use a wide range of Adobe Illustrator tools and techniques to complete your design.

Design Game UI Assets

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Vector drawing, simple shapes

Designing game UI assets in Adobe Illustrator will only require simple shapes to form game assets such as buttons and icons. This project requires the skillful process of adding texture, highlights, and creating alternative shapes. It is very good practice in which you will use your imagination to create many objects.

Design a Cartoon Character

• Illustrator Skills Practiced: Painting, vector drawing

Creating a cartoon character design can be a lot of fun and requires skills with most of the Adobe Illustrator tools. With a tutorial to guide you, you can create a set of characters that are unique and express different emotions by using basic geometric shapes and gradient colors. Character design has applications in children’s books, animation, and game design.

Illustrator Starter Project Templates

When it comes to getting started with Adobe Illustrator design projects, having a template or detailed tutorial can go a long way in mastering both basic and advanced concepts. Here are some starter template resources to jumpstart your design project. 

• Adobe . Adobe Illustrator doesn’t leave its designers in a pinch, offering many cool Illustrator tutorials that take you through the entire process of designing a project. Their wide range of subjects will help you master various Illustrator skills.
• Envato Elements . This resource offers thousands of templates compatible with Adobe Illustrator, over 82,000 vector templates alone! You can find a range of templates from a quick tutorial with simple steps, as well as a more detailed tutorial with advanced Illustrator techniques. 
• Template.Net . Put your Pen tool to the test with over 8,000 templates and detailed tutorials to help you build a great portfolio. They emphasize the use of simple images and bright colors to make amazing Illustrator art and product designs. 

Next Steps: Start Organizing Your Illustrator Portfolio

When it comes to showcasing your projects, the best idea is to create a portfolio. By creating a portfolio, you can demonstrate your Adobe Illustrator skills to potential clients. It’s a great way to promote your work, so here are some ideas you can follow to create a great portfolio and begin a very successful career as a digital designer.

Make Your Website

Create a website to host your Adobe Illustrator portfolio. It is a very good option that you should consider to easily show your work to potential clients who request it. By using your own web domain or placing your portfolio on a third-party website that allows you to host it, you will be able to present your work more professionally and make a strong impression.

Easy to Navigate

You should organize your Adobe Illustrator portfolio so that the viewer can easily see or find your work. Try to design the portfolio in a minimalist, organized way. Consider putting only your ten best pieces. Put only one design per page and on that page, explain what the project was about.

Make a Selection

Don’t put all the work you’ve ever done in your Adobe Illustrator portfolio. Just make a selection of the ones you consider the best and the ones that help you create a story. Remember to show the passion projects that you’ve worked on as they’ll highlight what your style is. 

Illustrator Projects FAQ

Adobe Illustrator is a very powerful tool to create a great variety of vector designs and illustrations. With Adobe Illustrator you can work with shapes, colors, text, and many other elements to create anything from simple shapes to complex vector artwork. Some of the most common design projects using Illustrator are logo design, posters, illustrations, and icons.

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

There are many cool Adobe Illustrator tutorials online that you can follow as you practice your vector skills. Start with easy projects that involve the main tools that Adobe Illustrator includes. Start practicing with simple shapes, figures, the curvature tool, vector paths, and simple patterns. You can also play around with basic tools like vector elements and the Pen Tool. 

The best option to learn Adobe Illustrator skills fast is to take a highly-rated Adobe Illustrator bootcamp , or follow Illustrator tutorials that teach design techniques ranging in various skill levels. The best way to become an Adobe Illustrator expert is to practice by doing a variety of projects. 

Adobe Illustrator can be used to create many designs, such as logos, icons, and digital art using colors, shapes, text, and different effects. Once you have developed great illustration and digital art skills you might consider learning graphic design . 

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

What's Next?

Get matched with top bootcamps

Ask a question to our community, take our careers quiz.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Melissa Scroggins
• Sep 23, 2009

40 Excellent Illustrator Tutorials

• Graphics , Illustrator , Tutorials , Drawing
• Share on Twitter ,  LinkedIn

About The Author

Melissa Scroggins is a freelance graphic designer and co-founder of PeachPoPs . She loves designing icons, creating vector illustrations, and playing survival … More about Melissa ↬

Email Newsletter

Weekly tips on front-end & UX . Trusted by 200,000+ folks.

Learning is a process which continues throughout the life of an artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. Along the way, designers find the task of mastering Adobe Illustrator a large obstacle which requires practice and experience in using the vector-based application. Practice comes in the form of Illustrator tutorials , which offer tips, tricks, and artistic styles from other designers who have mastered certain techniques based on their experience.

From these tutorials, a designer can polish their skillsets on a variety of topics which will strengthen their own artwork. Sometimes a simple tutorial has tips which may have been overlooked based on the subject of the tutorial. By looking past the subjects of the tutorials, an endless array of learning opportunities exist. Essentially, the tutorials become not only a teacher but a “ class ” which a designer can repeat as often as necessary to refine their skills.

Further Reading on SmashingMag:

• 10 Useful Typography Tips For Adobe Illustrator
• 50 Excellent 3D Adobe Illustrator Tutorials
• 35 Excellent Adobe Illustrator Video Tutorials
• 35 Incredible Digital Painting Tutorials

This post presents 40 excellent simple to complex Illustrator tutorials and presents the overall techniques of each tutorial, summarized in a brief overview. The purpose is to pick and choose among the tutorials based on the areas that need improvment. Whether your are a seasoned professional or a designer just starting out, these Illustrator tutorials offer a way to brush up on your skills.

