Graphic Design & Vector Art

Question by Michelle Montrose: Is it a good idea to create lineart in Adobe Illustrator, then import it into photoshop for color?
I’m making a picture, and before I start I want to know if it’s possible or a good idea to make my sketch in photoshop, then make lineart in illustrator, then take the lineart back to photoshop for color, so I can have crisp, bold lineart.

Answer by Tim D
For the sharpest colours and edges (and no loss of resolution at any size) why not do the whole job in Illustrator, it is extremely capable, even with gradients and overlaid colours. Using a gradient mesh can achieve many effects that are available in Photoshop.

Question by Fiona V: What are some good photoshop brush websites?
I have photoshop CS3, and already know about Brusheezy and Myphotoshopbrushes. So what are some really good sites?

Answer by Mujer Alta
http://www.obsidiandawn.com
Also, DeviantArt has some good brushes.

Question by melleberry: Is there any way to make a grid in Adobe Illustrator?
I am trying to make pixel art in Paint, but being able to undo only your 3 most recent actions frustrates me. Is there anyway I can make a grid (like in Paint) in Adobe Illustrator?

Answer by tiger
certainly you can .

Question by Krystal: How to select and delete colors in Photoshop Elements 10?
So in the original Photoshop, you can select everything with a specific color at once (appears in a marquee) and delete it. Is this possible in Photoshop Elements 10? Thanks.

Answer by Mujer Alta
Yes, use the Magic Wand Tool. With “Contiguous” UNchecked and depending on the setting you use for Tolerance, it will select only the color you click on (low tolerance setting) or all the colors related to the color you click on (high tolerance setting).

Question by Gary P: What photoshop version is best for making concept designs?
I don’t really need photoshop for editing my photos but i want to use it more for designing logos and uniforms. What photoshop do you think would fit my needs at a good price?
I don’t really need photoshop for editing my photos but i want to use it mostly for making my own designs, such as logos or uniforms. What photoshop version do you could fit my needs without being expensive? And for you who have been coming up with concept designs for the new rbk edge hockey jerseys what version do you use?

Answer by Max Wells
Hi! I recommend you Adobe Illustrator (CS2 or CS3) instead Photoshop. It better fits to vector graphics such as logo or uniforms design (more scalable and better printable).

Question by Stephanie R: How to become successful illustrator quickly?
Currently on an art course at college and going to start Illustration at university but after that I do not know what to do.
I wondered where to start going to look for a job as something similar to an illustrator.?
Where do I go?
What do you advise me to start doing and where to show and how to show my work to employers?

Answer by candy ex machina
In general, becoming a successful ANYTHING is not something that you can do quickly. You can become an average illustrator, or an employed illustrator with a steady job, but becoming successful in anything takes a bucket full of hard work. There are millions of people on the planet who want to become illustrators. Some of them have been studying all their lives. Do not expect to surpass them with anything but LOTS of hard work of your own.

Have you spoken to a counselor at your school about getting jobs? Universities usually have career counseling centers. Speaking to professors at potential schools would probably be a good idea as well.

In general, I find that illustration jobs are not really listed in the papers like other jobs are. To get them, you typically need to network with other illustrators and artists. See if there are any local groups or national organizations you can join up with. Participate in local events- are there any art or comic book conventions in your neighborhood? Are their local art shows or galleries? First Friday events? Sketch clubs? It’s possible to meet contacts online, but I find it’s easier to make an impression in person and in small communities. Consider doing your own projects in order to build your portfolio. Make sure that you’re always showing your art.

Speaking of portfolios, make sure you have an online one, preferably with your own domain name. Make business cards, and if you can, get a small printed book with your portfolio in it, and carry it with you so that you can show people your work and make an impression on the go.

You could also consider trying to get a trustworthy art agent. You should also try getting in contact with the people that you want to be working for. Is it book publishing companies? Video game companies? Comic companies? Graphic Designers? Greeting card companies? Try to figure this out…

Of course, you also need to make sure your artwork is up to snuff. Study life drawings, study other artists and popular illustrators. Go to museums, etc. Try to make every piece you create better than the last. Identify any problems that you might have with your artwork, and don’t be afraid to have other people help you with this as well. Ask strangers for their opinions. When you show your work to others, show them the work of the artists you aspire to be like. Ask them to explain any gaps they see in skill or presentation- ask them what the other guy has and you don’t. See what works for other artists, and what has worked for you in the past, and try to get it to work for you in the future.

That’s all the advice I can think of right now. Good luck.

Question by Sketch_water: How do you upload line work to Photoshop (CS3) as a layer instead of a background?
I’ve seen people do it before, upload their own line work and color it using photoshop, and everyone I’ve mentioned it to says they have done it using layers. I’m new to the photoshop program, so if someone could answer this question, I would be extremely grateful.

Answer by Ram
It’s easy. Just double-click your background layer and it will turn into a movable layer. Just name it according to your preference. Add new layers, pull this one to the top and voila!

Question by jayztttight: What’s the difference between Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator?
And if I know Photoshop, will it be easy to learn illustrator?

Answer by nitin m
1. PHOTOSHOP

- PHOTOSHOP: PHOTO/PAINTING CONCEPT PIXEL BASED = BITMAP BASED

- PHOTOSHOP MAKES IMAGES WORKS ON FILES AS CANVAS

- PHOTOSHOP USES RGB COLOR MODE = TO MAKE IMAGES LOOK LIKE PHOTOGRAPHY

2. ILLUSTRATOR

- ILLUSTRATOR: DRAWING/DESIGN CONCEPT LINE BASED = VECTOR BASED (POSTSCRIPT BASED)

- ILLUSTRATOR MAKES OBJECTS WORKS ON FILES AS LAYOUTS

- ILLUSTRATOR USES CMYK COLOR MODE = TO MAKE IMAGES LOOK LIKE GRAPHIC DESIGN

Yes, If you are having the idea to use the layers in Photoshop then it would be helpful to understand the illustrator eaisly

Question by Jeremy: How do you create round corners of a rectangle picture in photoshop?
For reasons beyond my understanding, inverse and crop options no longer work on my version of Photoshop.

Answer by fjpoblam
Try this:
Use the eliptical marquee tool to mark off the corners (select an oval around the part of the pic that does NOT contain the corners to be rounded). Then click Select and Invert. Then select two colors for the graded shadow, like from white to black or white to gray. Then select the gradient tool. In each corner draw a gradient line from the image to the corner.

Now, someone here, will likely tell you something even better! or even tell you this same thing, with using the white as an “alpha channel”, so watch for that! It’ll be the one for yer points.

Question by exotx: Exporting a jpeg from illustrator to place in dreamweaver?
Hi. I am designing my web page background in illustrator. I would like to place it seamlessly on an RGB 80, 81, 81 background. The problem is that when I export I am getting a faint white line around the jpeg, so when it is imported into dreamweaver it does not have a seamless transition from the image to the background. Any ideas on what I can do? I’ve tried to crop it in Fireworks, which works but then my image ends up distorted and pixelated.

Answer by Ace
you really should use the adobe program that comes with suite..not dreamweaver.