tinyurl.com/AIADLI2024
CONTENTS
SETUP
After creating a New Document make sure to title your project A then adjust the general measurement to "Inches" B and change the width to 8.5" and height to 11" C. Adjust your color mode if it is in CMYK to RGB D and then click "Done" E.
Once the Document opens got to "Window>Workspace>Essentials Classic."
Here are the names of the areas we will be accessing during this tutorial. Below is a list of "Hot Keys" that access different tools or actions. Knowing them is not necessary, but as you use the program you will find them more useful.
HOT KEYS
- A - Selection Tool
- V - Direct Selection Tool
- P - Pen Tool
- T - Type Tool
- M - Rectangle Tool
- L - Ellipse Tool
- SHIFT + M - Shape Builder
- CMD/CTRL + C - Copy
- CMD/CTRL + V - Paste
- CMD/CTRL + SHIFT + P - Place Image
- CMD/CTRL + S - Save
- SHIFT + X - Switch Fill and Stroke
- CMD/CTRL + [ - Move down one layer
- CMD/CTRL + SHIFT + [ - Move to bottom layer
- CMD/CTRL + ] - Move up one layer
- CMD/CTRL + SHIFT + ] - Move to top layer
Creating the Body
Select the "Rectangle Tool" (M) and click-and-drag to create a rectangle similar to the one above. After the rectangle was been created click and hold on one of the small circles that appear just inside the corners and pull inward to round the corners.
To access your color library go to "Window>Swatches."
These are default colors that you can apply to both the "Fill" and Stroke" of an object. You can also save custom colors to this library by dragging and dropping them there.
To create a custom "Fill" color "Double Click" on the Fill box in the Tool Bar and the "Color Picker" window will appear. Click and drag up and down on the slider to change the color in the window, from there you and click and drag to find the perfect color and then click "Ok."
Go to "Window>Stroke" to open the Stroke panel, where we can apply various effects to the Stroke of an object.
If no options are present click on the three lines in the upper corner of the panel and select "Show Options."
In the Stroke panel adjust the weight of the stroke to your liking and click on "Align to Outside."
Duplicate the rectangle by selecting it using the Selection Tool (V) and clicking "Edit>Copy - Edit>Paste in Front" or "Cmnd+C - Cmnd+F."
Move the Stroke alignment to the Inside A then double click on the stroke color B and select a slightly darker color in the Color Picker C.
Go to "Window>Layers" to access your Layers Panel.
Double click on "Layer 1" to re-title it, and click on the empty box next to the eye to lock it A. Next Click on the + in the box at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a new layer B, repeat the naming process with this layer titling it "Face."
New layers are added above the selected layer, and they can be dragged up or down in the layer stack.
Creating the Face
To access additional "Shape Tools" click-and-hold on the Rectangle Tool until the "Drawer" opens up A and select the "Ellipse Tool" (L). Click and drage to create two ovals for eyes, then change the fill to white and the stroke to black B.
Using the Ellipse Tool create three circles to compose the Iris, Pupil and Highlight of the eye A. Using the Selection Tool (V) and holding the Shift key select all three shapes and then group them using the floating Intuitive Bar B.
Copy and paste the group, then move it to the other eye.
Select the Pen tool (P) and set an anchor by clicking once on the left side of the face where the smile will begin, then click-and-drag on the right side of the face where the smile will end, dragging your cursor up and to the right to create a curve in the path. Once you are done hit Enter/Return on your keyboard to release the tool. Make sure to remove the fill from the line segment you just created by bringing the Fill box in your Tool Bar to the front, and selecting "None" from below it, it will be a white box with a red slash running through it diagonally.
In the Stroke panel you can add Rounded End Caps to the line segment if you like.
Using the Pen Tool (P) create a triangle shape with or without curved edges that resembles an exposed tooth A then assign the object a white fill B.
Using the Selection Tool "V" Click and drag over the facial features you created A. Next select Group from the floating intuitive bar to make sure they all move together B.
Lock the Face layer and create a new one, titling it "Horns."
Creating Horns
Using the Pen Tool (P) create a horn like shape A, then create a second shape that extends outside of that shape similar to the illustration above B. This second shape will be used to create a different color band in the horn.
Using the Selection Tool "V" make sure both objects are selected A, then choose the Shape Builder Tool "Shift+M" and click on the two segments that extend outside of the horn, this will cut them free of the horn shape.
Now that they are cut free, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select each of the pieces and press delete to remove them.
With the shape selected, click-and-hold on the Pen Tool to open the drawer and select the Anchor Point Tool "Shift+C." Click-and-hold in the middle of the line that spans across the horn, dragging it up and to the right causing the line to curve, repeat for the second line as well to create the feeling of a curved surface.
Assign the band a new Fill color of your choosing.
Group the two parts of the horn, then create a duplicate. Next click on "Object>Transform>Reflect" then select "Vertical" and Press "Ok" to mirror the horn.
With both the horns in place, access your Layers panel and drag the Layer titled "Horns" below the layer titled "Body." This will hide the overlapping portion of the horns, similar to stacking layers of cut paper.
Lock the Horns layer and create a new layer titled "Arms / Legs." This layer should be below the "Body" layer.
Creating the Arms & Legs
Use the Pen Tool (P) to create an arm similar to the one above A, make sure the shape is closed then assign it the same Fill and Stroke Color as the body B making sure the stroke is aligned to the outside C.
Create a copy of the arm and paste it in front, adjusting the stroke color and aligning it to the inside just as we did with the body A before grouping the two shapes. Create a copy of the arm and mirror it like we did with the horns and rotate it into a position you see fitting B.
Using the Ellipse Tool (L) create and oval that will become the monsters palm.
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A) click on the top anchor of the circle to engage it, the click-and-hold dragging it upward to distort the circle, repeat with the bottom anchor to create a shape similar to the one pictured above.
Using the Pencil Tool (N) click-and-hold dragging to create a claw like shape. Once finished move the shape behind the hand by clicking "Object>Arrange> Send to Back" or clicking "Cmnd+[" until the clay has been hidden by the hand.
To move objects up in a layer click "Cmnd+]". Objects inside of a layer can be moved up and down but cannot be adjusted outside of their assigned layer, to move them they would need to be cut and placed in a different layer or the whole layer would need to be moved in the Layers panel.
Copy and paste as many claws as you would like for the hand A then group them all together. Copy and paste them and move to the opposite hand B. then bring them to the front by clicking "Object>Arrange>Bring to Front" or "Cmnd+]" repeatedly until they appear in from of the opposite hand.
Using the Pen Tool (P) create a line for the leg and foot of your monster, then change the weight of line and select a different line "Profile" from the drop down menu.
Copy and paste the leg before mirroring it, then move them into position and you are done!
Use the tools and techniques we learned to add extra elements to you monster. Illustrator is all about stacking of layers, the more you add the more complex an image will appear, but the reality is you only need a handful of techniques to create rather impressive designs.