Adobe Illustrator Tutorials

Gradient Mesh Bell Pepper Tutorial

• Use multiple smaller Meshes to create a realistic object
• Learn to use the Eyedropper Tool (I) to sample colors from a reference photo

How to create a Television Icon

• Using Offset Path on an object
• Learn to use Gradients to create surface texture and depth
• Create a reflection using an Opacity Mask

Working with 3D Objects and Transparencies to Make a Vector Cola Bottle Design

• Learn to “cut” up an image in Pathfinder and use the pieces in 3D Revolve to create solid objects
• Map art (symbols) onto a 3D object

Create a Multicolored Splashed Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator

• Learn to use Offset Stroke on text
• Apply a Pattern Swatch to text

Illustrate a Malevolent Skull in 8 Steps

• Working with a sketch and outlining with the Pen Tool (P)
• Use Outline/Preview modes during design process
• How to use the Reflect Tool (O) to save time

Create A Wood Grain Texture

• Use Raster Effects, Live Trace, and Expand to create a texture
• Learn to use the Warp Tool (Shift +R) to customize a texture

Illustrator ring shape via overlapping crescents effect

• Create abstract geometric shapes with Linear Gradients , Align , and Pathfinder
• Learn to use Smart Guides (Cmd/Ctrl + U)

How to Illustrate a Brain Icon for OSX and Vista

• For faster coloring, use the Live Paint Bucket (K)
• Bonus Lesson : How to turn art into an icon

Create a Realistic Candy Bar in Illustrator

• Tips on stacking order for the Layers Panel when using a sketch
• Create realistic creases in paper
• Where to place shadows/highlights and why

How to Create a Vector Smiley Icon

• Working with Radial Gradients
• Copy design elements for symmetry
• Learn how to use the Isolation Mode

How to Create a Radial Mesh in Illustrator and Make a Vector CD

• Create a radial mesh from a Radial Gradient and the Mesh Tool (U)
• Learn the finer points of selecting mesh points
• Create a Clipping Mask

Illustrator full spectrum spirograph

• Using the Rotate Tool ® to create abstract shapes
• Learn to use Transform Again to save time

How to Make a Cartoon Style Cereal Box Logo in Adobe Illustrator CS3

• Effectively use Strokes , Align Stroke , and Selection Tool (V) to modify fonts
• How to use 3D Extrude & Bevel Options to Create 3D Text

How to Create a Gearbox Settings Icon Using Simple Shapes

• Use the Rotate Tool ® to rotate shapes relative to another shape
• Create a metallic texture using shapes and Radial Blur
• Design a perforated metal backing using Gradients

3D Effect Extrude and Revolve

• Learn to use simple shapes to create a 3D object with Extrude & Bevel

Illustrator Tutorial: Realistic Orange

• Learn to use Plastic Wrap Effect and Sponge Effect to create an orange peel texture
• Effectively use Opacity in an illustration

How to Create Semi-Realistic Scissors in Illustrator

• Using shapes and Gaussian Blur , create an aged metallic texture
• Learn to add highlights on metal contours

How to Create a Hippy Van Vector in Illustrator

• Trace a photo with the Pen Tool (P)
• Expand strokes to add Gradients

Illustrator Quick Tips #1 - Complex Symbols with Pathfinder

• Use the Gradient Tool (G) to create a 3D effect
• With the Pathfinder Divide , create abstract shapes
• Learn to use the Blending Mode Multiply

How to Make a Vector Diamond Ring in Illustrator

• Use Pathfinder to create a compound shape
• Create a metallic finish with Gradients
• Create a diamond with Linear Gradients

Create Fun, Eye-catching Text with Adobe Illustrator

• Use the Free Transform Tool (E) on text to create depth and perspective
• Highlight and shadow placement on text

‘Women and Cats’ How-To Advanced Tutorial

• Learn about shading/highlights in vector portraits
• Use of Transparency and Opacity Masks

Turn Any Font Into a Sketch Font

• Learn to use the Scribble Effect and Roughen to create a font
• Create a custom Graphic Style

How To Create A Realistic Pendrive in Adobe Illustrator

• Learn how to align objects to the Artboard
• Create a realistic metallic surface using Linear Gradients

How to Create a Rainy Window Vector Background

• Create an abstract background with the Mesh Tool (U) and circles
• Use Gradients , Inner Glow , and Warp to design raindrops
• Learn to make a Symbol from artwork

Draw a Cute Purse Using Simple Shapes

• Modify shapes using the Warp Tool
• Use Pathfinder Exclude to create new shapes
• Learn to design a simple pattern
• Quick Tip: Horizontal Align to align anchor points

Make a Christmas Light Bulb in Illustrator

• Create a quick glossy orb using Gradients and the Blend Mode
• Add an image to a round surface using Pathfinder

How to Create Shiny, Vector Dice in Illustrator

• Learn to use the 3D Extrude & Bevel
• Create highlights on a 3D object with the Gradient Mesh Tool (U)

Create a Cute Vector Monster from a Pencil Sketch

• Learn to rough in a character using the Pen Tool (P)
• Use tapered brushes to create a sketch style

Create a Gentle Flat Oriental Pattern in Adobe Illustator

• Create symmetric shapes using the Rotate Tool ® and Ctrl+D
• Overlay images using Symbols and Color Burn

How to Draw A Realistic Vector Light Bulb From Scratch

• Create a metal thread contact with Effects and Gradients
• Use the Zig Zag Effect to create wires

Create a Character Mascot with Adobe Illustrator CS4

• How to set up an Adobe Illustrator file to trace with a sketch
• Create a Custom Art Brush

Hit the Mark with a Realistic Vector Dartboard

• Using Transform Effect to create segments
• Save time with Live Paint
• Learn to create bent wire numbers

The Shane Harper way to go Lineless!

• Add details to a drawing with the Pencil Tool (N)
• Alter shapes quickly using the Knife Tool

Illustrator Tutorial: How to Make an Icy Cocktail

• Simulate “glass” using Color Burn and Gradients
• Create Water Drops quickly

Create a Simple Vector Creature in Illustrator

• Learn to use Guidelines effectively
• Use the Reflect Tool (O) for symmetry
• Change end caps on Strokes to alter paths

Create an easy landscape scene in Illustrator

• How to use the Crystallize Tool to create shapes
• Learn to use the Free Transform Tool (E) to create perspective

How to Create a Killer Chainsaw Bunny Character

• Learn to trace with vectors
• Block a character in using the Pen Tool (P)

Blueprint-Style Text in Adobe Illustrator

• Use Scribble Effect to create a hand drawn font
• Learn to use an Opacity Mask with a Gradient

Create a Cute Lipstick Tube

• Working with shapes and Pathfinder
• Learn shading tips for 3D Objects
• Design a Reflection on a shiny surface

These Adobe Illustrator tutorials are just a sample of some of the free learning opportunities available online. Learn to look past the tutorial subject and find what skills the tutorial covers. After all, it’s never too late to go back to school!

