Archive for February, 2011
50 Fresh And Useful Adobe Illustrator Tutorials
Adobe Illustrator is a great tool for the graphic designers if used properly. With the help of Adobe Illustrator, you can attain accomplishment that human beings will have a high regard for.
In today’s post, we are showcasing useful step by step tutorials that will guide you through the process of how to use this powerful tool. These tutorials have been created by professional graphic designers so I am sure that you will be benefited from this collection.
Vector Retro Television
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a stylish retro television in Adobe Illustrator. You will learn how to draw basic shapes, modify them and apply gradient and gradient mesh for more realism. Hope you enjoy this illustrator tutorial.
Creating Scalable Textures Within Illustrator
In this tutorial artist will show you a way to achieve texture in your vector art without the need of raster assistance.
Create a Green Viscous Text Effect
In the following tutorial expand an existing font, use illustrator’s 3D tools to add dimension, and then add a green viscous text effect. If you want to add a fun, vector text effect to your portfolio, then get started now.
How to Create an Inspirational Poster Design
In this tutorial we will create a poster in the style of PSA.
Make a Headphones Icon Using Adobe Illustrator
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a realistic image of headphones using simple and understandable techniques. It turns out that to get a good result there is no need to do it in a complex way. This tutorial is easy for any beginner to complete.
Create Winter Festival Brushes in Illustrator CS
In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a holly, ivy and a berry brush to create a Winter Festival wreath. The brushes aren’t limited to this and can be used in pieces of vector art and decorations.
How To Create a Beautiful Vector Portrait in Illustrator
Follow this step by step tutorial for the making of my first vector art portrait of Tron Legacy’s Quorra. Learn how the portrait is carefully traced and vectorized in Adobe Illustrator to create an interesting vexel style design.
How To Create a Mexican Lucha Libre Mask Pin Badge
Follow this step by step Illustrator tutorial to create a Mexican Lucha Libre inspired badge design.
Create a Cute Vector Reindeer Character in Illustrator
Follow this step by step process to design a cute little vector reindeer character.
Creating pins in Illustrator
Pins are popular these days, In this tutorial, you will learn how to create pins in Illustrator.
Create Grainy Textures
Creating grainy textures are great for retro illustrations, typography, and logos. Alternatively, you can incorporate these effects into compelling new styles. You can always scan in similar textures and Live Trace them in Illustrator, but you can pretty easily create this type of effect all inside Illustrator!
Creating Seamless Textures
One of the great things about using the techniques in this tutorial is you can easily create a seamless texture without having to mask out a texture or make sure it will fit your artwork properly. Moreover, we are going to be using to Appearance panel so we can easily make a graphic style, making it easy to apply the effects to other text and vector objects.
Create A Mouthwatering Chocolate Covered Strawberry
In this Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a mouthwatering chocolate-covered strawberry.
Design an Underwater Clown Fish Tutorial in Illustrator
In this tutorial I will show you how to create a beautiful clown fish illustration inside Adobe Illustrator CS4. This is an intermediate tutorial and it requires some pen drawing skills. Let’s begin.
Create a Classic, Sailing Ship in Illustrator CS5
In this tutorial artist will show how to create a sailing ship illustration with a story book style, using the Gradient Mesh to make the cloth of the boat’s sails.
Make a Delicious Sandwich with Easy 3D Illustration Techniques
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a 3D sandwich using easy to understand steps and techniques. We will use the 3D Extrude & Revolve Tool with some simple shapes to make a tasty looking BLT sandwich.
How to Create a Three-dimensional Airplane with Adobe Illustrator
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed three-dimensional image of an Airplane based on two two-dimensional plans. The knowledge acquired will help you to simulate a three-dimensional image of many different complex objects.
Getting Carried Away with Balloon Lettering
If there are balloons near by, you’ve probably had or will be having some fun. I love balloons! So in this tutorial I will cover the process of creating some illustrative shiny balloon lettering. You will also learn how to create rounded, semi-transparent, bubble letters that will make up the basis of the balloon lettering. Let’s have some fun!
Create a Tiger Striped Cat with Illustrator
I’d like to have a cat here in Krakow but there’s too much responsibility attached to such a pet. Until I decide to put up with that, vector cats will have to do. Here’s how to create one in Illustrator.
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!
Cafe Style Coffee Art in Adobe Illustrator
In this Illustrator tutorial I will explain step by step how I created the “Delicious Coffee” illustration which was published in “1000 Restaurant, bar & café graphics” by Rockport Publishing.
Create Lady Birds Insect Tutorial Using Adobe Illustrator
Lady birds, is there any other insect that symbolize the prosperity and freshness of the nature more? You can find these cute being almost anywhere and they won’t ever cause anything but cheers. In this tutorial artist will show you how to create a cool lady bird using Adobe Illustrator.
Create an Illustration of a Pearl-Filled Clam on an Ocean Bed
In this tutorial, we will 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!
Reflections Done Right – Creating a Money Roll Icon
Cash-in when you follow this tutorial for creating accurate and logical reflections. Artist will cover how to use shading and masking to create an illustration that’s worth the look.
How to Create an Elegant, Vector Pen in Illustrator
In this tutorial, artist will show you how to draw a vector pen, in an elegant box using Illustrator. We’ll pull out the Pen Tool, Rectangle Tool, and gradients in this one. Let’s see the final result which is our goal.
Create a Valentines Day Illustration for Your Sweetie
In this tutorial we will learn to create a cheerful character and lovely, colorful bubbles. Use this knowledge to create a darling Valentine’s Day card for your sweetie. We’ll cover numerous techniques and build this illustrations step by step.
How to Make an Attractive Vector Butterfly
In this tutorial artist will show you how to make a vector butterfly using the blending mode from transparency box and the gradient mesh. The techniques shown in this tutorial will help you make shades on objects and liquid transition of colors.
How to Illustrate a Marvelous Violin Icon
This tutorial covers how basic shapes and a solid understanding of perspective and volume work together to quickly build a successful icon.
Create a Laptop Icon with Illustrator
In this tutorial you can learn to create a laptop icon. Once you’ve created the basic shapes, it’s easy to continue with the other components. Give it a try and you might learn some interesting stuff about the role of Smart Guides and Rectangular Grid Tool.
Vector “Guarantee” badge tutorial
In this tutorial you will learn how to make those awesome, shiny little web 2.0 badges that say ” Money back Guarantee”, “Satisfaction Guarantee” and etc. Good thing about these badges is that if you use them on a website, you’ll make the website look much more trusted and professional.
Design a Dexter Vector Illustration
In this tutorial we will learn how to Design a Dexter Vector Illustration.
Create a Feather Brush and Set of Detailed Wings in Illustrator
In this tutorial artist is going to show you how to create a feather art brush. You’ll then learn how to use it to create a set of angel wings, which can be added to your illustrations.
Create a Glowing Neon Sign using the Appearance Palette – Screencast
This tutorial shows the potential the Appearance Palette in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be building an elaborate neon sign, utilizing the Appearance Palette to speed up the process and remove the need of drawing complex paths.
Vector Drums Kit
In this tutorial you will learn how to draw a professional drums kit from scratch. By the end, you will know how to make a tripod stand, drums, different types of cymbals and also how to create the texture for the drums. Hope you will find this easy to follow and useful. Enjoy.
DRAW REALISTIC LIQUIDS IN VECTOR ART
Creating convincing liquid effects in vector illustration can be a tricky business. Luckily, Jing Zhang has provided us with this tutorial that shows you how to make a real splash with your art.
Disco Lights in Illustrator
Here is a nice technique to make 3D Disco Ball or Lights in Adobe Illustrator. Some new commands and technique for you to work out. So enjoy.
Learn to Create a Variety of Beveled Lettering
In this tutorial artist will walk you through creating your own calligram inspired by a dog named Poppy. You’ll learn how to manipulate a typeface through to rendering fur, adding doggy features, and various details.
Create a vector stop watch icon
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a vector stop watch icon in Adobe Illustrator. The tutorial is covering all the steps needed to create a great looking, realistic stop watch. Only the basic tools in Illustrator such as Ellipse, Rectangle, Gradient and transformations are used to achieve the result you see here.
Create a Painterly Apple with Illustrator CS5’s new Bristle Brush
The new Bristle Brush in Illustrator CS5 gives you the best of both worlds: The painterly effects of real media and the control and flexibility of a vector drawing. We’ll use another new feature in CS5, the “Draw Inside” drawing mode, which will let us do what every artist likes to do — color outside the lines. Let’s get started!
Create a Print Ready Business Card Design in Illustrator
Illustrator has fantastic tools available for creating small print designs such as business cards. Follow this walkthrough on how to create a fun business card design complete with illustrated character.
How To Create a Repeating Camo Pattern in Illustrator
In this tutorial artist is going to show you how the camo designs were created and how the pattern file was made so it would seamlessly repeat.
An Illustrator’s Project: From Start to Finish
In this tutorial, artist will walk you through the steps of how to create an illustration art piece so that you can witness what goes behind a digital illustrator’s work, as well as gain some new insights for your own projects’ workflow.
CREATING A SHIELD USING ILLUSTRATOR
This tutorial shows you how to create a shield design with Path Tools using Illustrator
Create an add to cart/basket/bag button
In this tutorial artist will show how to create one of the most common buttons. He made three buttons with similar design but different icon and text. Follow this fast tutorial and you will learn to create an add to cart, basket or bag button.
CREATE A GRAFFITI IN INKSCAPE – TUTORIAL
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a graffiti in inkscape.
Retro 3D Arcade Text Effect in Illustrator
In this tutorial we’ll make clever use of Illustrators built in 3D capabilities, gradients and opacity masks to design a Retro 3D Type Effect.
Creating a Mysterious Cheshire Cat in Adobe Illustrator – Vector Premium Tutorial
In this detailed tutorial you will learn how to manipulate a reference image to help with your initial illustration and how to use custom brushes to create a fur effect.
How to Create Candy Cane Typography with Photoshop and Illustrator
In this tutorial we will create a superb candy cane type design using Illustrator and Photoshop. Apply this effect to your own text and create cool and unique Christmas cards!
How to Illustrate Deliciously Realistic Grapes using Simple Techniques
In this tutorial we will learn how to illustrate a bunch of grapes using basic Adobe Illustrator tools. You will learn how to render multiple light sources and how to model a complex object using simple shapes and techniques. Let’s get started.
How to Illustrate an Elegant Bottle of Wine in a Gift Box
In this tutorial you will learn how to create your own gift box of wine using the Rectangle Tool, Pen, 3D Revolve and Gradients.
Reasons Why People Who Work With Computers Seem To Have Lot Of Spare Time (Cartoon)
I have nothing to say about this comic illustration because when you look at it, you will naturally enjoy these situations. As you might have to face any of these from your computer professional employees, relatives, friends or even found yourself giving these popular arguments to your boss.
This cartoon was designed by The world of jaymz . We would love to know what you are thinking while viewing this illustration. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
Don’t Forget To Check These:
Look! I Am A Programmer (Comic)
How Programmer Reacts On Different Situations (Cartoon Strip)
What It’s Like to Be a Programmer
WordPress Themes Giveaway From TemplateMonster
TemplateMonster is running a contest, where 8 winners will get the WordPress theme of his choice. Well, you guys know what they are offering? Lets say it once again for n00bs.
We are thrilled to be partnering with TemplateMonster project for the initiative and support of their WordPress promo campaign. And now we announce the beginning of a new interesting WordPress Lottery that will target the variety of professional WordPress themes available at TemplateMonster and give our readers one in a lifetime chance to get their favorite WordPress templates for free!
As a powerful web platform, WordPress is now managing various facets of web design, including blog sphere, portfolios, design galleries, online business activities and even eShops. So, if you need a quick makeover of your website – this is a real opportunity to bring your project a valuable solution that drives efficient results and expands functionality.
This contest will run from February 7, 2011 to February 12, 2011 and we will select the winners randomly by running MySQL query. Result can be announced any day before February 14, 2011 so keep visiting here or subscribe to our rss feed to get the latest updates. To participate in the contest and win WordPress theme from TemplateMonster, All you have to do is :
1. All you have to do is choose – out of all WordPress Templates available at TemplateMonster – one theme that you like most and then drop us its ID here in the comments section giving the reasons for your preference with your name.
2. Use valid email ID in the email box.
3. Make sure that you are following @SmashingApps on twitter and subscribe our rss feed to track this contest and for future updates.
4. And that’s it!
So what are you waiting for now? Let’s participate in the contest and good luck!
8 Totally Awesome Apps That Can Turn Your iPhone Into What It’s Not
No matter how many applications you have installed on your iOS device, you are always on the lookout for the next free and fun iOS app and specially for those apps that may make your iPhone more useful for you. Thanks to countless iOS developers you have a plethora of such apps to choose from. To save your time that would otherwise be spent on searching for these apps, we present a wonderful list of free and useful iOS applications for iPhone users.
You are welcome if you want to share more amazing apps for iPhone that our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter as well.
Genius Scan
Genius Scan turns your iPhone into a pocket scanner. Fast and streamlined, Genius Scan enables you to quickly scan documents on-the-go, send the scans by email or whole documents as PDF. Unlike other scanner applications, Genius Scan is lightning fast and user input is kept to a minimum.
Coin Flip
Wanna flip a coin for a hard decision? This app let you select your favorite coins to try your luck. The coins in iPhone will flip just like real coins flipping in the air. You can even use your iPhone to toss a coin with the same gesture tossing a real coin. The coins are beautiful, making you feel even better than tossing real coins.
Brightest Flashlight
Brightest Flashlight Free is a great flashlight that offers you all the convenience of a Flashlight for your iPhone, iPod and iPad. This is very handy for night time illumination. You can use Flashlight Free not only as a Flashlight, but as a night light and reading lamp as well.
USB Disk
USB Disk lets you store and view documents on your iPhone and iPod. It has an amazing built in document viewer and is very easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface, yet it contains many powerful features. You can drag and drop files in iTunes to transfer them to your iPhone / iPod, then view them anywhere.
Compass
Compass is a a measuring instrument which indicates the cardinal points under the sunlight. Put your finger in the middle of the compass and line it’s shadow up with the app’s shading.
TV Remote
This application is Wi-Fi remote control of Samsung Internet@TV for 2010. If both your iPhone and TV were connected to the same access point, your iPhone is linked with TV automatically and you can use your iPhone like general remote.
Mirror in your pocket
We all need to check our hair or makeup sometimes and this application is here to help. Just tilt the mirror properly so that you can get a good light from behind, you will then be able to perfectly see your reflection in the black background of the mirror.
Metal Detector
MetalDetector is a app for iphone 3Gs. It use the magnetometer to measure the magnetic field when the iphone is placed near a feromagnetic metal like iron or steel.
Congratulations To The Winners Of WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack
Thanks to all of the participants of contest in which you could win WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack. We ran the MySql random query and selected these commenter to give them WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack of 7 Software.
- HBOY
- Mr. S
- Winnetou Haeberle
- Lee
- Mike M
WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack is an amazingly useful bundle of seven excellent software that may help you in your daily routine. This is a limited time special offer bundle for the multimedia software lovers. This unbeatable bundle contains 7 WinX software naming as:
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, WinX HD Video Coverter Deluxe, DAPlayer, WinX DVD Author, WinX iPhone Ringtone Maker, WinX Bluray DVD iPhone Ripper and WinX iPhone Video Converter. This is an all-in-one solution to play Blu-ray/DVD/HD videos, rip/copy/burn DVD, convert HD/regular videos, create iPhone ringtone and watch DVD, MKV, M2TS, AVI, on iPhone.
Congratulations to all the winners from SmashingApps.Com. All of the winners will be contacted in few days. If you are not winner at this time so please be patient and keep visiting here or subscribe to our rss feed, you can follow us on twitter because we are coming up with another new great contest later on today.
Thanks to WinX DVD for sponsoring this wonderful contest at Smashing Apps.
If you want to conduct any contest at Smashing Apps just contact us and send us all the details.
The Massive Size Of Google (Infographic)
Who would have thought that an experimental research project that was initially presented by the Standford’s students will transform the world wide web and become a unbeatable giant of the modern technology that rules the world. Yes, I am talking about Google which started it’s journey in 1996 and now became a leader of search engines. Till now it gets so many faces and expanded like an open sky. But there are so many of us who love to see the statistics. Here, we have found an infographic in which you can see the massive size of Google in numbers.
This infographic was designed by Computer School. We would love to know what you are thinking while viewing this infographic. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter. Click here for the larger view.
10 Addictive Games That (ACTUALLY) Demonstrate The Power Of HTML5 Technology
Wondering how to have fun on the internet? One obvious way is to play online games. And it may double your fun when you found these HTML5 based browser games which are worth checking out. There are many games out there, but getting by free and good ones is not that easy specially when it’s about html5 technology. That is why I am sharing 10 Addictive Games That Demonstrate The Power Of HTML5 Technology. Read each entry in the list and see which tool suits your needs best.
You are welcome if you want to share more html5 games that our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com, just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter and follow us on Digg as well to get updated.
Pirates Love Daisies
Pirates Love Daisies is a tower defense game, developed using JavaScript and HTML5 features, many of which are not supported by older browsers.
Gridshock
This special version of Gridshock runs entirely on HTML5, using a bit of the DOM, a lot of canvas, a little local stroage, and some audio too. Flash Player is not used by the game in any way.
Crystal Galaxy
Crystal Galaxy is an action space shooter game. It has a unique, mouse based control scheme that allows you to move and aim your ship in any direction. The object is to get through the levels without dying, shoot enemies, and collect as many power-up crystals as you can.
jqueryRacing
This is a nice looking 2d racing game with career mode and different cars to feel the heat of track on your modern web browsers,
Red Shooting Hood
This is a game about a Little Red Shooting Hood on her way through the forest to the grandma’s cottage. She wasn’t afraid of the hordes of wolves living deep in the forest as she always carried her machine gun with her to battle with them.
