Adobe Tutorials, Tips, & Tricks

Welcome to a Graphic Design tutorial channel. I am Cary Hawkins, a freelance graphic designer with 10+ years of experience. I focus on Adobe products including: Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Hire me here: http://www.vectormaid.com Song "Silhouettes" by Grant Stevens: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/silhouettes/405473272

How to kern text quickly and professionally in Adobe Illustrator. First, I'll go over the quick method. Then I'll show you other methods for kerning if you have the time and budget to do so. I'll also introduce a website-based game that ranks your ability to kern, so you can get some practice kerning. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/yFXPupK1uHQ Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com

Rotating an object or rotating multiple objects in Adobe Illustrator can be pretty straightforward, but there are several ways to rotate objects. The first two are pretty straightforward and intuitive, using the direct select tool and rotate object window, but the 3rd way to rotate objects independently (transform each option) might be a new option you've never tried that could save you a lot of design time on your next graphic design project. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/mpbkUFHOfI8 Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #rotateobject #adobeillustrator #tutorial

How to make reflections in Adobe Illustrator. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I'll show you how to make reflections of objects, so that it appears the object or text is lying on top of a shiny, mirror-like surface. I'll be using techniques from previous tutorials. Check those out here: 4 Ways to Reflect Objects in Adobe Illustrator Reflect Tool + Live Mirror https://youtu.be/gz_d4DT6M-I How to Diagonally Reflect with Reflect Tool in Adobe Illustrator https://youtu.be/UnY8Tyoqhn4 ________________________________________________________________________ Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/-0w00_PGRXg Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #reflectionsillustrator #reflectobject #illustrator

In this follow up mini-tutorial, I'll discuss how to use the reflect tool in Adobe Illustrator to create a mirror object along a diagonal line instead of a vertical or horizontal line. If you didn't catch my previous tutorial, and you aren't familiar with how to use reflect options in Illustrator, check it out first. Link is below. Check out the previous video: "4 Ways to Reflect Objects in lllustrator Reflect Tool + Live Mirror" https://youtu.be/gz_d4DT6M-I Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/UnY8Tyoqhn4 Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #reflecttool #diagonalreflect #illustrator

In this Adobe Illustrator Tutorial, I'll show you how to reflect an object using 4 different methods: first I'll show you how to use the Reflect Object Tool; second I'll show you how to reflect an object using the right-click options; thirdly I'll show you how to use the live mirror technique; and lastly I'll show you a more sophisticated version of the live mirror technique, which you can then apply to as intricate of a piece as you would like. Check out my follow-up tutorial, where I discuss reflecting objects diagonally instead of vertically or horizontally: https://youtu.be/gz_d4DT6M-I Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/gz_d4DT6M-I Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #reflecttool #livemirror #reflectobject

Are you missing panels, toolbars, or can't get your workspace to load correctly? Here's how to get everything back quickly and easily. If all of your toolbars and windows aren't opening up when you load illustrator, there are a couple of things that might be going on. First, you may just need to hit the tab key. Tab will turn on/off your toolbars and side windows to allow you to see more of your artboard. Also, the F key allows you to toggle full screen mode on and off - there are 3 settings for this, so cycle through them to pick your preference. Lastly, if none of that works, you probably need to reset your preferences by closing Illustrator and opening it again while holding Shift, Control, and Alt. This should clear out anything that's causing an issue, typically from a recent software update, but you'll have to go into your preferences and readjust them. Let me know if this was a helpful troubleshooting tutorial in the comments below Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com

How to make tables and forms using Adobe InDesign for the tables and Adobe Acrobat for the form fields. First, you'll make a text box and insert a table into it in InDesign. Then add the number of columns and rows that you desire, adjusting their color, stroke color, height and width. Once you have the table laid out how you want it, export it out as a PDF document. Open this in Acrobat and choose prepare form to auto-generate form fields. This isn't a perfect process, but it will save you a lot of time in most cases. Add other form fields as needed including: text fields, radio buttons, check boxes, drop downs, and more. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/Sp-00_Cmukk Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #tablesindesign #indesigntutorial #acrobatforms

How to wrap text around a circle in Adobe Illustrator. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I'll show you how to easily and quickly wrap text around a circle using the type on a path tool. This tool is especially helpful for creating logos, seals, and badges where text is often curving around a circle or rounded object of some sort. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/Vg-FQ3CaqTY Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #wraptext #adobeillustrator #textaroundcircle

How to match a 3D object with its background image in Adobe Dimension. In this Adobe Dimension tutorial, I'll show you how to quickly alter the angle and lighting of your 3D object to better fit the image in your background. Some images are quite easy to use, allowing Dimension to do all of the work for you with one button click. Other images may require some minor adjustments, and others may require you to do all of the work. I'll discuss all possibilities in this tutorial. Additional Adobe Dimension CC tutorials: Quick mockups in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/xchwC_9aCuI How to Make a 3D Lightsaber in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/UCrBJuBtbhA Custom 3D Objects in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/DE-AnFsBgEs Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #adobedimension #matchobjectwithbackground #3dobject