Smashing Newsletter

Tips on front-end & UX, delivered weekly in your inbox. Just the things you can actually use.

Front-End & UX Workshops, Online

With practical takeaways, live sessions, video recordings and a friendly Q&A.

TypeScript in 50 Lessons

Everything TypeScript, with code walkthroughs and examples. And other printed books.

• Communities
• Toggle navigation

MMA100: Foundations of Digital Graphic Design

A BMCC OpenLab Site

Assignments

Final project – assignment #6 – type & typography.

Assignment  6   – Poster Design with Type & the Alphabet.

Create 2 new designs using and applying balanced typography in adobe illustrator. Students will generate and demonstrate both a balanced and unconventional composition using each individual letter of the alphabet. (A-Z) The examples (below) are just a few potential ways to display style, simplicity, order and efficiency. A demonstration will be given in class.

Size requirements – 8.5 inches -X- 11 inches (or larger – 11″ x 14″)

Typefaces – Limit yourself to no more than 2-3 different fonts and 4 color values.

Step 1 – Find and discover your own inspiration and share the URLs in the comments section below. Each student will add 2-3 URLS of their inspiration in the comment section before starting this assignment.

Things to consider – Layout & balance – Using rulers, guides and grids. Free transformation & typesetting style.

*COMPOSITION and command over the picture plane and its chosen dimensions.

We will have a final class critique on Wednesday 12/18. A printed version of this assignment will be presented by each student. You will select two of your designs for the critique.

Students may later wish to create a new 11″X17″ tabloid layout set for print in Adobe Illustrator. (You may use use multiple art boards to create iterations) Students will apply a series of their designs into a collaborative magazine for print and the web.

*Student submissions of the completed project:

Students will submit the project to me via e-mail saved as a .PDF file and a high resolution .JPG file – Please send to – [email protected] no later than Thursday 12/19/19

—————–

Assignment #5 – cross college course collaboration project.

COLLAB PROJECT!  – Class Demonstrations will take place in class! I would like to spend a bit of time contributing to this great project and opportunity! Please Read Here –   https://netart.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2019/11/12/the-cross-college-campus-course-zine-project/

Submission due date is preferred by – 12/5/19

Assignment #4 – Mid-Semester Poster Project 

Poster Design.  We will bring together the applications of a vector portrait, composition, image and typography.

Museum Exhibit Poster ( examples will be shown in class – as well as a series of Illustrator vector demonstrations)

Choose one or more of these styles/movements of art to create a poster using a SELF-Portrait:

POP ART, SURREALISM, MEXICAN MURALISTS AFRO-FUTURISM, ANIME/MANGA, POLITICAL ART, FAUVISM, AFRICAN MASKS, ANIME, VIDEO GAMES or (Another Style Not Listed Here or create a Hybrid using 2 or more styles)

Process:  Research! Find and discover a series of images and references to work from. Your research should inspire you! Create a new project folder titled “Mid-Term-Project” – save these images to your project folder. Create your self-portrait in the style of the Art Movement that you chose for a Museum Exhibition. It should be obvious which style you picked WITHOUT seeing the title.

*Your self-portrait IS the artwork for the poster campaign that you create for the exhibit. You must design the poster in 2 sizes – one landscape and one portrait orientation. I suggest 11” x 17” (or slightly smaller)

Your self-portrait must first be drawn in Illustrator and can be brought into Photoshop later for manipulation, (like adding blended color, additional imagery or effects.) After you illustrate your self-portrait, you’ll create the actual poster for the ex­hibit.

Specifications:  The museum having the exhibit you’ve chosen is: SAM, Seattle Art Museum.   Find out more about the institution at this website: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/seattle-art-museum

For the midterm project please use the SAM logo as it is: ( attached as a download link here ) *feel free to re-render the logo on your own if you wish. (This does not mean change it)

You may use any of the tools in Illustrator that we’ve learned or explored and also find and experiment with new ways to draw. You can work from a photo in Illustrator as demonstrated in class.

Do the Portrait First. Then compose the poster. :))

Minimum required copy/text for the poster is:

New Voices Exhibit

April 15th – May 30th 2019

Opening Reception, April 20th 7PM-9PM

https://www.seattleartmuseum.org

*(and the SAM logo of course)

Fonts and colors  – are entirely student choice. Students may ADD additional copy, but may not delete from the minimum above.

Submissions & Due Dates: 11/13, 11/20 & 11/27 will be full-lab work sessions with progress critiques along the way. We will be printing and having a full class critique on Wednesday 12/4 of the completed project. Students will submit to me via e-mail ( [email protected]) the 2 final versions of the poster project as both a PDF file saved from Adobe Illustrator as well as a high resolution JPG. saved from Photoshop (I will give a demonstration on this)

Assignment #3 – Shapes, Forms, Composition & Color

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document sized at 11″ X 17″ in CMYK color mode. We will be both printing and displaying the final work on screen.

Consider, how will you set your guides to equally balance and format the graphics evenly? Will you use a grid? Do you have a preferred method for layout? Lets explore what this means.

2. Generate a new series of “subjective” graphic Icons following the layout and arrangement above. (Don’t re-create my example) make your own, but follow the balanced composition.

3. Limit yourself to 6 values of 1 complimentary color scheme. Consider referring to the color wheel for reference – ( Located here )

4. Limit yourself to creating and composing your graphics with no more than 6 shapes created with the pathfinder or the shape builder tool. Begin without using a stroke around your shapes and then apply a stroke for contrast later.

5. Save your work as an Ai. file (adobe illustrator) as well as a .pdf – Print your work in .pdf format.

6. E-mail ALL of your final PDF. files to me – [email protected]  ****If your .pdf files are too large to send via e-mail (and it may – you can easily use a free service like – wetransfer.com to send the large documents or use google drive)

PART 2 –  Each student will follow the images in the gallery below as a guide to further extend and develop their designs.

