The Top 25 Vector Tutorials on Tuts+ in 2013

2013 has been a great year for vector on Tuts+. Yet again, we’ve been able to provide you with more amazing, free, scalable content and it’s getting better and better each month. So what have been the best posts of the year?

Top 25 Vector Tutorials on Tuts+ in 2013

As the Vector and Drawing Editor, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with some of the most talented vector educators around. They’ve created inspiring, original and quality content, just for our community. It’s with that, I’d like to share with you my top 25 tutorials from 2013.

• How to Create a Colorful Parrot using Gradients in Adobe Illustrator

  You’ll learn how to create volume in vector illustrations using a few colors per object. I’ll be bringing a sketch of a beautiful tropical bird (macaw) to life using vectors and then start the coloring process.

• How to Create a Seamless Bird Pattern with Retro Touch in Illustrator

  In this tutorial you will learn how to create a series of minimalist and stylized birds and create a seamless pattern from them. The tutorial is aimed at users of Adobe Illustrator CS5 and below, since in CS6 creating patterns has become easier and more intuitive. In the second part we will then use this pattern for what could be a poster background and apply some effects to give it a retro look.

• How to Create a Stylish Deer with Brushes and Graphic Styles in Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial we are going to draw a deer with custom Art Brushes, Graphic Styles and Blends in Adobe Illustrator, all of them created by us, so let’s get started.

• How to Draw Little Red Riding Hood with Basic Shapes in Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial you will learn how to create an adorable cartoon Little Red Riding Hood with her basket and bunch of flowers. You will use the Pen Tool (P) and basic shapes such as the Rectangle Tool (M), the Ellipse Tool (L) and the Polygon Tool. This is a great tutorial for those who are getting the hang of Adobe Illustrator’s basic tools.

• Using the Blend Tool to Create a Halftone Effect Portrait in Adobe Illustrator

  The Blend Tool has been part of Adobe Illustrator for a long time and it’s very simple to work with. The tool creates objects that fill the space between two key objects. Let’s say we have a square as object A and a circle as object B; the Blend Tool will create intermediate figure shapes between these two objects. You can add how many steps you want and it remains editable until you expand it. We can use this tool to create many effects. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to use the Blend Tool to create semi-realistic halftones with lines.

• Quick Tip: Creating a Bazinga! Text Treatment in Adobe Illustrator

  With this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a Bazinga text effect made famous by Sheldon from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory in Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be using some techniques to add multiple effects to a single shape, also duplicating and copying objects quickly, as well as creating a pattern and even rotating that pattern without disrupting the shape it’s applied too.

• How to Create Text-Free Assembly Instructions in Adobe Illustrator
  

  Do you like to read assembly instructions? I certainly don’t! If you’re like most people, you would rather skip the text and try to assemble something using the illustrations only. Am I right? Some people like to try to assemble things using no instructions at all! Sadly, there is nothing we can do about this group.

  In this tutorial, you will learn how to create concise, easy to follow, text-free technical illustrations for people who need a little guidance but prefer to skip all the reading. As a bonus, you will learn how to make an outdoor broom from discarded two liter soda bottles. You, lucky dog, you!

• Creating a Simple Kawaii Yeti With Basic Shapes in Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to make a cute monster character in Adobe Illustrator using basic shapes, Pathfinder panel, Width Tool, and Strokes. You will be able to apply these techniques to create other characters. Let’s get started!

• Create a Coffee Cup Mock Up in Adobe Illustrator Using the 3D Revolve Effect

  Adobe Illustrator’s 3D effects can be a used to create quick, yet realistic product mock-ups. While not a full ray-tracing 3D application, Illustrator’s 3D feature is quite sophisticated, and it has some advantages over its more expensive counterparts. For starters, vector objects and effects can be scaled to any size without loss of quality. It’s easy to re-purpose vector art you’ve already created, plus you don’t have to leave the friendly confines of Illustrator. And as you’ll see in the following steps, the learning curve is not nearly as steep. Let’s get started!

• Holy Vector Tutorial! Create a Retro Batman Logo in Adobe Illustrator!

  In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create the iconic Batman logo using simple shapes in Adobe Illustrator. With the Ellipse Tool (L), the Shape Builder Tool (Shift-M), and an understanding of positive and negative shapes you’ll be ready with your own bat signal in no time flat.

• Create a Cartoon Bear Scene Using Repeating Shapes in Illustrator

  In this tutorial, I will be discussing various points in making a cartoon bear scene with simple shapes and with a limiter color palette in Adobe Illustrator. From sketching and planning, I will be choosing the overall color and feel with Adobe Kuler, illustrating main elements for the scene and learning to reuse existing illustrations to save time but will still be able to present a unique look in the elements to avoid redundancy in the design. Now let’s get started!

