Tutorial: Create a High Contrast Vector Portrait

In this tutorial, we’re going to explain how to convert a photograph into a simplified vector portrait. This technique can be handy if you’re printing in limited flat colors, need to upsize a small photo, or even just to add some graphic and cartoony pizazz to that photo! (And yeah, that’s yours truly looking bored on the phone!) Click here to read more…

 Difficulty Level: Beginner

New Article on iStock: The Layered Look

In this article, the amazing Cheryl Graham (‘freetransform’ on iStock) tells you absolutely everything you need to know about layers in Adobe Illustrator. Click here to read more!

Tutorial: Quick and Easy Character Shading

It’s surprisingly easy to add depth and dimension flat-colored illustrations, without using gradients. In this tutorial we’re going to show you some fast and simple tricks on how to subtly shade objects. Click here to read!

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

New Article: Recoloring Artwork by Mordy Golding

Vector guru Mordy Golding, author of numerous Adobe Illustrator books and Lynda.com video tutorials pops by iStock to share some tips on recoloring artwork. Click here to read more!

Tutorial: Draw a Face Using Simple Shapes

Illustrator comes bundled with plenty of basic shapes: circles, squares, stars, etc. Anyone can ‘draw’ a cute star with the click of a button. So what? Well, with a little know-how and creativity you can easily use these simple shapes to create great illustrations. In this tutorial, we’re going to create a very simple smiling face using Illustrator’s Ellipse Shape Tool (and a little point tweaking with the pen tool). Click here to read more!

 Difficulty Level: Beginner

Tutorial: Creating a Vector from a Reference Photo

In this tutorial, we’re going to draw an old-fashioned typewriter loosely based on a reference photograph. We’re not going to be tracing the photo directly, only using it to help us figure out how to shade and place our object. Click here to read more!

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate+

New Article on iStock: Autotracing Do’s and Don’ts

This edition of Points & Paths, by Cheryl Graham, talks about Autotraces and what you can and can’t do with them. Click here to read more!

Handy Keyboard Shortcuts for Adobe® Illustrator®

Drawing in Illustrator while continually clicking back and forth to your Toolbar to change your options is a drag. We strongly suggest that you take a few minutes to memorize keyboard commands: it’ll save time and help reduce strain on your mouse (or tablet!) hand. Click here to read!

Tutorial: How to Use the Pen Tool

Making the leap from traditional illustration mediums (pencil, pen and ink, paints, etc) to vectors is tough. Your first foray into vector software can leave you frustrated, disappointed and confused. In this tutorial, we’re going to start at the drawing board and show you how the Pen Tool works, rather than make you struggle to figure it out on your own. Click here to read more!

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner

Tutorial: Creating a Custom Scatter Brush

Ever spent hours copying, pasting, and repositioning shapes to create a pattern? No more! In this tutorial, we’re going to add a trail of sparkles to our fairy’s wand using a custom brush.

 

 

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate

New Article on iStock: Rasterizing Vectors in Photoshop

This article by Cheryl Graham covers the basics of opening a vector EPS file into Adobe Photoshop. Click here to read!

Tutorial: Using the Transform Effects

One of the best time-saving tools in Illustrator is the Transform Effect. When we think back to the hours we’ve wasted over the years tediously copying and pasting objects, then modifying each one, we thank our lucky stars we found this Effect. This tutorial shows you how it works!

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate

New Article on iStock: Open Paths

The amazing Cheryl Graham, iStock’s Illustration article genius, has just launched a new issue of Points & Paths. This week’s edition covers the dreaded Open Shapes issue. Click here to read her article, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to contribute to Microstock.

Tutorial: Creating a Seamless Pattern

In this tutorial, the lovely Diane Labombarbe (aka ‘diane555’ on iStockphoto.com) has kindly volunteered to show you how she makes her beautiful seamless vector patterns. You can check out her work at www.istockphoto.com/diane555. Click here to view!

 

 Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Tutorial: Creating a Watercolor Effect

In this tutorial, the amazing Aliaksandr Stsiazhyn (aka ‘Spotblind’ on iStockphoto.com) is here to teach us the secret behind his lovely watercolor style vectors. Check out more of his work on his website, www.spotvector.com, and his iStock portfolio, www.istockphoto.com/spotblind.

 

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

Tutorial: Drawing an Apple

I drew a file the other day to upload to iStock when it occurred to me: This is a great example of how to use the Pencil tool and Pathfinder tools. Hence this tutorial, click here to view!

 

 

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

Vector Newbie Tips for Microstock Applications

In the iStockphoto Critique Request Forums, we often see illustrators confounded after their contributor application was declined.  As an administrator on iStockphoto, I’ve heard literally thousands of complaints and questions regarding microstock applications, so I figured it was about time to compile some of the most commonly experienced rejection reasons in one place!

Tutorial: Converting a photo into a vector

People sometimes assume that using an autotrace feature (such as LiveTrace) is the best way to convert a photograph into vector artwork. Sure, autotraces are easy and fast… But you can get MUCH better results with a little elbow grease. Click here to find out how!

 Difficulty Level: Beginner+

Tutorial: The Pathfinder Palette

My nomination for the ‘most useful ever’ tool in Adobe Illustrator is, of course, the Pathfinder. Here’s a guide to which tool does what, as well as some suggestions on how they can be useful as you draw. Click here to read more!

Tutorial: Reflections Without Transparencies

One of the most common complaints when newbies start to illustrate for microstock is ‘How come I can’t use transparencies? I see tons of files on the site that have them, so why can’t I use them?’ Well, the thing is, all the transparencies you see on iStock aren’t really transparencies. They’ve been faked. Here’s one way to fake a transparent reflection (without actually using transparencies). Click here to find out how!

 Difficulty Level: Advanced