Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: How to Draw a Vector Pirate Skull

[@CrunchyMatches]

She holds CTRL when deleting the background from the merged base color btw. Sorry if it's obvious but i've been stuck on that step for ages trying to figure it out. Hope it saves ya'll some time. Thanks for the video!

[@michaelhounkpe725]

😅

[@wabbiaa1321]

it's not working how can i

[@JimAndcco]

I try that but it didn’t work

[@wabbiaa1321]

Oh dear i found that Solution first ungroup then press shift and delete button

[@JimAndcco]

@@wabbiaa1321 can u give the steps for example 1) go to

[@MrMechLad]

this video is 8 years old and still the best one on this platform for this technique. Thank You!

[@PochoNieves]

This was one of the very best, simple, goes to the point AI drawing tutorials I ever saw. I am saving this one to my personal playlist.

[@WickedJ133]

Good music choices. A pirate i was meant to be! Also, the finished piece is stunning!

[@InkyEU]

Thanks a lot Guybrush! ^_^

[@importedmusic]

Guybrush Threepwood Pirates of the Caribbean sucks,

[@TheSecondC2]

+designioustimes Can u make something for me? I'll pay u if u want. It's not much work(I think)

[@casperhadez8941]

Just wanted to add something to this video. She makes a very valid point to sketch out your designs ahead. As I still do this at times. I have now gotten into a habit of sketching my designs in digital format. This will speed up your process ten fold. Skipping ahead from have to scan you sketches etc. Please note that this will take time to achieve a precise outcome. And having a drawing tablet is a must to to this in a timely matter. The program I use to do this is (Sketchbook Pro). As it has the capabilities to do many things. I strictly use it for digital sketching. I believe there is a free version as well. G'Luck!

[@Rakuonsha1]

charlie boy Thanks so much for this!

[@casperhadez8941]

NP! Now go draw some awesome art!

[@Irradiated44]

Hahaha I don't care people in the comments say you don't explain enough. I think you are terrific! This tutorial changed my life, I always wondered how those artworks in stickers and shirts be done, I mean its really gotta be hard, but then I found this. LOL! I gotta get a pen tablet as soon as freakin' possible. That thing changes everything, huh THANK YOU VERY MUCH Miss Sopov!

[@L4stLif3]

You completely lost me at 6:50. How were you able to color the line art and take away the blue that was out of the line art? And you had said so many steps that weren't really elaborated.

[@brodwilkinson7218]

lookup pathfinder

[@taylorkleven4224]

Totally lost as well

[@InkyEU]

After you merged the line art and the shapes, use the direct selection tool (A) and select the outer part and delete it. Sorry about that, we try to explain it in the comments.

[@tabloid64]

Soo your path has to be closed. If it is like "U" it has to be like "O", u don't Group it just select all and Expand Appereance > Expand ; then Pathfinder and "Merge" > Object-Path-Clean Up. Ok 1 step done. Now make rectangle and send it to backward ( ctrl+shift+[ ), now press V on your keyboard, hold shift and click your path. U should have selected rectangle and path simultaneously. Click merge and click one (or few times) on area to delete and press delete.

[@anhpanda]

tabloid64 Thank you, you make my day :)

[@johnshaw2190]

i think this is a very helpful TUTORIAL. Not on how to use the program but the process in how your work flow should go. Honestly I always thought highlights should be the top layer but I see that I was wrong. I had no problems understanding and i barely know Illustrator. If you can't follow along, that is what the pause button is for. Great job Ioana! Thumbs up

[@ZonZoran]

"Yarr!", "...swashbuckling walkthrough" :) Cutest, best tutorial yet. Beautiful, clear, polite voice, simple instructions and really fun music combined, this is my personal favourite tutorial on this subject and i really enjoy it every time! Even more then sum of its parts, great work Ivana!

[@InkyEU]

Try reinstalling your drivers and make sure your tablet is working properly. The pressure option will be available only with a functioning pressure-sensitive tablet.

[@BLTspace]

I'm in the process of learning illustrator right now and it is frustrating but fun as hell... This was awesome to watch. Good job!