Size  – Use a square shape for this series of designs. I suggest 8″x 8″

Students will select and isolate their strongest single icon/graphic from the original layout in Part 1 of the assignment – 1 version will include a stroke and one with out(example below). Students will explore a 4-part color variation drawn from their selected color palette as well as 1-3 balanced patterns using their icons.

Assignment #2 – Elements & Principles

Working with Photoshop. Lets create and apply layers, composition, image resizing and placement techniques to customize our design progress. Class demonstrations will continue.

Assignment Specifications:  Students will generate a series of visual examples and solutions to define, communicate and illustrate the vocabulary of the elements & principles of design. Each term will display a visual image example using the vocabulary below:

Outcome – Students will save two variations of the project as a photoshop psd. file as well as exporting the files as a .jpeg for the web (demonstration in class)

Assessment of the project: How has illustrating the vocabulary with images helped your understanding of each term? Discussion follows.

Vocabulary (Definitions can be found here) <–click

Elements – C olor, Line, Mass, Movement, Space, Texture, Type & Value

Principles – Balance, Contrast, Direction, Economy, Emphasis, Proportion, Rhythm & Unity

Size: –  8.5″ X  11″ – The final design will be 2 composite designs of 8 squares composed and arranged by each student. (2 files will be created – one for the elements of design and 1 for the principles of design)

Part 1 – Student will first create a balanced layout in adobe photoshop. Images will be found from research and investigation via the Internet and class resources. Each term for the elements of design will be illustrated and applied by cutting, formatting and placing the examples into a composite (the example below is simply one example, you will create your own)

Part 2 – Students will generate their own examples of each term using techniques learned in class with photoshop.

Part 2B – Students will generate a Poster combining all 16 vocabulary terms with accompanying images. (examples were shown in class) The poster size is open but I suggest keeping it smaller than 11″X17″

R&D – Where will you find visual inspiration and research? Add your links to the comments section below.

Production:

Students will prepare their final works in screen resolution format and  application on the web (RGB).

Project / Assignment Due Dates: 

We will be starting and working on and this project in class beginning 9/18. The project will be due, completed and submitted by next Wednesday 9/25.

Blank Template example of the layout. (not including the border around the image)

Assignment #1 – PostCard Design

We will be designing a standard sized Postcard to promote and communicate one of the following messages below (students must choose one)

1 – A cause or message that you are passionate about –

2 – An up and coming event that you would like to promote

Assignment Specifications:

Size: The final design will be 4″ X 6″ in size. (Students should decide on the arrangement of the height and width, will your postcard be a horizontal or vertical image? You will be designing both the front and back side of the post card with the full intention of mailing it so space must be allotted for the address and postal stamp.

R&D – Where will you find visual inspiration and research? Flickr ? NYPL Digital Archives ?

1 – Thumbnail sketches – Students will generate a series of 2-3 thumbnails sketches using a pencil / pen and their sketchbooks to brain storm and illustrate their process.

2 – Roughs – Students will select from the 2-3 strongest thumbnail sketches and develop them into 1 rough scaled to the 4″X6″ size in pencil or “other medium”.

3 – Not mandatory but students will be encouraged to produce a final comprehensive pencil rendering scaled to size ready for scanning and application using photoshop. Students will experiment with various image manipulating techniques and styles to develop contrasts and visual interest.

Students will prepare their final work for both print out put in (CMYK) as well as presentation and application on the web (RGB).

*See week #1’s blog post for resources and useful info.

What images will you be referencing and using? Where did you find them? Are they free to use, if so, how do you know? Please bring all of your resources and research to class. Thumbnail studies and a rough lay out.

Project / Assignment Due Dates:

The final Post card will be worked on in class on 9/11 the final version of the Postcard is due on Wednesday 9/18 via e-mail to [email protected] as a high resolution.JPG file

Welcome to the BMCC OpenLab!

BMCC’s OpenLab is an online platform where the College’s students, faculty and staff can come together to learn, work, play and share ideas.

Powered by:

Illustrator Project Ideas to Work

Table of Contents

Are you searching for Adobe Illustrator tutorials? There are numerous of them in this article. Not just any tutorials but the best and most thorough Adobe Illustrator tutorials.

What exactly is Adobe Illustrator ? For a long, Adobe Illustrator was the preferred application for many graphic designers; today, despite the emergence of various competitors, Adobe Illustrator remains the top choice.

This article provides excellent Adobe tutorials for beginners if you haven’t been able to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator but would like to. This article is a beautiful place to start if you want information about using Illustrator.

You can find a variety of new and some older Adobe Illustrator tutorials in this post. In addition, Adobe Illustrator can be learned and amazing illustrator art and drawing techniques.

We will leave you here with these Illustrator tutorials, tips, and strategies so you can develop your Adobe Illustrator skills.

Adobe Illustrator Tutorials to Check Out

Your ability to execute the most challenging digital graphics tasks will be demonstrated through complex Adobe Illustrator projects, and you’ll be able to offer a comprehensive portfolio of designs using the most advanced techniques.

So which are the best Adobe Illustrator tutorials? We’d all like to know the solution to it. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to locate cool Illustrator tutorials online. Each person has different preferences. Additionally, each of us may be seeking an Illustrator tutorial of varying levels of complexity.

While most individuals look for tutorials to teach them Adobe Illustrator basics, some have worked with the program extensively and are looking for the most sophisticated tutorials.

Following these instructions will quickly learn to utilize Illustrator and produce some fantastic digital art.

Create Stylish Vector Portraits

This guide is great if you want to make cool illustrations. For example, Eelco van den Berg shows you how to produce his incredible vector portraits by converting a photo into a “poppy” vector illustration.

You’ll learn how to make quick and straightforward Photoshop alterations to artwork before turning it into vector shapes.

Then, using layers to organize the photographs and your new vector artwork, he demonstrates how to trace the basic shapes using Illustrator’s primary tools. A fantastic option to select if you want to use Illustrator to create vector drawings.

