Hot Stuff
Win a Wacom Tablet
We're giving away one Wacom tablet!
Subscribe to Illustration How-Tos Illustration How-Tos
Create Picture Frames in Photoshop: Part 2
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on February 6, 2012
In Part 1 of this tutorial, you learned how to create a picture frame, fill it with a photo, and change the perspective so the framed photo faces right or left. Now discover how to apply all those steps to any photo with one simple click. The secret? Automation courtesy of Photoshop's Actions and Droplets.
Create Picture Frames in Photoshop: Part 1
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on February 3, 2012
Using Photoshop, you can create a silver, gold, or wood-grain picture frame, fill it with a photo, and transform both frame and photo so that they're skewed in different perspectives. The realistic results are easier to achieve than you might think!
Introduction to Illustrator: Part 2
How-Tos: Written by Von Glitschka on December 19, 2011
See how easy it is to customize Adobe Illustrator with tweaks to Preferences and graphic styles. Once you know how to use these and keyboard shortcuts, you're on your way to making the program fit your working style like a glove.
Make Holly and Berries that Shine in Photoshop
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on December 12, 2011
Whether you're scrambling to put together a last-minute Christmas card or are a planner who's already thinking about 2012 projects, this Photoshop how-to is just what you need. In it, you'll learn how to create a Yuletide composition of berries and a holly leaf. And to add a bit of sophistication, you'll give the elements a glassy sheen.
Introduction to Illustrator: Part 1
How-Tos: Written by Von Glitschka on December 5, 2011
Get back to basics with a tour of Adobe Illustrator's 12 core tools, which you can use to build precise vector graphics.
Striking Starbursts Make Your Work Stand Out
How-Tos: Written by Deke McClelland on October 5, 2011
Why settle for Illustrator's default starburst shapes when a few tweaks create something unique that will really grab attention? Here are two ways to go beyond the ordinary.
Photoshop How-to: Ship in a Bottle
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on September 25, 2011
Even if you were all thumbs in shop class, you can make a glass bottle; place a ship inside it; float it in water; and top it off with a cork. The magic is made possible by Adobe Photoshop.
Build Shapes Quickly in Adobe Illustrator
How-Tos: Written by Cristen Gillespie Sharon Steuer on September 14, 2011
With Illustrator's Shape Builder, you can rapidly construct objects, such as a dimensional bowl, from simple overlapping shapes.
InDesign How-To: Designing with Data
How-Tos: Written by Michael Murphy on September 8, 2011
Unlike "jumbo shrimp", the phrase "data-driven design" is not an oxymoron. Combining the organization and structure of a spreadsheet or database with the typographic and layout power of InDesign can generate great-looking informational design in a handful of simple steps.
Uncover the Hidden Powers of InDesign's Effects Panel
How-Tos: Written by Mike Rankin on August 22, 2011
Knowing your way around the Effects panel is the first step in mastering InDesign's transparency effects.
Turn a Photo into a Painting in Illustrator
How-Tos: Written by Sharon Steuer on July 6, 2011
Follow one artist as she walks you through the process of creating an illustration using a composite photo as a guide.
Create a Painterly Portrait with Illustrator's Bristle Brushes
How-Tos: Written by Lisa Jackmore Sharon Steuer on April 27, 2011
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to place a sketch as a template; draw with customized Bristle Brushes; continue to paint with custom brushes into separate layers; and create a frame for your portrait.
Photoshop How-to: Turn a Plastic Xbox into a Metallic Masterpiece
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on April 11, 2011
Bring on the bling! Using multiple Adjustment Layers in Photoshop, you can make a dull plastic surface look like the richest gold, and turn boring buttons into shining jewels.
Build a 3D Bottle in Photoshop
How-Tos: Written by Steve Caplin on March 24, 2011
Using Photoshop, you can create a truly 3D object that's also editable. Learn how to make a 3D wine bottle and add a label, reflection, and shadows to your drink.
Photoshop How-To: Pour a Stream of Colors Across an Image
How-Tos: Written by Nathaniel Dodson on February 10, 2011
You don't always need to buy stock images or hire an illustrator to get striking artwork. Here's how to create it yourself in Photoshop.
Create Web Content in Illustrator, Part 2
How-Tos: Written by Brian Wood on December 9, 2010
In Part 1, you learned basic principles for creating web graphics in Illustrator. Now it's time for the hands-on lesson in creating and saving a button in the correct file format for the Web.
Create Web Content in Illustrator, Part 1
How-Tos: Written by Brian Wood on December 8, 2010
Create better-looking and faster-loading art that adds value to your website using Illustrator CS5.
Create a PDF Portfolio Using Illustrator
How-Tos: Written by xtine burrough on November 8, 2010
There's no need to use a page-layout program when you're creating a multi-page PDF portfolio (though of course you can). Here are the steps to make that portfolio in Illustrator and then generate a PDF you can send to prospective employers.
Create Characters with Photoshop's Shape Layers
How-Tos: Written by Derek Lea on October 20, 2010
Even if you can't draw, it's easy to make cartoonish characters using Photoshop's shape layers.
Create Amazing Digital Paintings with This Free Photoshop Filter
How-Tos: Written by Russell Brown on September 27, 2010
Download Pixel Bender, a free collection of filters for Adobe Photoshop CS5, and then watch this tutorial for Pixel Bender painting tips and techniques.