• Create a Mosaic, BBC Inspired, Text Art Effect in Adobe Illustrator

  Inspiration can come from many sources. The inspiration for this effect is from a recent BBC One animation for their spring season programming. In the following steps you will learn how to create a colorful text effect in Adobe Illustrator. For starters you will learn how to setup a simple grid and how to create a set of graphic styles using the Appearance panel and some basic effects. Next, using the Ellipse Tool and the Transform effect you will learn how to create the pieces that will help you build the text. For the final touches you will learn how to create a scatter brush and how to use a built-in pattern or a pucker and bloat effect.

• Adobe Illustrator’s Role in a Web Design Workflow

  Adobe Illustrator isn’t the design tool of choice for most people who make the web. Interface design, bitmap creation, pixel perfect image manipulation; all tasks which have typically been better handled by other applications. The web is undergoing big changes, however, and the role Illustrator can play in a web design workflow is changing too. Let’s find out how!

• Create a Set of “Almost Flat” Modern Icons in Adobe Illustrator

  With this tutorial I would like to show you a few tricks on creating clean lines and edges when working with the flat design trend, in Adobe Illustrator. Simple layered styles and reusing Graphic Styles to help your workflow are most efficient, so you should be able to create a set of matching icons in no time.

• Create a Daft Punk GIF Animation Using Illustrator and Photoshop

  I’m going to show you how you can create an animated Daft Punk helmet GIF using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. This tutorial requires a bit of time but it will all be worth it when you see your helmet come to life, so lets get popping.

  The actual example of the Daft Punk graphic is just for training purposes and is not to be used in a final personal project without permission from the original creators.

• Create an Awesome Chrome Typography Piece in Illustrator

  In this tutorial, I will show you how to draw a retro typography design from scratch, then add dimension, tones and gradients and then bring it all to life! I’ll be working from a sketch and rendering it in Adobe Illustrator. I’ll then finish it off in Adobe Photoshop. Let’s get started!

• Working With Blending Modes and Gradients to Create a Dark Elf

  In this tutorial, you’ll learn some great tips and tricks on using multiple gradients and Blending Modes to create an enchanting dark elf character in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll see the work flow from sketch to finish and see how creating your own brushes can add those fine refining details your illustration may need.

• Create a Punk Queen of Hearts, With a Sleeve Tattoo in Illustrator

  In this tutorial we are going to take a walk through the process of vectoring my rendition of the “Queen of Hearts” playing card with an eccentric young girl who has an old-school sleeve tattoo. I’ll be using various Adobe Illustrator brushes and tools to create this illustration, so let’s get stuck in.

• Using Meshes to Create a Detailed Skull With Adobe Illustrator / Create “Dia De Los Muertos” Decorations on a Skull in Adobe Illustrator

  Can you imagine Halloween without skulls? Me neither. In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to create a skull in Adobe Illustrator, using gradient meshes. And once you are done, Miss Chat*Z will show you how to transform the scary skull into decorative Day of the Dead icon in a later tutorial. So get your Mesh Tool at the ready, let’s get creating!

• How to Create a Colorful Fashion Illustration in Adobe Illustrator – Part 1

  In this tutorial I’d like to show you the possibilities of using the Mesh Tool in creating a stylish fashion illustration of a young woman in Adobe Illustrator. In this first part I’ll be using a gradient mesh for hair and I will also show you my usual routine of drawing hair, using custom made brushes.

• How to Create a Geometric, WPAP Vector Portrait in Adobe Illustrator

  The following is a tutorial on how to create a WPAP (Wedha’s Pop Art Portrait) portrait in Adobe Illustrator, by the WPAP master himself, Wedha Abdul Rasyid!

• Create a Haunting, Dia De Los Muertos Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial, we’ll go through the step by step process of creating your very own “Lady of the Dead” just in time for November. Hopefully the process will fill your heads with fantastically spooky ideas with a touch of tradition. This happens to be one of my favorite festive occasions to illustrate, and I’m so happy that I get to share my latest with all of you. Happy Vectoring Everyone!

• Use Stroke Textures to Enhance a Halloween Illustration in Illustrator

  As one of the most liked holidays is approaching, I will show you how to create a fun Halloween themed illustration using Adobe Illustrator. We’ll start by forming some simple vector shapes using the Pen Tool and then with the help of brush strokes to add a dash of a vintage look to it. We will focus on detailing with objects and brushed strokes. For this particular illustration I’ve gone for a boy in a cute monster costume.

• How to Create an Easy Geometric Aztec Pattern in Inkscape

  Let’s learn how to use Inkscape’s Grids and Pen tool to create a geometric Aztec pattern. While this may seem like a tedious design, we’ll also go over a few tricks to shorten things up!

• It’s Guy Fawkes Night! Create a Bonfire With Blends in Adobe Illustrator

  In this tutorial, you will learn a new technique for creating fire in Adobe Illustrator, with the Blend Tool, which is much easier than with the Mesh Tool. Let’s begin!

Happy New Year, All the Best for 2014!

With 2013 over, we’ve got 2014 to look forward to. I’d like to say thank you for joining us in 2013 and on behalf of the vector team here on Tuts+, I’d like to wish you a Happy Scalable New Year and all the very best for 2014!