How To Make Vector Art in Adobe Fresco! From Sketch to Finished Products.

It's easy to create vector art in Adobe Fresco on your ipad.
Creating your artwork in vector format gives it incredible versatility. Being able to create vector artwork can open the doors to a lot of different project opportunities as an illustrator. In the past, this was a bit more complicated. But we're not in the past anymore, the future is here!
In Adobe Fresco, drawing in vector is just as easy as working in traditional pixel brushes-like you would in Procreate. In fact, it's actually easier in some ways as a result of an amazing trick called Vector Trimming that I'll show you how to use!
In Adobe Fresco you can create vector artwork easily without having to wrestle with the pen tool in illustrator, mastering the fine art of bezier curves. In this video I walk through my process from sketch to final art on a recent project I worked on including engraved wood graphics, a t-shirt design, custom sticker sheet, and a custom marker.
Check out the Chris Piascik X Create Originals capsule:
www.createoriginals.com/custo...
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @chris-piascik
Join our growing creative community on Discord: / discord
💌 Sign up to my mailing list and get a free download!: www.chrispiascik.com/free-dow...
🖌 Photoshop/Procreate/Fresco Brushes: tinyurl.com/retrosupply
🛒 Stuff I use and Recommend: tinyurl.com/CPamazonshop
🔍 You can also find me on:
🤳🏻 Instagram: / chrispiascik
🕺🏻 TikTok: / chris_piascik
👨🏻‍🎨 My website: chrispiascik.com
🤷🏻‍♂️ Linktree: linktr.ee/chrispiascik
👨‍🎓 FREE Month of Skillshare: tinyurl.com/MYSKILLSHARE
DISCLOSURE: I sometimes review and/or link to products & services I have used (or tried). When available, I use referral links, which means if you click one of the links in this video or description and make a purchase I may receive a small commission or other compensation.
Often times, the links to products/gear are links to those products on Amazon. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for content creators to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.
#vectorart #adobefresco #vectorgraphic #adobefrescovector

[@chris-piascik]

Check out more Adobe Fresco tips and tutorials here: kzbin.info/aero/PLAufnRAvMJPA-HqPweZI908u7K1Lmrc2y!

[@ShawnQuiQui57]

more vector training than my whole college experience

[@robertfulton4232]

Agreed 2 years of art and design college cost me $24,000 learned more on Chris’s channel in 2 weeks, only real benefit of college for me was figure drawing and colour theory, good shit Chris keep going! Thanks for sharing your knowledge my adhd isn’t good for in class but your videos got me hooked on learning 🤘🏼🔥🇨🇦

[@chris-piascik]

hah, well I'm glad I could help!

[@chris-piascik]

Happy to help!!

[@hollum1648]

Not enough people talk about Fresco. Procreate is great for painting and sketching but the lack of vectors is a modern graphic designer’s nightmare 😂

[@chris-piascik]

Yeah Fresco has been slept on a bit.

[@joselucnico]

You ll be surprise.

[@KINGDOMPRENUERS]

Lol if you say that to the Graphic Design community they will find you lol!!! I'm in a group as moderator of over 67k students and Procreate is like the untouchable term lmbo these folks have no idea how much truth you just said lol. Let me add more gasoline to the fire, it's not what I consider industry standard it's only popular because Apple users are good marketing zombies no matter what lmbo. 😂😂😂😂

[@KINGDOMPRENUERS]

​@@chris-piascikwhat tablet can I use as an alternative to the iPad for graphic design? I can't afford the iPad right now.

[@pookiepats]

@@KINGDOMPRENUERStry 2nd hand / used. Trust me when I say you will do yourself no favors trying to progress on lackluster tools. Scrape and save and get a base model 10in (new ones are as cheap as $300). Anything else you buy won’t serve you well and it will have garbage resale value so it’s a dead investment. Ipad is going to be your cheapest viable entry point.

[@SugarHue]

Ok I must say, wow! Vector art has come ALONG way! I was intimidated by Illustrator years and years ago, I couldnt get the hang of it. And I havent tried it since, I didnt realize fresco was a thing util very recently and its so much easier now!

[@chris-piascik]

Glad I could help!

[@steelswitch1245]

This is great. Especially when you use the default brushes. I hate when people use a custom or bought brush in a tutorial

[@chris-piascik]

Glad you liked it!

[@KayRae1221]

Chris, my dude. THANK YOU. I can’t tell you how many Google searches I’ve done looking for a program that allows me to draw like I can on Procreate, but in vector form so I can up my game. You are literally the first source I’ve found that has shown me the ways a program is similar in that way to Procreate. Everything else I’ve watched/read has been very vector node based (like in Illustrator), with very little info on the drawing capabilities. After months of research, you are the person who finally helped me decide on which program to purchase! Thank you, fellow ADHDer, for putting such informative and clear information out there for fellow creatives!