Design Vinyl Wall Stickers

It’s understandable why wall decals are so well-liked right now because they’re entertaining, inexpensive, and a simple way to enhance a space. In addition, bringing your artwork from Adobe Illustrator into a room is incredibly thrilling from a designer’s perspective.

Ben the Illustrator demonstrates how to proceed from an initial concept to mounting a printed vinyl decal on the wall of your choice in this AI tutorial. You can learn how to create illustrator designs for children’s rooms, kitchens, baths, or even your living room.

You’ll learn how to create artwork that looks stunning in its surroundings and how to design for a particular wall.

Additionally, there is information on how to get your artwork printed and everything you require to ensure that your efforts don’t go in vain when implementing your new design. Finally, this is an excellent option if you want to add stickers to your collection of Adobe artworks.

Create a Death Goddess Inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead

Want to create precise, accurate line art with a hand-drawn edge? Not sure whether to use a drawing tablet in Photoshop or the pen tool in Illustrator?

Digital illustrator and “part-time thrasher” Chris Parks has all the solutions and more in this video with his unique tattoo-style Illustrator designs. This is one of the best illustrator tutorials for learning fantasy art and design.

Create Lush, Glossy Vector Images

Although it’s simple to think of vectors as having flat shapes, it needn’t be challenging when creating Illustrator images with actual depth.

In this tutorial, Thomas Burden demonstrates how to use a straightforward color scheme and fundamental blur effects, notably Illustrator’s built-in Gaussian Blur effects, to create striking, vibrant work.

Along the way, you’ll discover how to use essential Illustrator and Photoshop to design endearing figures and elements and give simple shapes life. This is one of the best digital illustration tutorials using Illustrator.

Create Colorful Vector Character Art

This lesson will show you how to develop a digital illustration from an initial sketch. The steps required to finish a piece of work in Adobe Illustrator will be shown, along with instructions on how to manage vector paths to generate rounded angles.

In addition, this tutorial demonstrates the steps necessary to convert a drawing into a vector, along with color modifications, depth, and composition. This is one of the best illustrators’ tutorials on vector drawing.

Add Depth to Your Vector Art

Even with all the features and capabilities Adobe Illustrator has, it may still be challenging to give your photos a feeling of mood and depth. Frequently, they can appear two-dimensional and flat.

In this vector graphics, Ben Steers, a vector artist from Bristol, will walk you through the steps he took to create his piece, Gone Karting. He’ll show you how he overcame this problem using gradient effects and opacity masks. This is one of the top vector lessons on the market.

Design Retro Isometric Artwork

Although vector illustrations can create self-explanatory, accurate graphics, the finished pieces sometimes lack some character. Here, Mark Oliver makes those crisp, precise shapes before “grubbing” them for a more natural, vintage appearance. Additionally, he provides a method for quickly transforming shapes to meet a predefined isometric projection.

If your illustration complies with the projection used, you can alter this guide to work on it. After importing a 150dpi greyscale scan of your drawing, carry out the following procedures. Check out this Adobe tutorial if you’re interested in discovering fresh digital art concepts.

How to Create a Pencil Pattern Brush in Adobe Illustrator

You will learn how to create a pencil pattern brush in Adobe Illustrator in the stages that follow in this tutorial. You will first learn how to build a simple grid and make the key shapes using basic tools and shapes.

You will then discover how to make your pattern brush and save two straightforward designs. Finally, you’ll discover how to use this brush to create a straightforward text effect. This tutorial is fantastic if you’re interested in learning how to draw with Illustrator.

Master Dynamic Gradient Techniques

Many pieces of art that appear complex are constructed of straightforward components. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, Russian artist Alexandra Zutto demonstrates how to meticulously layer and build up simple, straightforward portions, constantly varying them to minimize monotony to create complex beautiful images .

How to Create a Stylised Strawberry Icon in Adobe Illustrator

This  quick tip explains how to design strong icons in Adobe Illustrator. I have selected a fruit, namely a strawberry, which we will enjoy dipped in chocolate, as the focus of our small case study. This fun tutorial will teach you a lot if you plan to use Illustrator to make icons.

How to Create a Hand Whisk using Gradients and Blends

Today, using Adobe Illustrator, we’ll use this digital graphics lesson to make a vector hand whisk.

To produce a semi-realistic illustration you might utilize in a range of Adobe Illustrator projects, we’ll be using Gradients and Blends and some clever Clipping Masks.

Texture Tricks with Vector Artwork

Vector illustrations can benefit from the depth and palpable quality that texture can bring. In this video, illustrator Jeffrey Bowman discloses his methods to create texture in his illustrations in Illustrator and how he does so.

You’ll discover how to use image tracing to convert scanned textures into vectors so that you may use clipping masks to add them to your illustration efficiently.

Additionally, Jeffrey will go through how to add brush strokes to sharp vector edges to give your artwork a hand-drawn appearance. This is an excellent tutorial for any art illustrator that is intrigued.

How to Create a Punk Nouveau Mermaid in Adobe Illustrator

This Adobe Illustrator tutorial will show you how to create a mermaid who loves anything punk rock and can be purchased at Spencer’s or Hot Topic near you.

In this adobe Illustrator tutorial, you’ll be exploring the mind-blowing realm of color and form, from her Hello Kitty belly button ring to her wild and untamable quaff of blue-green hair.

Create Symmetrical Vector Character Art

With characters built of precise, symmetrical vector shapes that resemble virtually clockwork and a finishing touch that evokes woodcuts, Jonny Wan’s distinctive, fresh illustrations manage to appear both mechanical and handmade.

In this vector art illustrator tutorial, learn how to mix, merge, and manipulate ships in Illustrator to create an intricate illustration based on a Russian doll.

T-shirt Design in Illustrator Using Owl and Skull Vector Art

Maverick illustrator Hydro74, also known as Joshua Smith, has a distinctive style that combines the symmetry and patterns of vector art with the broad, clear lines of graffiti. Here, he walks you through the process of creating his most recent piece, which combines the owl—this season’s art icon—with his usual motifs of swirls and skulls.