[@cosmicrus1988]

I am so happy I found this. Did not even hesitate to subscribe. Thank you for the thorough walkthrough of a professional workflow that is very easy to follow.

[@RUMCAJZ1000]

6:48 how do you cut the backround over this head ?

[@yepitskeys]

This was hands down one of the most helpful videos I've seen in a long time! I thoroughly enjoyed learning the technique and cannot wait to try it out myself!

[@candaceabernathy7568]

you're being sarcastic right?

[@yepitskeys]

@@candaceabernathy7568 this was 7 years ago when I was learning. It was super helpful then. No need to be condescending.

[@candaceabernathy7568]

@@yepitskeys wasn't being condescending my dude. It was a genuine question cause I couldn't understand what the tutorial part of this video was. my apologies if I may have offended you

[@xnslrzn]

When you're doing the highlights and shadows, how does your brush know to go behind the strokes that are already present?

[@InkyEU]

I add shadows and highlights on different layers beneath the line art and above the fill colors. I order them in such a way that I can work without worrying about them overlapping. Cheers!

[@buzzlOfficial]

designioustimes It's not helpful if you say "in such a way". What is that way? There are 9 possible orders they can be in. Care to elaborate?

[@ErimlRGG]

Pierce Irvin She explains it at the end of the video....

[@buzzlOfficial]

Eriml RGG The way it's worded, it could be from top to bottom, bottom to top, no way to tell. I already have a way of doing it but I was curious about her method. Personally I do linework with shadows/highlights directly below it, then the base color below that. That way I can be less careful with my coloring and allow it to overlap the lines without it showing, and the shadows and highlights are still on top of the color with the same behavior.

[@ErimlRGG]

actually, if you think about it and watch the video it's pretty obvious the main strokes are the top layer and the highlights are the bottom layer

[@josequintero6114]

simply amazing. broke it down perfect for us. just got my computer sith illustrator back and im gearing up to use it. every time i had a question i my head it was followed by the answer in your video as i watched it. thank you

[@Gtugcu]

What is she doing after she puts down the rectangle and then deletes it - leaving only the fill thats behind the image?

[@InkyEU]

We'll be sure to take that into account in our next video. The brush setup is pretty simple, a calligraphic brush like the one described in the first part. We usually work with a 3pt brush on a standard A4 canvas, though. The strokes should appear as thick as the ones in the video. Cheers and thank you for your feedback!

[@gebbygebbers]

To my lost comrades-who were searching for a way to freely paint and erase brush strokes: Shift + E for an eraser that is not restricted to strokes, paths or fill shapes. Works just like a normal eraser brush! (Remember to select the thing you're trying to clean up, otherwise it will affect the rest of the drawing) Shift + B for the blob brush tool, B for regular paintbrush! Perhaps this too, can avoid your issue with erasing things in the first place?

[@lazrexpp2702]

The brush pressure option at 0:34 is dissabled in my illustrator, help please :( i work on tablet huion kamvas 13"

[@AKindChap]

How to draw; be good at drawing. Thanks!

[@dionmlevy]

+StressedApe lol that defeats the purpose of a tutorial

[@staticklingon2182]

+AKindChap Not necessarily. The pencil drawing is already done. The vector drawing is largely technique. You can use someone else's sketch and learn the technique. As a matter of fact, you can "learn" to draw well.

[@zekeking4772]

+AKindChap No shortcuts. You have to work hard and practice.

[@mayhemm9991]

This isn't "How to draw" this is "How to draw a VECTOR PIRATE SKULL". Maybe read more than the first 3 words in the title next time.

[@novankuncoro8372]

this art it's so cool

[@wolryr9682]

This tutorial just opened a whole lot of possibilities to me I didn't even know existed. Merci!

[@olliebuv]

How do i make a calligraphic brush tapered at either end like in this tutorial. Want that tapered look for pointy ends?