[@chris-piascik]

So glad this was helpful! I appreciate the thoughtful comment!

[@nicholaschavez1416]

I just recently started using Fresco and its been a godsend. This video helped me out tremendously. Procreate has been my comfort zone for the past few years but I've been wanting to switch to vector artwork for my graphic commissions. Creating on Illustrator always felt unnatural to me as an artist. Thanks for sharing your Fresco + Illustrator process.

[@chris-piascik]

So glad this was helpful!

[@tucoerquilenne6765]

I think it would be awesome if you put together a paid for course on using Fresco from beginner to advanced. I would definitely buy the course. Your videos are informative and awesome to learn from.

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks, I have something in the works!

[@mpinkycrazy]

Thank you soo much!!! Loved this video! It's so good to see how you work from start to finish

[@chris-piascik]

That’s so nice to hear!

[@sunjayarmstead]

This tutorial is SO helpful. I love your teaching style - calm, thorough, and approachable. 👏🏽

[@chris-piascik]

i love to hear it, thx!! 😁

[@sunjayarmstead]

@@chris-piascik you bet!

[@trip_carroll]

Chris, just found your channel today! Really excited to get more familiar with Fresco. I've been a designer for the last 15 years, but haven't done branding work in a while. This tool is just what I wanted five years ago when branding was all I was doing. Can't wait to use this for my brand work!!!

[@chris-piascik]

glad you're finding it useful!

[@chevvyvann8951]

That video was an awesome breakdown. I love your art but your editing is right up there.

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks so much Chevvy!!

[@awags2281]

Great video and simple instructions dipping my toes back into making my own vectors for lasering projects

[@chris-piascik]

Cool, thanks!

[@phillblake6829]

Relaxing vibe to the whole video

[@chris-piascik]

thank you! 😄

[@itsJuanita1]

🎉thank you so much for this ❤ I’m designing concepts for a book and convert them to digital art 😮this is a great video to guide me through fresco design beginning to end. So hard to find simple fresco, or ANY fresco guides… Massive thanks xx

[@chris-piascik]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@JerryMeehanJr]

dude i just found your channel from the ipad stand thing and am hooked so glad you popped up!

[@chris-piascik]

Oh cool! Thanks!

[@mona4761]

Amazing. I use illustrator regularly for 10+ years now and just started using procreate a year ago or so. I am kind of confused about raster, coloring, and printing output in procreate but still like the feeling of painting with pencil there. This Fresco is going to be promising. Thank you for sharing!

[@chris-piascik]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arr84.design]

Just discover Fresco like a monthe ago and.. It's really really underated. Fresco is all what I always wanted from Illustrator. Easy and neat.

[@chris-piascik]

Agreed! It’s great.

[@Andra_JD]

This was an awesome video!! Thank you so much!!

[@chris-piascik]

So glad you thought so!

[@sarahlorienphotography]

Fantastic tutorial thank you!

[@chris-piascik]

you're welcome! glad you like it!!!

[@TristonS27X]

I enjoy your Art videos and they inspire me to create similar Art. I want to start soon but don't have the necessary materials yet.

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks! For years I just worked with a black marker on paper.

[@phillblake6829]

Great video great presentation and teaching style and a relatable guy. Cool studio too definitely subscribed

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks for the sub! Means a lot!! ☺️

[@danielahermosillo8991]

Thank you! This video is really useful and is helping me a lottt!

[@chris-piascik]

I'm so glad!

[@josephbbradford]

I see that sword of omens 👏

[@rbudboy]

Thank you teacher🙏

[@chris-piascik]

you're very welcome! 🤩

[@tom_norman]

Soooo… you’re so good that I might just have to become a member. You’re a great teacher and very inspiring to see a fellow “ADHD’er” (⬅️ what?) doing well, the struggle is real. Thanks for the vids and vibes!

[@chris-piascik]

Oh thanks so much, that’s nice to hear!

[@lugo175]

Jesus , I just got an ipad and fresco is looking good , really cool channel bro

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks!

[@phillblake6829]

Cool art style too

[@chris-piascik]

thxx!! 😄

[@hotmonkeyfilms]

This is an excellent informative Tutorial.

[@chris-piascik]

So glad you think so!

[@royal_kira7184]

Thanks for another awesome tutorial video Professor Piascik! I really like the way you teach, like in a real human, conversational way that is not too insrtuctor-y (like the voice that teaches Goofy how to do things or any corporate training video…) BTW, it would be awesome if you could make a half tone pattern in Illustrator so you can re-use it and save some time - but can you even open illustrator or pdf files in Fresco?

