Today is the day! I’ve been putting it off for far too long: today I’m getting Adobe Illustrator. It really has become apparent to me that I need it for my work and I can’t get around that fact.
I’ve been trying to use other (simpler) software for the layperson like me, and I’ve tried to squeeze all the juice out of the editing programs I’ve tried, but it just doesn’t cut it.
Although I would consider myself pretty good not awful with computers, I have been putting off getting Illustrator because it scares the bajeezus out of me. I mean, this is a fancy schmancy vector software that I know approximately NADA about! That’s not intimidating at all. sarcasm alert
Here’s my plan:
- Get the dang software.
- Take 43947183 Skillshare classes (you get a free month when you first sign up, so I’ll be very busy this month! Sidenote: not sponsored)
- Practice, practice, practice!
- Probably write a novel about my journey to learn this fancy schmancy software.
- Finish novel before I actually learn how to use said fancy schmancy software.
- Finally learn how to use it in time to create the cover for my second novel about Illustrator on Illustrator.
- Celebrate.
Sounds doable! I’m sure you’ll be hearing – more like seeing – all about it on the blog once I get to make something worth showing.
I’m super excited/terrified and I’d love to know if you’re familiar with Illustrator and have any tips for me as I try to teach myself how to digitize my art. How did you learn Ai (Adobe Illustrator)? What tools helped you as you learned it?
If you don’t know how to use this program but would like to learn it, would you like to learn with me? If you’d like me to share tips and tricks I learn along the way let me know by commenting below, I’d love to have a learning buddy!
With lots of love,
When I first started using Illustrator I would grab images from the Internet and place them on a layer. Then with the pen tool, trace the image on another layer. It’s good practice to get the lines and curves how you want them 🙂 Good luck!
Thank you so much Aixa! That helps a lot, especially since I’m just starting out, I prefer not to use my own images or artwork in case, you know, I royally screw up haha! I appreciate your advice, thanks! 🙂
Once you get a hang of it, Illustrator is hands down the most amazing software ever!
As Aixa said above – tracing images is good, good practice! One of the best practices I found when first learning how to work with Illustrator was to trace a map of Michigan, NOTHING got me to learn the pen tool quite like that did! There’s a video on YouTube by a professor from Michigan State that walks you through it. Also! I can’t remember the name but one of the digitizing hand-lettering classes in Skillshare taught me SO much! It just goes over so many tools I wouldn’t have touch on my own, but now use them all the time even for non-hand lettering projects!
Thank you so much for your advice Fran! I’ll try the Michigan thing!
I’ve seen a few of the hand-lettering Skillshare classes and there are definitely some great ones that I’ll have to rewatch now! Just recently saw one on how to make a hand-lettered postcard that I really liked.
Thank you again, your comment means a lot!
I tried to figure out Illustrator when I was in school but I just got overly confused. Good luck!
I know it is extremely intimidating but I am sure the reward in your new skill and blog post will be amazing.
xx Falasha
Bite My Fashion ll Instagram ll Bloglovin’