Week 6

dx/Illustration: Blending Effects

First, I'll do a follow me demo. Then, follow and complete these tutorials, #1, #2 (basics), and #3 (cool effect). Place all on the same page as a jpg and upload to the D2L folder.

Further Study:

This is a very powerful and fun, easy tool, but to fully grasp what all it can do, check out these additional videos.

dX-Brushes & Patterns

Utilizing the Brush Tool and the built in brushes or using ones you download, gives you a wide range of styles and looks. The 5 main brush types are:

• Calligraphic (like a quill pen dipped in ink)

• Scatter (stamps a pattern scattered along the stroke path)

• Art (stretches any vector shape along the stroke path)

• Bristle (like a real brush, mimics natural paint brush strokes)

• Pattern (uses up to 5 separate patterns for straight sections, corner sections, end sections, think of the roads in Sim City)

• Symbol Sprayer (not technically a brush but acts like a spray can full of any symbol you wish...like a can of glitter spray)

Take a look at this comprehensive article on Illustrator brushes; read sections 1-4, skip over the sections on how to make your own brushes (come back to these if you are interested), but check out the brush collections at the end. Take time out to go through (play with!) ALL the brushes and see what they all do as shown in the inclass demo. Then using the 5 main brush types + the Symbol Sprayer and create a Work of Art utilizing ALL 6 types of brushes, letter size horiz or vert is fine. Must use all 6 types!!!

Collections of Illustrator brushes found here, here and here. Many more are available via Google search; Brushes,   Patterns,   Styles,   Symbols

Note: Whether you're making fairy dust flowing from a magic wand or cereal in a bowl or flourish around a border or background graphic elements or a colorful abstract or a corporate logo, the Brush Tool can help. Probably no tool in the Illustrator toolbox has as many options and potential for creativity as the Brush Tool. Take your time to familiarize yourself with this powerhouse! 

Expert Tip: Creating your own brushes is easy but takes a little time, but for those who wish, do this basic and easy tutorial first then learn how to make your own pattern here.

Further Study: Check out these examples here and videos here. Various Illustrator brushes and Illustrator patterns.