vector.tutsplus.com Tutorials

Create Audio Waveforms with the Scribble Effect
Some people might think of Illustrator's Scribble effect as child's play. In fact, one of its presets is called "Childlike." But by tweaking its custom settings, the Scribble effect can be used to produce an infinite array of visual effects some with a single line. This is an easy tutorial that will get you started with the Scribble effect. What you do with it after that is limited only by your imagination .

Create a Set of Shiny Character Eyes
This tutorial will teach you how to create detailed vector eyes that can be used for all sorts of character design projects. The techniques used here are basic and the processes quick and simple, but the result looks great.

Create a Vector Tree with Custom Brushes and the Gradient Mesh Tool
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a leaf-filled, vector tree - step by step. Some of the techniques we'll use are custom made brushes to create the leaves, and Gradient Mesh Tool for creating light and shadows.

Create a Pearl-Filled Clam on an Ocean Bed
Plunge with me on a vector ocean dive. In this tutorial, we'll create a shell with pearls in a unique ocean scene. We'll be using various effects, such as: mesh, blend, warp, clipping mask, opacity mask, depth of sharpness, editing of swatches, and pathfinder box. Have fun diving in and then surfacing!

Three Ways to Create Celtic Knots
In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create magical Celtic knots. Ornaments accompanied Celts in life and in death. Ornaments decorated clothes, books, furniture, ware, weapons, and gravestones. I'll show you three ways to create Celtic knots in vector - from simple to the difficult. The last techniques allows one to create knots of any complexity.

How to Make Super-Sharp, Vector Swords
In this tutorial I'll show you how to draw a sword in Illustrator, using the Rectangle Tool, gradients, and other Illustrator tools. Actually the tutorial isn't very hard, let's see the final result that is our goal first!

Create a Cute Retro-Flavored Teddy Bear with the Gradient Mesh Tool
In this tutorial, you'll learn how you can easily add a retro feeling to your creations. We'll also cover techniques such as using gradient mesh tool to add inner shadows to your objects, which gives them a subtle rounding while keeping your artwork scalable. Let's learn how to make a character head of a retro circus bear, then you can apply these techniques in your own work!

How to Create an Electronic Piano
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make your own realistic, electronic piano in Illustrator. We'll create quite a few shapes and apply various gradients and blends to make this vector instrument. Even though it's a bit of work to put all this together, the techniques used in this tutorial are fairly simple. Set aside a couple hours for this one!

The Making of GUI Design Icons Font
Icons are inseparable part of a GUI (graphical user interfaces) design. I was downloading, buying and creating icons for ages, then one day I decided to make my own usable icon set. Something to help other GUI designers make work faster and better. This article explains in detail the process of creating and phases I was going through with this project, and may act as guidance when you decide to make something similar. I went down more than one creative path before finalizing this "GUI Design Icons" font.

Creating a Toaster-Popping Illustration
With this tutorial, learn how to apply some effects not often used in Illustrator, like the Chrome effect, which is used to create metallic look with a realistic aspect. Also, notable in this tutorial is the use of Texturizer to create toast texture. We will also use 3D effect and the Mesh tool, which bring depth to the this illustration.

Learn to Create a Financial Crisis, Vector Illustration
Fitting for these tough financial times, learn step by step how to create this turbulent vector illustrations. Numerous Illustrator tools are used to create this illustration. We'll use Symbols to add texture to the land are, the Mesh Tool for the sky, 3D effect to compose the skyscrapers, the Twirl Tool for the tornado, and Warp effect for the dollars. We'll cover alot of ground in this tutorial, faster than a businessman escaping to the bahamans!

Create a Code-Style T-Shirt Design for Website Promotion
In this tutorial, we will design a promotional T-shirt for a website that is exclusively created for PHP enthusiasts.

Create a Stylized Avocado
In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a cut avocado with simple shapes, blends, and textures. We'll design both the outer skin, yummy light green avocado filling, and the inner core.

How to Create Stereo Headphone Plugs
In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a headphone plugs with cables using gradients. The techniques covered in this tutorial can be used to create other types of wires and electrical equipment as well.

Create Colorful, Layered Paper Type
In winter, here in the Ukraine it's rather cold and snowy, I oftentimes find myself creating colorful illustrations that compensate for the cold weather. I will show you how to brighten your mood by creating vivid illustrations with layered paper text and ribbons. We'll create custom type and use Illustrator effects extensively to optimize our work.

Use Illustrator to Create a Fun, 3D, Character Logo
In this tutorial we'll use illustrators 3D tool to create text with depth. We'll give the letters personality by placing them at angles and choosing a fun font. We'll add a crazy rabbit character and unify all the colors as we add simple shading. Lastly, we'll give this fun logo a sticker effect.

Smoothly Shift Winter Colors
Handle color changes and variations with ease by following this intermediate level tutorial. This is a special tutorial sponsored by Astute Graphics that incorporates the use of their high-quality Phantasm CS range Illustrator Pugins. We'll work with Phantasm's color shifting tools: Hue/Saturation and and Shift to Color, while we learn to contrast shapes when composing natural, vector scenes!61

How to Create a Vector Goldfish in Six Steps
In this tutorial I'll show you the process I use for creating a vector goldfish in six easy steps. The steps are a bit condensed so Intermediate Illustrator users will benefit greatly, though beginners will be able to get similar results, you'll just need to experiment a bit more with these tools and techniques. The vector goldfish is created with the use of the Mesh, Blend and Symbol Tools.

How to Create a Curious Owl
One of my favorite TV shows of all time is Twin Peaks and one of its most memorable lines is "The owls are not what they seem." Inspired by that ominous truth I decided to create a little illustration. I chose a rather non-spooky scene set at dusk, with a curious owl sitting on a branch and some scenery in the background.

How to Create Vintage Vector Bottle Caps
In this tutorial I will show you how to create a vector bottle cap in Illustrator CS4 using some basic shapes, gradients, and effects. This tutorial is for beginners and is quite simple. It will demonstrate how the layering of shapes with different gradients applied to them can give you a nice sense of depth.