As you follow this course, you’ll learn several tips and techniques to work in Illustrator more quickly and produce better artwork.

You’ll learn how to hone your line art creative skills, use flat fills for shading, and use color approaches with constrained palettes (to keep printing costs down). Use this guide to make fantastic illustrator graphics.

Design an Isometric Infographic

The isometric projection, a singular vision devoid of perspective, does not occur in nature. Contrary to reality, everything in the foreground and background are the same size, giving an isometric composition its distinctive look.

In this vector drawing, illustrator Tim Smith details some fascinating but surprisingly straightforward theories underlying isometric projection. This excellent lesson on how to use Adobe Illustrator CC to its full potential.

He brings up his expertise in using this technique to create illustrations with a funny narrative. Finally, he offers insightful tips and tactics to help easily pull off detailed isometric illustrations.

Create 3D-type Art in Illustrator

For whatever reason, many graphic designers shy about adopting 3D because they believe architects, animators, and product designers are more appropriate technology users.

In truth, Illustrator includes specific fundamental 3D effects that, as Jing Zhang demonstrates in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, may be used to create surprisingly detailed, expert-looking images. With the help of this tutorial, you can make some awesome illustrator designs.

How to Create a Conceptual Portrait Using the Scribble Effect in Adobe Illustrator

In this lesson, I’ll demonstrate how to make a vector graphic in Adobe Illustrator that has a sketchy look. A few techniques will be covered to get the desired effects, including Gradient, Roughen, and Scribble. It is a fantastic decision from a variety of vector illustrator tutorials.

Create Cool Infographics

Infographics, like the one to the left, are great visual tools for conveying many facts. They deconstruct massive volumes of abstract data, contextualize it, and turn it into tangible and useful knowledge.

An infographic can be a unique and endearing approach for the viewer to learn and access material with a bit of personality and fun. The essential information is shown, and the underlying message matters most.

Therefore, all additional components should support and further the viewer’s understanding of the main message. Check out these fascinating Adobe Illustrator tutorials to learn how to create captivating infographics.

How to Create a Stylish Deer with Brushes and Graphic Styles in Adobe Illustrator

This Adobe Illustrator tutorial will demonstrate how to draw a deer using our original Art Brushes, Graphic Styles, and Blends. This is an excellent illustration from the post with Adobe Illustrator tutorials. This is an excellent guide to choose if you want to create creative Adobe Illustrator projects.

Illustrator Full Spectrum Spirograph

We should start by letting you know that this is one of the ways you can make these kinds of shapes. Additionally, although not a replica of Andy’s design, this shape comes close.

We just attempted to figure out how to describe things in a way everyone might understand. In this handy tutorial, learn the best and most advanced illustrator techniques.

Create Quirky Repeating Patterns

I make things (also known as Andrew Groves to his mother) demonstrate how to create a repeat pattern using map-like graphics in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial. He employs simple shapes and icons to illustrate geographical features from a birds-eye perspective, much like OS maps.

However, unlike an official map, Imakethings uses bright colors and adds a few creatures here and there to create a whimsical, magical landscape. The map tiles make a recurring image that could be applied to any number of surfaces. This simple Illustrator tutorial will help you to create exciting designs. Check out the difference between graphic design and illustration .

Creative Shapes for Logo Design

Here, the always-informative Dansky looks at how to advance forms. He provides a variety of methods that you may use to work with tools like gradients, opacity, and the Shape Builder tool to change basic shapes into more complicated shapes.

Check here for more details.

Create an App Icon

Another detailed guide from Matthew Pizzi demonstrates how to design an Illustrator calculator app icon . The Pen tool, various shape tools, and 3D capabilities of Adobe Illustrator CC will be used.

Create Valentine’s Card in Illustrator

The following tutorial for Adobe Illustrator is another one. Discover how to use the basic shapes in Adobe Illustrator to make a couple of adorable and simple kids’ illustrations of a car and an airplane.

Incorporate a plaid appearance, cloth texture, and stitching effect into each graphic by drawing influence from handcrafted artwork. This one is one of the best Adobe Illustrator practice projects for budding artists.

Pose Characters Using the New Puppet Warp Tool

Ben O’Brien explains how to utilize the Puppet Warp tool in this Illustrator tutorial, including how to use all of its features. In addition, he will demonstrate how to rig characters in advance of posing with the tool, how to use it to adjust graphic lines or objects, and how to leverage your abilities to give a character personality. Check out the difference between Illustrator and Photoshop .

Use the Kuler iPhone App to Develop a Colour Scheme for Use in Adobe Illustrator CC

Ben the Illustrator will walk you through setting up Kuler and using your color palettes in Illustrator in this tutorial. We’ll also go through the Picture Brush tool in Illustrator CC, which allows us to apply a jpg or bmp image to a brushstroke.

Get to Know Adobe Illustrator’s Drawing Tools

This helpful article focuses on the numerous drawing tools that can be found in Illustrator’s Tools panel, each of which gives you the ability to create in a different method. After studying the tutorial, you will have a solid grasp of how to use the Pen tool, Pencil tool, Curvature tool, and Paintbrush tool.

Create a Multi-Exposure Image

Ruslan Khasanov develops a multi-exposure illustration to convey the idea of multilocalism in this Adobe Illustrator tutorial. He describes how he used Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator CC, Dimension, Adobe Stock, and conventional paints to complete the project from conception to finished artwork. To learn how to produce a multi-exposure image, refer to the tutorial.

Design a Vector Pencil Cartoon Character

In this lesson, I’ll walk you through each stage of creating a character in Adobe Illustrator using a simple sketch template as a reference. Then, we’re planning to create a wacky, multicolored pen character for the artwork.

You might be shocked to learn that I created the picture for this vector tutorial by only using essential shape tools, pathfinder commands, and transformation instructions. This technique demonstrates how to turn a sketch into a vector piece quickly. These excellent illustrator tutorials will teach you a variety of illustrator skills.

