Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard when it comes to scalable vector artwork. As a designer, Illustrator is the right tool for graphics that need to be scaled. A prime example are logos which often need to be adapted for small mediums such as business cards, larger mediums like billboard signs, and converted to grayscale or black and white for mediums such as newspapers. In this collection, you’ll find 20 excellent websites and blogs that provide high-quality tutorials and information on vector illustration and Adobe Illustrator. 1. Vectips
Vectips is a blog about Adobe Illustrator tips, tricks, and tutorials. It’s run by Ryan Putnam, a talented illustrator/designer, and an exclusive artist at iStockphoto. You can also find interviews of professional designers and excellent monthly roundups of Illustrator resources on Vectips. Tutorial examples Create Sketchy-Style Vectors Create Abstract Backgrounds in Illustrator Creating Halftone Effects in Illustrator 2. Blog.SpoonGraphics Blog.SpoonGraphics is the personal weblog of talented Graphic/Web Designer, Chris Spooner. He writes about design-related topics, and his tutorials are renowned as useful and top-notch. Check out the Tutorial section to quickly find Illustrator-related tutorials. Tutorial examples Create a Cute Vector Monster from a Pencil Sketch Logo Design Project Step by Step Walkthrough How to Create a Vector Safari Compass in Illustrator 3. VECTORTUTS VECTORTUTS is a blog and tutorial website on Illustrator and vector illustration. It’s one of the more recent additions to "TUTS" network which include NETTUTS, PSDTUTS, and AUDIOTUTS. You’ll find high-quality, detailed tutorials on vector illustration as well as excellent roundups. Tutorial examples Create a Vibrant 3D Pixel Type Treatment Illustrator’s Type Tool: A Comprehensive Introduction Methods for Creating Random Vector Noise 4. Veerle’s blog Veerle’s blog, written by Veerle Pieters, a reknowned Belgian graphic/web designer, posts top-notch tutorials on Illustrator. Check out her Tutorials category archive and Photoshop-Illustrator category archive to quickly find Adobe Illustrator-related posts. Tutorial examples Creating simple Art Brushes in Illustrator Command shape in Illustrator Recolor artwork using Illustrator’s LiveColor 5. GoMediaZine GoMediaZine is a website by art and graphic design professionals. They have a growing section of top-notch Adobe Illustator tutorials. Besides quality Illustrator tutorials, they also have a Freebie section where you can obtain free vector artwork. Tutorial examples A Pseudo-Sugar Skull: From Start to Finish. From Sketch to Vector Illustration Intricate Patterns in Illustrator 6. N.Design Studio N.Design Studio is freelance illustrator/web designer’s Nick La’s design blog and portfolio. One of the most popular sections of N.Design studio is Illustrator Tutorials section that hosts high-quality, detailed Adobe Illustrator tutorials. Tutorial examples Illustrator CS2 Splash Drawing Face Halloween Pumpkin 7. Vectordiary Vectordiary is Tony Soh’s blog on vector Illustration. You can find wonderful tips, tricks, and tutorials pertaining to vector illustration. Check out the Illustrator category to go directly to Illustrator-specific blog posts. Tutorial examples Learn Illustrator CS3 in 30 Days Illustrator tutorial: The Perfect Diamond Illustrator Tutorial: Wire Fence 8. Layers Magazine Layers Magazine is a magazine dedicated to Adobe products (such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver). The Adobe Illustrator Tutorials section has plenty of online tutorials to help you learn more about Illustrator. Tutorial examples Swingin’ Retro Look in Adobe Illustrator Blueprint-Style Text in Adobe Illustrator Imitating A Scanner Darkly in Adobe Illustrator 9. Computer Arts - Tutorials The Computer Arts Tutorials section of the highly-popular Computer Arts magazine has plenty of first-class arts and graphic design tutorials. The section has over 500 professionally-written tutorials, many of them involving Adobe Illustrator. Tutorial examples Creating trees in Illustrator Retro car vectors Ornate lettering 10. FreeTransform FreeTransform (referring to Illustrator’s Free Transform tool) is a blog by Illustrator and tutorial writer Cheryl Graham that covers Adobe Illustrator Topics. Check out the Tutorials and Quick Tips section for handy lessons on Illustrator. Tutorial Examples Tutorial: make texture without leaving Illustrator Tutorial: A Gradient Brush? Tutorial: Transform, Style, Blend
