Most
of the designers use Illustrator not only for interface and mockups
designing but also for the design of entire projects for websites,
print. Even if you feel like you have mastered all the tools in
Illustrator perfectly, the truth is there is always scope for
improvement. In this blog, we have provided a list of tips and
techniques to shelp individuals streamline the vector art workflow,
speed up their illustration work and fine tune the common techniques
they will be using.
Whatever
the type of project, the ability to work proficiently in Illustrator
means accomplishing the desired tasks in a day. It's also about
completing work as quickly as possible and maximizing the
productivity of your working time.
- Plan in Advance
Always
remember to start the illustration work with a pencil drawing. The
aim should be to produce a clean, finished sketch from the outset,
ensuring that no time will be wasted in Illustrator later on. So,
plan everything in advance, draw every single detail, perfect the
composition and ask the client to sign it off before start working on
the Illustrator.
- Know Some of the best Tools for Tracing
It’s
always good to know which tool to use when. For example: Pen tool can
be quite time-consuming. If you are looking for smooth lines then
Pencil tool can be a faster option. For certain kind of artwork,
Image Trace can also be useful. Place your scanned image into the Art board, select it and click Object>Image Trace>Make and
Expand.
- Speedy Copy and Paste
If
any design uses elements which are repetitive, they need to be
created only once. Create the line work, select it, hold down
the Opt/Alt key
and drag a copy of the group. With the selection of object, one can
hold down the Shift key
to enable rotate or resize the object while keeping it in proportion.
- Try to Use Shortcuts
Knowing
shortcuts for every tool you use is important as it can fasten the
work. Learning all shortcuts can save hours of time over the course
of a project. The control bar changes as per different tools,
offering the option of performing common functions associated with a
particular tool.
- Save Your Colors
Colour
Group plays an important role if one needs to speed up the colouring
process, where all the related swatches can be stored. Simply click
the 'New Colour Group' icon at the bottom of the Swatches panel and
drag all the required colours into the folder.
- Alignment is Everything
Always
make sure your elements are perfectly aligned. The smartest and
rapidest method to do this is to select the elements which requires
alignment, it is always recommended to use the Alignment keys which
appears on the Control bar to make them properly aligned. These will
appear automatically when two or more elements are selected.
- Creating Effects
The
Blend tool can be used for creating a series of lines between any two
objects, blending one into another. Select the Blend tool, click both
of the lines and the blend will be created. Settings can be adjusted
by double-clicking the icon in the Tools panel.
Hope
these tips will be of some help! Illustrator is a great tool and
implementing the above-mentioned tips can be helpful in re-using
objects, symbols, styles which are already created, thus improving
the overall workflow. The best way to learn techniques of Adobe Illustrator is joining any professional graphic design institute
which can impart training from basic to advanced level. If you know
would like to share some other great illustrator tips or know some
keyboard shortcuts, don’t hesitate to leave a comment.