Create a Tropical Pattern

Practiced Illustrator skills include simple shapes, painting, pathfinder, and vector graphics.

You’ll set up a grid to build elements in Adobe Illustrator to make a tropical pattern. You will also use the Shape Builder Tool, Warp Effects, Pen Tool, Pattern Tool, and geometric shapes in your creation process. This project is excellent for designing a fabric pattern that can be used in interior and fashion design.

How to Design a Cheeky Koala Mascot Head

This tutorial will demonstrate how to combine basic shapes with deft color into blending to create a stunning koala creature.

We’ll utilize some brushes, gradients, effects, opacity masks, and a simple shading method that you’ll likely use in many more Adobe Illustrator projects. This is an excellent resource for individuals looking to master graphic design illustrator skills in Adobe Illustrator.

Illustrator Type Technique Using Shapes

We frequently receive inquiries from readers asking if we might provide a lesson on how to design a particular logo. We believe that because it is so specialized, it would make poor tutorial material. The actual design and the creative process are challenging, not how Illustrator handles it.

However, we believe some elements are self-explanatory, such as a logo comprising letters you create using circles, straightforward forms, and lines of uniform thickness. The method we are thinking of only works for logos with a limited number of characters—ideally no more than five—in them. This one will be the perfect option if you’re looking for simple Adobe Illustrator logo tutorials. It also stands or falls depending on the characters at hand, for example, if o’s and other circular shapes are present.

How to Make a Flat Screen HDTV in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will be guided through the steps of creating a lovely flat-screen HDTV. This can be excellent for showcasing pictures or movies ly improving your Illustrator abilities. We’ll use several tools, such as the Pathfinder Palette and the Gradient Palette. Let’s start working on some outstanding Adobe Illustrator illustrations!

Create a Stylized Avocado in Illustrator

In this article on vector graphics, we’ll show you how to make a sliced avocado using straightforward shapes, blends, and textures. The delicious light green avocado filling, as well as the inner core, will be designed.

Create a Stunning Retro Futuristic Typography

There is no need to look further if you want to practice producing retro designs with Illustrator. Retro-futuristic design is a return to and appreciation for the futuristic images created in the past, both in science fiction and contemporary nonfiction, frequently appearing out of date by today’s standards. Yet, we constantly work to build a better future. Imagine a more compelling one.

How to Draw a Vector Kiwi

Ever pondered using Illustrator to create a vector kiwi? Well, I did, and this is what I thought of. We will show you how to achieve it using effects like Texturizer, Pointillize, Grain, and Film Grain in this Illustrator tutorial on vector art. We hope this tutorial has helped you learn something new.

Create An Awesome Space Rocket Avatar in Illustrator

What? You don’t yet have a personal avatar, do you? Use this tutorial to fix the problem promptly. First, we’ll create a glossy, awesome-looking space rocket using sophisticated methods in Adobe Illustrator, such as gradient meshes, pattern brushes, and opacity masks. Then, we’ll add a flare, smoke, clouds, and sky for a colorful illustration. Are you prepared to learn Adobe Illustrator? Then, utilize this excellent tutorial to learn sophisticated illustrator techniques.

Create a Realistic Candy Bar in Illustrator

It’s simple to create realistic renderings in Adobe Illustrator.

Maintaining and editing vectors forever is a significant benefit over raster objects.

A bold and striking finish may be produced with a few straightforward adjustments from the Effects menu and a rudimentary understanding of object rendering.

You will be guided step-by-step through the steps necessary to build a realistic candy bar using Illustrator in this unique Wendy Ding tutorial for WDD. This excellent tutorial can assist you if you’re interested in learning how to improve illustrations.

Create an old TDK cassette

Are any of those in your home? Many individuals still use them nowadays, even if they are regarded as retroelements.

Since retro fashion is currently quite popular, they are also so lovely! This tutorial will quickly demonstrate how to construct a regular D-C60 TDk cassette. This is one of the most effective Adobe courses available online.

How Can I Learn Illustrator Fast?

The easiest way to learn Adobe Illustrator quickly is to enroll in a well-regarded Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp or use Illustrator lessons that cover a range of creative approaches. The most excellent method to master Adobe Illustrator is to put your skills into practice by working on various projects.

How Do I Practice In Illustrator?

You may find many fantastic Adobe Illustrator tutorials online that you can use to hone your vector-drawing abilities. Start with simple tasks that utilize Adobe Illustrator’s primary features. Then, start honing your skills with rudimentary figures, shapes, the curvature tool, vector pathways, and patterns. You can also experiment with simple tools like the Pen Tool and vector elements.

What Is Adobe Illustrator Mostly Used For?

Using colors, shapes, text, and various effects, Adobe Illustrator may create various designs, including logos, icons, simple shapes, and digital art. After mastering digital art and illustrator skills, you might consider studying graphic design.

What Can You Create In Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is a very effective tool for creating a wide range of vector designs and graphics. You may use forms, colors, text, and various other elements with Adobe Illustrator to make anything from simple shapes to intricate vector artwork. Illustrations, posters, logo design, and icon design are some of the most often used design tasks in Illustrator.

Are You Still Find the Adobe Illustrator Tutorial Difficult?

Adobe Illustrator can first seem intimidating if you’re new to digital graphics. However, building your fundamental vector skills via practice with little projects is the best method to learn Adobe Illustrator.

Although not everyone has a passion for design, there is always a way out. All Time Design is the way out.

With its experienced designers helping you design your brand, you can be sure to get top-notch designs. Also, during the creative process of your company project, you get to idealize and relate to these creative techniques and ideas stated above.

This can help sharpen your illustrator skills with a substantial understanding of the pen tool, simple shapes, and other design elements.

All Time Design can be your tutor and creator today. Sign up for a 14-day free trial to get a taste of what the brand offers.

Related articles

Ready to create more designs for lesser costs? ‍

Assignment 1 - Adobe illustrator

Creative Fields

Graphic Design

Illustration

• Graphic Designer

No use is allowed without explicit permission from owner

A complete guide to Adobe Illustrator's AI tools

T he genie's out of the bottle – it seems that AI is here to stay. With Illustrator's new generative features (see our Illustrator 24 review ), it's a good time to try out AI tech in your workflow, particularly for idea generation or mockups. Jump from imagination to screen to print with our tutorials that explain each tool below.