[@fear229]

+Ollie Mills i was wondering the same thing and i think i found the awnser. Its not something she does with a setting but more with how she handles her pen. Every strokes she makes starts of with a really light pressure and then she just applies more force to her pen the longer the stroke goes (and releases pressure when she is at the end). Its not something illustrator does for her she does it with her pen. I supose this just is a matter of getting better control over your equipment

[@InkyEU]

+fear229 +Olly Mills This is definitely the case. I've been answering this question since the very start, and it's a very common issue. But the truth is that it just takes a lot of practice and control over the pen and pressure you apply. Don't worry if your lines aren't pointy in the beginning, just experiment a lot and give it your best and at some point it will definitely come naturally. Cheers, and best of luck!

[@fear229]

designioustimes Thanks for the reply :D, I've got another question, I'm currently using a wacom bamboo tablet and I'm thinking about buying a intuos pro, small or medium. Do you think stuff like applying pressure and creating smoother lines is heavily impacted by the quality of the tablet?

[@olliebuv]

+fear229 I forgot to mention that I don't own a tablet. I wanted this look and feel by using only the software and no additional hardware, like the Wacom.

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Ollie Mills Look up(Google) for some of those brushes. I'm sure there some free ones available, somewhere for you to download and add them into either photoshop, or this program.

[@mirey7532]

OMG. I never knew you could do freehand drawing in vector form. I stayed away from vector arts because I felt that using the pen tool to draw is too troublesome. I'll definitely try doing it this way. Thanks for sharing!

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

Get yourself a Wacom Tablet, a beginner's one like the Intuos for $100.

[@joshuahayden6807]

I get lost on the merging part every single time and its the most important part because that is what starts the coloring process. I do not understand how you connect the shape with the line art and then separate onto separate layers. Your work is incredible though, that is why I wish I knew how to do the merging part because I want to steal your techniques :)

[@mihaimimi3965]

im stuck in the same point...

[@anthonychicas7776]

YUP SAME HERE

[@nigejuan71]

Select all on layer>object>expand appearance object >expand

[@elzouain]

Wow! Your voice, the music and the tips are really well done. Great video overall. Subscribed.

[@RaserDO]

hey why i cant use full brush settings when i open calligraphic i can only use fixed and random??

[@lauadvincula802]

you need graphics tablet to enable that feature

[@Rychiar]

yeah its all about the tablet as i just learned while trying to do this myself. bummer

[@spoox7107]

one of my all time favorite tutorials!! This one helped me sooo much with several issues I could never figure out! Thank you so much even 3 years later it is still an awesome tut!

[@megha9arts]

How to Draw Candles with Mesh Tool in Illustrator cc--- kzbin.info/www/bejne/eom4d3SdbNdoZ68

[@gianluigidautilia6417]

6.58 how did you delete only the external selection of the square?

[@alanlps3]

+gianluigi dautilia ungroup

[@LaCreaTora]

+gianluigi dautilia i was asking myself the same, then i found it out. After merging both image and rectangle, select all, deselect, go to direct or group selection tool arrow, click on the part of the rectangle you want to erase and erase.

[@rowenkliethermes9929]

Where is the group selection tool?

[@criticalanimation9479]

Nice and creative video, tired of beginner videos so this was refreshing.

[@guilhermebocaiuvaforster8156]

how do you put the retangle under the shape (6:45)???

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Guilherme Bocaiuva Forster Right click > Arrange > Send To Back

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Guilherme Bocaiuva Forster Right click-->Arrange-->Send To Back

[@nelq415]

Try to send it backward, object-arrange-send backward

[@slynne1107]

Excellent video. I don't use Illustrator and I still got a lot out of this for what to look for in my software. Thanks!

[@jessicawilliams5307]

Could someone help direct me in how she separated the line art from the base color and put them on separate layers at about 7:03... I cannot for the life of me figure this out...

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Jessica Williams Direct selection tool ( White arrow ) and move underneath the line art. Select the part to delete, outside the art.

[@PhuongTran-ku6pu]

+Jessica Williams Hey, did you find out yet? I'm also having trouble on this part.

[@ancientprincess]

for the line art > select all > expand appearance > pathfinder >merge > create square over line work > right click > send to back > select both line work, and square > pathfinder > merge > select all > right click > isolated path > and then delete the outer part of the square.

