Digital Illustration: Make A Custom Character Illustration

Learn How To Use Adobe Illustrator CC to Create Custom Designs & Illustrations For Your Online Products

Created byCory K

Last updated 11/2015

English

What you'll learn

Learn the Basics of Adobe Illustrator CC
Develop Concept Sketches & Turn It Into A Digital Illustration
Create Fluid Vector Graphics (Logo, Character Illustration, Etc.)
Make Infinitely Scalable Artwork that you can put on business cards, ads, post cards, or even a billboard!
Use the Pen Tool to Make the Line Work of a Sketch
Use the Pathfinder Tool to Unite Vectors & Make Complex Shapes
Use The Reflector Tool to Manipulate Artwork
Import Sketches Into A Computer
Save & Export Artwork for Upload to the Internet

Course content

3 sections • 14 lectures • 1h 14m total length

Tools & Software1:43
This lecture covers all the tools you need, and even talks about things you can add later to increase your digital illustration work flow.
A Look Ahead At The Project We're Going To Make1:46
This lecture shows you what we're going to make, which is the exact course image that was created for this Digital Illustration course.
Get Sketching Inspiration from This App3:19
Get a look into my creative work flow. Learn how I use a popular smartphone app to gather multiple references for inspiration, as I develop the base sketch used to make our final project.

How I Scan My Project Sketch Into My Computer3:10
This lecture is the first step of the Digital Illustration process: scanning your sketch into your computer. This lecture is to serve as an example for how you can also use a regular consumer printer/scanner to get your sketch into the computer. This lecture does not cover the entirety of printers and scanners out there. You should take this lecture as example of the process. Please use the power of Google to research any necessary info related to scanning your sketch into your personal computer using your personal printer/scanner.
Activity: The Project File to Follow the Course Without Drawing or a Scanner1:00
Step 1: Create Project File in Adobe Illustrator CC5:52
In this Lecture, we setup our file for the Illustration by placing our sketch into Adobe Illustrator. Then we set the background and sketch layer. We also go through some basic interface things, and finish up by saving our document.
Step 2: Prep The File For Illustration6:32
In this video we create the individual layers for our character, so that everything is laid out in order and ready to have shapes created inside them. I also introduce what vectors are, and get you ready to start creating complex shapes in the next lecture.
Step 3, Part 1: Using the Pen Tool & Pathfinder To Create Fox's Face14:29
In this Lecture, we move into illustration phase. We will begin plotting vector points and making smooth lines to achieve the complex shapes of the fox. I will show you the basics of using Adobe Illustrator's Pen Tool, how to copy and make duplicate shapes, how to manipulate shapes using the Reflect Tool, then finally unite shapes using the Pathfinder Tool.
Step 3, Part 2: Completing the Face & How to Make Adjustments15:55
This is part 2 of Step 3. In this lecture, we complete the face, chin fur, and fix some key points of our illustration.
Step 4: Creating the Fox's Body & Tail9:16
This video shows how I create the final shapes for the fox illustration.
Step 5: How To Color Digital Illustration Using Eye Dropper & Image3:47
Since all of our layers have been completely organized from the beginning of our project, the coloring phase is super quick. It's the fun part. The illustration truly comes to life in this phase. Let me show you the eye dropper tool and how to grab color from a photo.
Step 6: Make Finishing Touches, Import Logo, Export for Web6:02
In this lecture we color the background, import the Adobe Illustrator logo, and also center everything, making sure it's aligned to the art board.
Test Yourself On Adobe Illustrator's Tools!

Requirements

Sketch Pad, Paper, or something to draw on
You will need basic to intermediate drawing capability. This course will show you how to digitally illustrate a sketch that you make on your own, but you will need to make a sketch on your own first.
Pencil
Access to the internet (either on a smartphone or a computer)
Computer (This course uses Mac and covers all relevant course tasks using a Mac, but other computer brand users are welcome. DISCLAIMER: Though most things are similar when it comes to Mac vs PC, some interface operations and command keys will be different, and is expected that non-Mac users will search out questions related to those differences on their own. This course will not cover non-Mac related questions.)
Scanner (In this course I use a Canon MG3100 to Scan in my artwork. Most scanners will be similar to course process. DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of each individual student to seek out questions regarding their Printer/Scanner model on their own. The Instructor can't possibly know how each printer is suppose to operate, and it will not be covered within the scope of this course.)

Description

Design your own Character Illustration using Adobe Illustrator CC. Learn how to quickly develop a hand-drawn sketch to cultivate a custom design, then discover how to take that refined sketch into your personal computer to digitally illustrate it. This course will show you how to take just a few simple tools and create a high-quality & professional product that you can use to promote yourself online.

Become a Digital Illustrator in under an hour! Learn Adobe’s best software tools to achieve the look your going for. From using Adobe’s Pen Tool to create liquid-smooth vector lines, to using the Reflector tool in order to manipulate your artwork's contours, then pulling everything together, using the Pathfinder tool to unite your full character Illustration!

Design Custom High-Quality Illustrations, Digitize them like a Professional, And Use Your Work For Digital Products on Business Cards, Tshirt Designs, Etsy Items, Online Ads, or even Promotion!

Learn my Personal Digital Illustration process
Discover how to synthesize inspiration to develop an original idea
Learn Adobe Illustrator CC's best tools and project workflow
Understand how to translate hand drawn items into digital products
Learn how to effectively layer your digital elements and bring a design to completion

Digital Illustration is all over the web. We see in smartphone apps, website design, clothing goods, handmade item websites... Tons of current online marketplaces - from Threadless, Society 6, Etsy, Zazzle, TeeSpring and a plethora of other websites make their profits because digital design makes HIGHLY attractive products. Digital illustration is one of the best ways to make your work get noticed online, and even make money online from your own products if you get good enough at it. Digital Illustration is an art form for the modern age. Creating digital products of your own to sell, distribute, and brand yourself is essential in today's online business and commerce. Digital Illustration takes your products to the next level, and gives you the customization simple clip art cannot do.

Put the power in your own hands, and learn how to use your personal computer to create some design magic. Add to your répertoire of creative ability. Tap into world-leading software. Absorb effective design methods. Learn a workflow that can impact your work and products immediately.

Who this course is for:

Anyone Who Wants to Create Fun & Simple Character Digital Illustrations
This course isn't for those that don't enjoy learning new software

Digital Illustration: Make A Custom Character Illustration

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Sketching Your Design3 lectures • 7min

The Digital Illustration Process!9 lectures • 1hr 6min

You Did It!2 lectures • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: