Am i using the right tools for the job - in AI

[mops]

Hi guys - my original post was in this thread: http://www.layersmagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1225
but now it's more appropriate to post in ai thread - so here it is:

i'm not au fait with ai (as much as i'd like to be but time is against me) i usually use ps but this image needs to be vector as it's going to be blown up and ai style would suit better also

my image is of a ladies shoe - i've created a second layer, locked down the sketch and i'm using various 'shape tools' to work over it - am i doing this right or am i making do ? any advice of how you guys would do it would be appreciated - thank you thank you once again:)

[mops]

right guys - here's an update of my amateur attempts at ai

(i'm using cs not cs2)

no live-trace so i've used the trace tool - i used it on a separate layer and it's done the job and i've fine-tuned it by adding points (but not too many) - so far so good

is this how you guys would do it?

god, i thought ai was supposed to be an easy applic to draw freehand with? i'm missing something obviously? i dont know how i'd design something without sketching first - any tips?

:)

[Paul C]

That's how I would approach it - the secret to the pen tool is to use the least amount of points to get the job done. Your paths will be smoother that way.

Best of Luck!

peace

[mops]

really? i'm doing something right ? i've just keeled over

thanks paul - youre a total gem

i've completed the basic outline and placed it in id - and exported as a pdf - i'm so pleased it's happening as i want it to

have to work on some shading, shadows and highlights now - i'm getting confused with these brushes - what should i be using?

oh i've just made my very first a.i pink shoe ! with black dots ! i hear je9n-p8ul g8ut!er calling.............

[The Repro Kid]

....god, i thought ai was supposed to be an easy applic to draw freehand with? i'm missing something obviously? i dont know how i'd design something without sketching first - any tips?
:)

Wow, who told you that? Are talking about the pen tool? With a lot a practice you can draw without tracing, but it's always better to trace a hand sketched drawing, and it's the only way to learn. In the old days you'd need an awful lot practice to be able to just whip a Rapidograh and create a camera ready drawing with out tracing over a hand sketch. Illustrator is no different.

[mops]

thank you for that my friend ! i had meetings all day yesterday so i'm back in today to complete this shoe design - what tool do you guys suggest for the shading ?

[mops]

hey guys

well - i traced the shoe, used different layers to add the details - didnt need to fill it with colour as i was dropping it into i.d and using that background. i'm so pleased - it looks really good - cant believe i actually did it !

now - any suggestions about shading? - i've tried using the paintbrush and pencil but cant seem to get to grips with them - all i want is to find a brush (if that's what i'm supposed to you) that i can use to a similar affect to a pencil / charcoal

another thing i noticed was i applied an 'effect' ... are all effects pixels?