[@gldi8hr]

IF I WAS ABBLE OF DRAWING THAT GREAT, I WOULD BE THE HAPPIEST GUY IN THE WORLD! GREAT JOB, I´M IMPRESSED.

[@DenOvsyannikov]

You are my savior, thank you :)

[@getrex3184]

не ожидал здесь тебя увидеть)

This tutorial always helps me to remember how this program works. Thanks for saving my ass since 2014.

[@ToxicChickenWingGaming]

Quick version: Skip to 11:45 and print screen. Adjust the image sixe so it has cropped out the image up to the skull. Pat yourself on the back and be proud of your work.

[@8898samuel]

Doesn't work. It looks blurry.

[@YamanKain5]

Your all works are Awesome... Great Artist.. 👌👌

[@InkyEU]

It's all in the layer order - the line-art is on the top layer, the rest go beneath it so that you don't have to worry about going over the contours. Cheers and thanks for watching!

[@Dr.Souvik]

Please share those brushes

[@CloversTreeNook]

I really loved watching this. Granted, I didn't work alongside your tutorial, but I plan to use your tips when I work in the future. Great work

[@Greavern]

a pirate i was meant to be! Trim the sailes and roam the sea! ahhh sigh, its stuck in my head..

[@zsofiadavid4790]

Hi, this video is so useful, thanks! I don't understand, how I should take the line art to a different layer ( around 7:14 in the video). Could you help me please? Thanks a lot!

[@UmangWaghela]

nice work..will you tell what is your brush setting?

[@esscee96]

0:31

[@UmangWaghela]

yes i got it ...thanks anyways:)

[@Kobawsky]

This is so cool, how you can be so precise with the brush, I mean, following the lines of the sketch, the curves are so difficult to follow it's a little bit frustrating

[@jeromeflores9973]

i can't create that brush , ~help

[@dodongreducto4312]

you must have a graphic tablet

[@jirkaobsivac8887]

Hello, can you help me please. When im trying to use "Expand Appearance" at 6:10 , the button is grey, so i cant use it. I can use only "Expand..." button. What shoudl i do now?

[@jh.project]

Completely lost me at 7:06. Completely. You did so many steps that I think were off-time with your voice and at the same time I think used keyboard shortcuts but I'm not entirely sure, but I think I would just like another explanation to how you separate the base color with the strokes onto other layers and whatnot.

[@ohforfookssake]

You really are talented!! I hope to bring my skills to that standard in the near future. Just need the time to practice. And your video has kicked me in the head and told me to fit it in whenever possible.

[@smishyt]

Okay, I got completely lost after 6:58 , thanks a lot.

[@woPLrdAY]

I was wondering if you can do a tutorial on how to figure out how to add those extra black lines for the 'shadows and accents' you mention at 3:25

[@kokuvito]

oh no!...so no tablet! no brush pressure?! really

[@OfficialReign]

Wow! I've never tried this method, yet it's a lot faster then using the pen tool. I can't wait to try your method using the brush tool! Nice upload!

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Reign Designs Yeah. With a Tablet, it's so much faster than the "Pen Tool" to draw the shapes and create line strokes. Hence why I bought one recently. Got myself a Wacom Intous Pen & Touch.

[@santiagosenaguerra4059]

"Rape and rob, rob and rape here we go again yay!" what the hell is that music

[@adamographics]

Wow!!! Now that's creating art nice job I am very motivated to up my illustrator skills after seeing this.

[@JustawayEtc]

What did you use to draw?

[@CharbelK]

She used a Wacom Intuos 5, its in the desc.

[@samheidibeth]

really helpful tutorial, helped me on my road to illustrator mastery. With the Monkey Island 3 music thrown in, it's a 10/10 tutorial for me!

[@OKEdits]

Instructions unclear, drew a dog :\

[@JimAndcco]

Hi, what button did you use when u had the line art and square how did u merge it together How did remove the rest of the background to leave the line art and the blue as ur background

[@wabbiaa1321]

I also need if you solved it then suggest me

[@JimAndcco]

@@wabbiaa1321 still working on it

[@pby1000]

Thank goodness for mute.