How to make a vector flag in Adobe Illustrator. First, I start off with a free vector flag which I'll link to below. Then I draw a rectangle the same size as the flag and split it into 3 sections. I take the middle section, and reduce it down to two lines that are curved. I then use these to cut the flag into thirds. I then group the remaining pieces and stagger them on top of each other. Then I make a copy of the shapes and color those in with a gradient, adjusting the opacity of the gradient to give the flag more highlights and shadows. Let me know what you think of the end result. Link to flag used in tutorial: https://www.countryflags.com/en/united-states-flag-vector.html Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/zkWZrmhAjsQ #vectorflag #wavyflag #americanflag

Are you missing panels, toolbars, or can't get your workspace to load correctly? Here's how to get everything back quickly and easily. If all of your toolbars and windows aren't opening up when you load illustrator, there are a couple of things that might be going on. First, you may just need to hit the tab key. Tab will turn on/off your toolbars and side windows to allow you to see more of your artboard. Also, the F key allows you to toggle full screen mode on and off - there are 3 settings for this, so cycle through them to pick your preference. Lastly, if none of that works, you probably need to reset your preferences by closing Illustrator and opening it again while holding Shift, Control, and Alt. This should clear out anything that's causing an issue, typically from a recent software update, but you'll have to go into your preferences and readjust them. Let me know if this was a helpful troubleshooting tutorial in the comments below Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/43Y9sqUwFDQ Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #missingpanels #illustrator #illustratortutorial

Clipping masks in Adobe Illustrator can be used with text or shapes. The cool part about text is that you can use it as a clipping mask and still edit it as a text object if you convert it into a compound path. The pen tool is also very useful for creating clipping masks that isolate part of an image. When the two clipping mask tips are applied together, you can create some really stunning and engaging artwork. Which clipping mask technique or example did you like best? Let me know in the comments below. If the pen tool section completely lost you, check out my other pen tool tutorials right here: 1) Pen Tool Basics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXQwi1BWmR8 2) How to Vectorize an Image using the Pen Tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy0UPW7cnL8 Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/wwN7zTkdnD4 Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #clippingmask #textclippingmask #illustratortutorial

How to align and distribute objects in Adobe Illustrator. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I'll show you what each align and distribute button does in the Align panel in Illustrator. There are a lot of options in this window, allowing you to align to your selection, align to key object, and align to your artboard. Let me know which option you find most useful in the comments below. Align to selection will take the objects selected and find the furthest edge (top, bottom, left, or right) or split the space evenly among the objects selected. Align to key object uses the edges and spacing based on one object of many selected. This is most useful if you have an object already in place and you don't want it moving around on you. Align to Artboard is useful if you want to use the edges and spacing of the artboard itself rather than going off of the objects you've selected. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/WesSjsiglXw Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #alignobjects #illustratortutorial #distributeobjects

The pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator is easier to use than you might think. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I go through every option in the pathfinder window so you have a good idea of how to create shapes by combining shapes, dividing paths, and so on. Let me know in the comments below which pathfinder tool is your favorite. I prefer the divide and unite pathfinder tools myself. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/fdD3FOXf6ac Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #pathfinder #thepathfinder #pathfindertool

How to make a 3D Lightsaber using Adobe Dimension. In this Adobe Dimension tutorial, I'll show you how to make Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from Return of the Jedi, using only basic shapes that are already in Dimension. This is a long tutorial. I want to show you the process I took to go from concept to finished product. There are a lot of tips and tricks and nuance along the way, so stick around for the full tutorial. I'll also show you how I use pre-existing textures to shade the 3D lightsaber to save a ton of time. Stick around to the end for a bonus Photoshop enhancement! Adobe Dimensions doesn't have a great way to do glowing or particle effects yet, but if you render out the image a few different ways and bring those into Photoshop, you can easily get the look you are going after. Placing Background Image: Beginning Camera Settings: 1:06 Basic Shapes of the Lightsaber (Building the Hilt): 1:51 Adding Color and Textures: 24:10 First Render: 29:17 Lightsaber Blade Creation (Glowing Part): 30:15 Create a Background: 31:23 2nd Render with Blade: 33:58 Adding Glow in Photoshop: 34:09 Additional Adobe Dimension CC tutorials: Quick mockups in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/xchwC_9aCuI How to Make a 3D Lightsaber in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/UCrBJuBtbhA How to Match 3D Object to Background in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/DE-AnFsBgEs Custom 3D Objects in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/UCrBJuBtbhA Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #adobedimension #3dlightsaber #dimension3d

Convert Text to Vector using Adobe Illustrator. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I'll discuss 3 ways to convert text to vector, including converting fonts to outlines, the best way to identify fonts, how to get high quality images of fonts you don't have so you can image trace them, and how to recreate text by hand with the pen tool. First, I discuss converting text to outlines. This is primarily done because the printer, plotter, or CNC router requires it in order to create the artwork correctly. Secondly, I discuss converting raster fonts to vector fonts. My first recommendation is to identify the font and find a free font if possible. If that isn't possible or the font is really expensive (and you only need a word or two), then I suggest using myfonts.com to get high-resolution images to convert with an image trace. If THAT doesn't work, it's time to redraw the text with your pen tool. I'll show you how to do all of this. Here are some timestamps to help you bookmark and navigate through this video after you've watched the entire thing and need refreshers: Definitions: beginning of video Convert Text to Outlines: 0:49 Why Do I need to Convert Text to Outlines?: 0:58 Hotkey for Converting Text to Outlines: 1:57 Easily Tell if Text is Outlined or Not: 3:14 Convert Raster Text to Vector Text: 3:38 How to Identify a Font: 4:02 How to Get High-Resolution Image of a Font Which You Have Successfully Identified: 6:56 How to Vectorize a Font Using LiveTrace: 8:49 How to Vectorize a Font Using the Pen Tool: 9:49 This is an update to an older video of mine: https://youtu.be/wzoOUhQmWyo Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/ejUV_m0xWI0 Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #texttovector #texttooutlines #vectorizetext

When is it a good idea to use an image trace like Adobe's Live Trace feature? The answer is, of course, it depends. When vectorizing a file, I recommend doing as much as you can by hand with a tablet or the pen tool and mouse, but for certain types of images, it really makes more sense to do an image trace. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/Xy2eBcCtS7U Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #imagetrace #adobeillustrator #livetrace

In this Adobe tutorial, I'll show you how to make a custom 3D object (.obj file) that you can import into Adobe Dimension for use as a 3D product mockup, using both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Of course, if you already have a 3D program like Cinema 4D or Blender, then those will probably be better for building these models. For simple applications, however, this is a great way to make something quick and easy that looks pretty solid as a mockup. Additional Adobe Dimension CC tutorials: Quick mockups in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/xchwC_9aCuI How to Make a 3D Lightsaber in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/UCrBJuBtbhA How to Match 3D Object to Background in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/DE-AnFsBgEs Custom 3D Objects in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 For additional help with Adobe Illustrator Pen Tool work, check out this tutorial: https://youtu.be/OXQwi1BWmR8 Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #adobedimension #dimensiontutorial #3dproductmockups

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to create a heart graphic that uses gradients to achieve a more 3D look which creates a more interesting graphic. We'll use the gradient tool, pen tool, as well as align and pathfinder options in this tutorial. BONUS: we'll draw a quick arrow using stroke options at the end and give it a feathered drop shadow look too! Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/Uagvb7CuNz0 Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #heartgraphic #adobeillustrator #tutorial

How to Make Wavy Lines in Adobe Illustrator. In this Adobe Illustrator Tutorial, I'll show you how to make wavy lines, or really make any object wavy. This method uses effect, distort & transform, and zig zag settings. Stick around to the end for a bonus on how to change the profile of your strokes, which you can use to create hair, mustaches, snakes, etc. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/D6wWkFbBg8I Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #wavylines #adobeillustrator #tutorial

How to Make Quick 3D Mockups in Adobe Dimension. In this Adobe Dimension CC tutorial, I show you how to quickly make simple 3D mockups of products for your clients using Adobe Dimension. Adobe Dimension is a limited but useful tool that can give you clients that extra bit of realism to help them decide which direction to take their branding. The best use for it is showing how flat art will curve around an object and how matte verses glossy might make a big impact on the finished product. Additional Adobe Dimension CC tutorials: Custom 3D Objects in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 How to Make a 3D Lightsaber in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/UCrBJuBtbhA How to Match 3D Object to Background in Adobe Dimension: https://youtu.be/DE-AnFsBgEs Other Related Videos: How to Make Custom 3D Objects for Adobe Dimension ➜ https://youtu.be/bklNgtpUqi0 How to Make a 3D Coffee Cup in Adobe Illustrator Using Mapping: ➜ https://youtu.be/F8ry0V9ksx0 How to Make a 3D Wine Bottle Illustrator 3D Revolve: ➜ https://youtu.be/E1MBFhaBl6E Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/xchwC_9aCuI Intro Music: http://www.bensound.com #adobedimension #3Dmockup #adobe3D

Pixel art is traditionally associated with raster programs like Adobe Photoshop, but in this tutorial, I'll show you how to make 8-bit pixel art in Adobe Illustrator, a vector program that allows your pixel art to be fully scalable. Hire me: ➜ http://www.vectormaid.com Share this Video: ➜ https://youtu.be/BtAfIn-1wEk Join my Patreon Community ➜ https://www.patreon.com/vectormaid Download my Captain America Pixel Art Here: https://www.deviantart.com/seehawk/art/Captain-America-8-Bit-810514954 #8-bit #pixelart #adobeillustrator