WordSquared
A massively multiplayer online word game which can be considered as a popular word solving game “Scrable”.
Z-War
This is a tower defense tank game. You just need to stop the enemies from invading your base and go further.
Google Pacman
This is a copy of Google’s playable Pacman game logo hosted for Pacman’s 30th Anniversary.
Sketchout
Sketchout is another powerful game with awesome visuals that was created with the Open Web Platform and HTML5. In this game you need to protect your planet from attacking aliens.
Agent 008 Ball
This is an online pool game. It uses HTML5 to render the game elements. The visual quality of this game is really high and professional looking which would make you feel quite interesting to play.
7 Coolest Apps To Do Amazing Things With Your Photos
There are many apps out there for you, but getting by free and good ones is not that easy. Today, we are sharing the 7 Coolest Apps To Do Amazing Things With Your Photos. Read each entry in the list and see which tool suits your needs best.
You are welcome if you want to share more useful apps to give excellent effects on photos that our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com, just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter and follow us on Digg as well to get updated.
FotoFuze
FotoFuze lets you make professional product photography out of ordinary photographs from ordinary cameras at absolutely no cost.
FotoFlexer
FotoFlexer is one of the most advanced online digital photo editor. It performs advanced effects previously only available to professionals using expensive software.
Hollywood Makeover
With Hollywood Hair Makeover, you can try on your favorite star styles and colors before you make a trip to the salon. Just upload your photo or choose a model and let the transformations begin. Print your favorite looks and e-mail them to friends.
PicArtia
PicArtia helps you to create your photo mosaic online for free. It is popular for being fast, easy and free. Photo Mosaics are great gifts for friends, family members and even yours. Most of our users would print it in large size and use it as a poster for their office or room wall. Some users even use it in their blogs, websites or post it as an online gift to their friends on different occasions like school gatherings or birthdays.
piZap
piZap.com is a free online photo editor featuring fun free photo effects, photo stickers and one click effects for your digital photos. Grab your digital cameras and start taking photos. You can easily create wacky images with your digital
pictures to impress your friends etc.
BeFunky
BeFunky simplifies photo editing and effects for everyday people. Here, you can choose from their constantly growing library of photo effects to turn your ordinary photos into extraordinary art with virtually no effort.
Rollip
This is a great online tool which retains the high quality of the photo after the final result. It has many effects available that are very easy to use.
WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack (7 Software) Giveaway
WinX DVD is running a contest, where 5 winners will get the WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack that includes seven software for all of your DVD, Blu-ray and video collection needs. Well, you guys know what WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack is? Lets say it once again for n00bs.
WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack is an amazingly useful bundle of seven excellent software that may help you in your daily routine. This is a limited time special offer bundle for the multimedia software lovers. This unbeatable bundle contains 7 WinX software naming as:
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum, WinX HD Video Coverter Deluxe, DAPlayer, WinX DVD Author, WinX iPhone Ringtone Maker, WinX Bluray DVD iPhone Ripper and WinX iPhone Video Converter. This is an all-in-one solution to play Blu-ray/DVD/HD videos, rip/copy/burn DVD, convert HD/regular videos, create iPhone ringtone and watch DVD, MKV, M2TS, AVI, on iPhone.
This contest will run from February 3, 2011 to February 6, 2011 and we will select the winners randomly by running MySQL query. Result can be announced any day before February 10, 2011 so keep visiting here or subscribe to our rss feed to get the latest updates. To participate in the contest and win WinX 2011 New Year Gift Pack, All you have to do is :
1. Just leave a comment with your name.
2. Use valid email ID in the email box.
3. Make sure that you are following @SmashingApps on twitter and subscribe our rss feed to track this contest and for future updates.
4. And that’s it!
So what are you waiting for now? Let’s participate in the contest and good luck!
An Illustrated Evolution Of Media Content (Infographic)
Recently, I have found an infographic “Content – an illustrated history” created by Sheldrake & Karoshikula who creatively illustrated the history of media content from cave paintings to this digital era.
“Who would have thought thirty years ago that the Internet would go mainstream and the World Wide Web would transform content business models (and many other business models come to that) so radically? I am fascinated with the history of media and content, its present and its future, and being a communicator I wanted to share my awe in a way that would prompt others to share it with their friends and family. So I joined forces with Nic Hinton, an outstanding illustrator, to design “Content – an illustrated history”.” Sheldrak Said on his blog.
We would love to know what you are thinking while viewing this infographic. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