[@radharcanna]

Beautiful artwork and a great tutorial. I like the music too !

[@kmcnair123]

I love the style and the technique but the pirate music totally sucks. I had to turn it off ,its so bad. Much better to watch you draw and add some comments, or if you have to put music in make it really quite in the background.

[@angusdeighto]

I agree. Or use better music!

[@neuzarodrigues4441]

I know, im a design student in university, and when i was younger i was really bad drawing but i loved it, and now im really better, its experience, and this artist has a lot of it, cuz woow, i wish i could work like that in illustrator maybe someday (sorry my bad english im portuguese)

[@1978auztin]

At 7:00 when the blue box gets masked away...it does not do this on my computer, nothing will change. What am I doing wrong?

[@lucieperrier8134]

Hello ! at 7:09, I don't understand how to separate the line and the base colour can you help me ? I suppose it's crucial to do the next step (shadow and highlights). Thank you !!! this tutorial helped me a lot !

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Lucie Perrier Lines must be converted to "OBJECT>APPEARANCE". Base color goes underneath the line art. Next merge the lines and base color by selecting both objects, deselect, then direct Select with the white arrow tool to delete the part that needs to be discarded.

[@PhuongTran-ku6pu]

+Lucie Perrier Hey, did you find out? I,too, am also stuck.

[@privatespee]

Best tutorial on KZbin for this

[@MrGipson1971]

Awesome vid! I would love to see more vids catering to this more advanced level of users. I got a lot out of this and you did a great job editing through the more tedious stuff without turning it into one of those death metal speed drawing vids which are pretty useless.

[@mauvemaude]

This lady is amazing. I am so happy I found this KZbin channel!

[@iammarkrojas]

Excellent. Layering shadows and highlights this way is so helpful. Thanks

[@d.w.eldridge5596]

Wow, great job and nice explanation for what was going on.

[@jaysonarmada6091]

from sketch to so very awesome digital art .... nice one ill try to do just like that just sketch it first and so on

[@TeamxAwesome]

This was a REALLY helpful tutorial! I am a complete noob and I actually was able to make something cool. Thank you!! Please upload more tutorials! Love your work!

[@MOON_dozer]

Hi great video, when I select shapes to make different colors like around 7:38 in the vid all I get is greyscale colors when I choose a color. I went into appearance and put no fill then a color would work but its annoying to do that on every one. Do you know why this would happen?

[@MOON_dozer]

or nahhhhhhhhh

[@OstelloLizzola]

sorry but i haven't understand the passage of minute 6:50 i haveread the description on tabloid64 but i cant complete the procedure can you help me?? thanks

[@NickRiot]

6:44 whats the combination you use to make the color behind the lines?

[@josehernandez34]

thank y ou SOOOOO much on giving an explanation on how to make a inking brush. Hardest part to learn to do.

[@jeriheprianto2105]

This is a very great video. Short but contains a lot of essential information about creating with Adobe Illustrator. Thanks a lot👍

[@taylorkleven4224]

I need you to explain exactly what you did from 7:10 to 7:30. How do I even move just the line art to the new layer.

[@MysticPsyche]

use magic wand tool to select the black lines, right click on it and press Group. now the black outlines will have their own groups separate from the color layers. so now you can go to the layers panel, expand the arrow button, now you will see the black outline layers grouped together. you then move that black outline layer out of and on top of the color layer.

[@FahimMalikOfficial]

my draw dropped watching this, IM blown away at how amazing it is! I just ordered a Wacom One, and I really cant wait to practise this! You're so talented, and make it look so easy aha! I cant wait to try, but I think ill struggle with the colours/shading parts. I cant tell where they should go, but your work is honestly incredible! I will be using your brush settings :)) when my tablet comes

[@ChimichangaSENSEI]

I keep on trying to follow as closely your tutorial as possible, but after 6:40, I don't know how you do the fill color and just keep it only with the skull??? what other step am I missing??

[@InkyEU]

After merging the fill color shape and line art, using the Direct Select Tool (A), select the outer part of the color fill and delete it. Presto! You only have the skull filled in. :) Cheers and thanks for watching!

