Vector Art with Photoshop
Vector art is REALLY popular at the moment. Everyone is making vector art. It’s not hard to do and you don’t need to be able to draw to create it. Be warned though, vector art does take a lot of time and patience. Especially if you want to create OUTSTANDING art.
In this tutorial I hope to shed some light on how to make vector art and more importantly how to make really great vector art with Adobe Photoshop. In order to even start to think about doing this tutorial YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO USE THE PEN TOOL.
Steps to make photo to vector are:
The Set Up
First you need to choose the image that you are going to vector. Make sure you REALLY like the photo that you are starting with. You are going to be looking at this image for hours and essentially your vector image will be similar to this photo. Lots of people do vectors of their favourite musicians and actors as a sort of tribute.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shft + N)
Make sure it sits below the “Background Copy”. Select the mid tone shade for skin. Grab the pen tool making sure it is set to create Shape Layers (see image below). Trace around the face making sure that you close the path..
Create the large blocked out areas next
Trace the outline the hair. As a rule you should make the initial shade (the base colour) for the hair the darkest. You will then build up layers of lighter and lighter colours/shades from there.
Forming the Features
There’s no set order in which to create the various features. I like to work on specific area until it’s done and then move on. Having said that though, I always notice a little something to tweak once I’m working on another area…
Skin Shading
When building up the light and dark areas make sure your shape layers have a low opacity (around 15%). By layering up the shape layers, you are going to create a more complex looking vector.
Written by Melissa
For more complete tutorial, download Vector Art with Photoshop Ebook below
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The Set Up
First you need to choose the image that you are going to vector. Make sure you REALLY like the photo that you are starting
with. You are going to be looking at this image for hours and essentially your vector image will be similar to this photo.
Lots of people do vectors of their favourite musicians and actors as a sort of tribute. I think this is a great idea because
hopefully it motivates you to actually finish the thing and do a good job. Just be careful when you are selecting the image
that you are going to vector…it must be a decent size so that you can zoom in and still see lots of detail. Anything smaller
than 600 x 600 pixels isn’t going to be much good at all. Bigger IS better in your selection of the photo to turn into a
vector.
Open your image in Photoshop and duplicate the background layer twice.
Turn off the visibility of top copy.
Working on the middle copy desaturate it (Ctrl + Shft + U)
Next Posterize this layer. Image >> Adjustments >> Posterize…
Set the level to approximately 9 and click OK.
Rename this layer “Posterized”
Your layer palette should now look like the one shown left.
The posterized layer is only there as a rough guide for when you get stuck. (Personally I always find the nose to be a little
difficult and use the posterize layer to help me). Please please please don’t use it to create your vector. If you do, your
resulting image will be BLAND, BORING and LACK ANY ARTISTIC MERIT!
Turn the visibility ON for the “Background copy”. This way you will just see the path and colour won’t get in the way.
Create a new layer (Ctrl + Shft + N)
Make sure it sits below the “Background Copy”
Select the mid tone shade for skin. Grab the pen tool making sure it is set to create Shape Layers (see image below). Trace
around the face making sure that you close the path..
Once
can you do a photo for me?