Text-to-Vector Graphic enables you to generate vector graphics from text prompt, Recolor uses AI to shift your colour scheme in an instant, Mockup puts your design in situ on a 3D product and Retype allows you to select a font and find the closest matches for your own designs. 

Here, I have created a step-by-step tutorial for each of these tools, and you can use the side-nav to skip ahead to the one you want to read. Afterwards, check out the raft of other Illustrator tutorials we've collated.

Text to Vector Graphic

Even a complete beginner can conjure up a fantastical illustration in minutes, generating intricate vector graphics from even the most basic of text prompts. As a professional, you might want to use these to generate ideas, or to provide a rough mockup of your idea to clients before working on the real thing. It’s fun to experiment with and fully editable once created. The only limit is your own imagination.

01. Open the window

Text to Vector Graphic is still in beta and not immediately available in the Illustrator interface, but can be accessed via the Properties panel, Window > Text to Vector Graphic. Alternatively, activate the Contextual Bar in Window > Contextual Bar. This will remain switched on indefinitely and appears beneath any object or frame selected. Initiate the process by drawing a frame. Since you’ll end up with a scalable vector graphic, size isn’t too important, but it's worth keeping the aspect ratio in mind, for example drawing a square for Instagram post or 16:9 for video.

02. Select the type of object

If you’re using the Contextual bar, press the Generate (beta) button to open the options (this isn’t needed in the Properties panel). Select the item you wish to create – Scene, Subject, Icon or Pattern. For an illustration, it can be better to start with Scene, so you have an idea of the space and perspective available.

03. Type in text prompts

Add as many text prompts as you like – the more information provided, the better the graphic (though you don't want to add too many and confuse it). Consider the setting, style, time of day and detail. An example prompt would be “Art Deco colourful mountain landscape at dusk with a treeline, road and snow.” If you wish to adopt the style of a pre-existing artwork, then you can drop it onto the Canvas and reference it with the Style Picker tool. The Properties panel also gives you some extra sample prompts and a slider to change the level of detail (set at 3/5 as default).

04. Review the results

Any time you press the Generate button, you will be presented with three new, unique results. Cycle through these using the arrows in the Contextual bar or by previewing the thumbnails in the Properties panel. It’s still common enough to encounter erroneous results that clearly lack the human touch, so don’t forget to rate your results, the tool will only improve with constant feedback.

If none of the results meet your requirements, simply press the generate button again to get three new graphics or make edits to your current text prompts to refine the generation parameters. Every time you press Generate, you lose some credits from your Adobe account. Don’t worry about running out, you'll still be able to use AI tools, but they will work at a slower rate.

05. Build your scene

Add to your scene by including objects or characters. Any content created will automatically conform to the style of the active artboard, though you can switch this option off in the properties panel. Finding enough elements that suit the perspective of your scene can be a process of trial and error, so be patient and don’t be afraid of adapting your vision.

06. Clean up your graphic

If you’re only using this tool as a rough storyboard then you might be done at this point. However some of the vectors can still be rough, so this is the time to go in and clean up the details. Often an element may come with a false shadow that needs deleting or imprecise shapes that need smoothing or replacing.

Generative Recolour

After mastering the Text to Vector process, you might find that your creation requires an entire shift in tone. Avoid complicated colour theory and the laborious process of editing each colour by giving the software a few simple cues and letting it do the rest.

01. Open the Recolor window

Select your entire scene or graphic. When the Contextual bar appears, click the Recolor button and select the Generative Recolor tab in the Recolor panel. You can find the same panel in Edit > Edit Colors.

02. Sample prompts

A grid of Sample Prompts offer guidance for anyone feeling particularly uninspired. These give you a brief overview of potential contrasting tones and moods and might spark some ideas.

03. Type text prompts

If you're confident of the theme you're aiming for, type in some basic prompts into the text bar and press Generate. As with the Text to Vector effect, you're presented with three results, which you can toggle through and select any successful blends. There are more Advanced Options for people wanting to customise their colour scheme even more.

Unlike the other tools here, it works offline and doesn’t utilise Firefly, but it is itself a beautifully impressive use of technology (and currently the only one here I use in a professional capacity). It uses AI to place a 2D image in situ on your choice of 3D settings, like a mug, so you can see how your design will work in reality.

In the past, I have relied on 3D renders in Blender to mock up product packaging, however Illustrator makes it possible to achieve similar results in a fraction of the time. 

01. Source image

Source an image. You can download directly into Illustrator from Adobe stock, take from an online image library or use your own image. Drag these onto the Canvas.

02. Generate Mockup

Select both your graphic and the image. Go to Object > Mockup > Make. It will analyse the image and map the graphic onto the image, taking the contours and curves into account.

03. Position graphic

Move your graphic around the image, until it fits your desired position. For a more realistic look, you can change the blending mode of the graphic to Multiply, so it adopts more of the colour of the image underneath.

Retype allows you to identify an outlined font in a static graphic and convert it into editable text. It searches Adobe Fonts as well as the font set on your own computer. While it doesn't always find the perfect match, it offers many similar fonts that might work just as well.

01. Select outlined text and Retype

Open a flat graphic in Illustrator. Select it and go to Type > Retype (Beta). This will analyse the text in the graphic and offer you a list of closest matching fonts.

02. Edit text

If you're happy that a font in the list is identical or a close enough match, click on the font to download it or double click on the text to edit it. Once it's converted to live text, exit Retype to edit the text.

For more Adobe tips and tricks, see our list of Illustrator plugins and Adobe software list . Don't have Creative Cloud? Sign up below:

Adobe Community

• グローバルコミュニティ
• 日本語コミュニティ 日本語話者専用のコミュニティ
• 한국 커뮤니티 韓国語話者専用のコミュニティ
• Acrobatフォーラム

illustratorで作ったpdfがacrobatで更新されない。

リンクをクリップボードにコピー

never-displayed