[@socaljc]

I used the same settings for the calligraphy brush however my brush doesn't have the "sharp" brush strokes at the end like yours do.

[@faizsani75]

JUSTIN CHANG same! 😭

[@siimr7309]

Everything is fine, but i cannot get to work this merging part, in your tutorial from 7:00. I repeat the steps, but after merging both the created path and backround, nothing happens.

[@fartman369]

@ 6:47 how did you show the skull on top of the base color? sorry im just new in using illustrator.

[@GeekdOut]

Can someone tell me how to perform 6:57 - 7:01? I've used the rectangle and sent to back, merged, and then selected the rectangle and line art... not sure what to do from this point.

[@nelsonicies4800]

yeah me too... i cnt seem to get it right

[@GeekdOut]

Darn keyboard short cuts! Her wording is a little off too when doing the steps which is understandable due to speaking while doing. Might be best to do the video tutorial and lay some audio over it when finished.

[@nelsonicies4800]

hahaha... tell me bout it, i was looking at the cursor and trying to figure out which key changed the cursor to that particular pattern.. lol

[@GeekdOut]

ah, still no answer!

[@backfallgenius9733]

that part is made out more confusing than it really is. what you basically need to do is select ALL the lineart, group it, cut, new layer, paste, and ungroup it all. THEN go back to the layer where your base color is and start punching out shapes that aren't actually there (holes, etc). she used a lot of keyboard shortcuts to do it so it's quite confusing

[@josephrex7766]

This was totally awesome. I need to get my hands on illustrator. The background music also makes it better

[@randomshashi6638]

Thank you so mu! I was struggling drawing vector art and this tutorial has helped a lot now I can draw and fill with colors, shading effortlessly! :)

[@MrJRhacks]

Why can't I choose pressure brush?

[@evelinenovatikarenpurba6714]

***** is there anyway to get pressure brush?

[@DunsdonIllustrates]

I'd never think to use Adobe Illustrator in such a painterly way. You're a master of your art!

[@ravenant8169]

Hi!, can anyone tell me how she can fill color with brush like 1:15 - 1:16 and also small details like 1:24 - 1:25?

[@madartzgraphics2019]

Love the music

[@loudhouse7662]

What's your thought process as you apply the shadows, highlights and small graphic elements that bring it to life? A tutorial in which you share your thought process would be fantastic! My greatest struggle is formulating where the shadows and highlights are to be placed, to give it the depth and graphic character. Love your style and you make it look so effortless. I refer to your tutorial very often.

[@javiervidales6387]

nice, a very simple trick to have an amazing line expression

[@wendy3641]

Hello! I have problem... I can't "ambed" picture how you doing in 0:17...

[@9876543210goodbye]

Great Video! You are a very talented artist.

[@aaronmichaelcarverjr.8067]

I am able to get this to work right up until 7:09 when she groups and then ungroups the layers. I merged (and alternatively, used divide, but either way) the line art and base color object together but when I used the magic wand tool on the line art and hit "group" like she did, I got a prompt that said, "Can't make a group of objects that are within different groups." I see no other groups in my layers, it's just a layer. If I try sending the line art to a different layer, it sends the base color object (blue like hers') with it. Is this because the magic wand tool selects the color object behind the line art AND the line art and she's hitting some hotkey that I don't know about?

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

+Aaron Michael Carver Jr. LMFAO!

[@JAGOTUBE]

Very good tips ... I'll be waiting for more tutorials.

[@reubenlim4749]

What are the steps that you did from 6:45 - 7:02? I was stuck and confused...

[@nicolasandradearavena3589]

como se hace lo del minuto 8:09 en adelante para no salirse de los vectores anteriores?

[@CMVATutorials]

Really nice job. Love your work. Just recently got a Cintiq and your video is very inspiring.

[@JD0BBY]

How do you get rid of only the blue background at 7:00 Thanks

[@joffrey682]

How do you make your line so accurate and smooth....is there a trick ore it's just by having a good hand mouvement? my line always end choppy I am using adobe flash and the smothness of my brush is 42