[@chris-piascik]

Oh thanks so much! Unfortunately you can't currently import vector stuff into Fresco-hoping that's coming soon!

[@jonb2811]

Awesome Video!

[@chris-piascik]

Thank you!

[@dgnhrd_74]

Thx alot - now it makes sense ;-)

[@chris-piascik]

Glad it helped!

[@xxo5294]

Suddenly I’m leaving procreate behind and sticking with fresco exclusively

[@chris-piascik]

It happened to me too.

[@dianalisarobinson3714]

Another great informational vid. Of course entertaining as well..that goes without saying Lol

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks so much!

[@emmamariamakes]

Awesome overview! I was wondering if it is possible to add more vector brushes like from illustrator, do you know? Thanks!

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks, unfortunately that's not currently possible.

[@MrKnoxville9]

Excellent video Chris, only thing I would have liked to see is when you switched to Illustrator it would have been great if you had done it on your I pad as then the whole video would have been relevant to those of us that work mobile. Also I have just started getting my head (slightly) round Illustrator on my iPad as I often need to have a vector finish but I do find it a struggle still coming from learning everything in the very intuitive Procreate, do you think I would find it easier to do my vector work in Fresco or to push on through and struggle on with iPad Illustrator? Really appreciate any guidance.

[@chris-piascik]

Hi! Sorry for the slow response. To be honest, I almost never use illustrator on the iPad because I’m so used to the workflow on the desktop. For me drawing directly in Fresco is the easiest way to make vector art as I can just draw normally.

[@truthseeker318]

Hey dude, learned a lot from you - thanks! Does Fresco allow you to manipulate anchor points on the Vector artwork as it does in Illustrator? Of course that would be great if you need to create different versions of a character to create new characters.

[@chris-piascik]

Happy to hear! You can’t currently edit anchor points in Fresco, it’s sort of just drawing normally, but it happens to be vector, if that makes sense?

[@alphonzosolorzano5011]

Great Vid, nice & concise even for people starting out I think. I've been running into the same issue when importing Fresco vector linework into AI and having to merge layers and clean up some of the small weird bits. Wondering if someone's come up with a clever script to clean up in one go. I seem to always have a few scattered bits in the file.

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks! Fresco actually has added something that helps a bit. If you go into your App settings, and then choose "Experimental" you'll see an option to "Simplify Vector Layers."

[@alphonzosolorzano5011]

@@chris-piascik cool thanks I'll check that out. But when's that Adobe sponsorship coming🤔

[@emmamariamakes]

Frankentoon has a macro to ‘clean up’ for illustrator and Affinity

[@Nicols93]

how do you exports the file in vectors? sorry, I'm new on these things and I don't understand how can I use my artworks made it on Fresco in vectors, for printings or t-shirt or even for an instagram post, PDF files are not good for most of the things that I wrote before.

[@smarinay]

Go magical math go!

[@chris-piascik]

🙏🙏🙏

[@robertfulton4232]

Chris not sure if I missed it but what is that tomb you have for your iPad looks heavy duty

[@chris-piascik]

This is the Astropad Darkboard. I talk about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJaxoWqtgK-fgs0

[@Solewashere]

Hey Chris! Thanks for the video - you got me to try out Fresco in a time of need. However, anytime I've tried to scale up my design in Photoshop, it gets completely pixelated. Any possibility you've ran into this before and may have a solution? I've only used vector layers and tried deleting my clipping masks which has set me back exponentially after finding that wasn't the reason. Thanks!

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks! Are you inadvertently converting them to pixel layers? You’ll be able to tell by the icon next to the layer in Fresco. In Photoshop if you double click on a vector layer it should open up in illustrator.

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

Super useful. Thanks for posting. I'm going to draw today.

[@chris-piascik]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Moresco24]

This is very useful, if I wanted to make a vector I made a repeating pattern could I do that in fresco or what app would be easiest for that ? thank you

[@chris-piascik]

You could make a vector repeating pattern in Fresco but you’d have to cut it up manually to make the tile. If you did it the easy way by exporting to capture I don’t think it would maintain its vector-ness, but I could be wrong. I’ll have to try. Illustrator would be a good option though.

[@van_gede]

Hi. Great video. Is it enought to print png image file to print or should I give psd file?

[@chris-piascik]

The file type is not important, it’s the resolution. To know if it’s suitable for print it must be at least 300dpi at 100% of the print size. So if you wanted to print something 10in wide, it would need to be at least 3000 pixels wide (10x300).

[@chris-piascik]

Also, thank you!

[@el2themeck]

Hi Chris I have a question about the paint bucket fill. There is a bit of empty space between the lines of the reference layer and the amount of space that the paint bucket seems to fill? Do you also experience this and if so what do you do to correct this? Thanks Len

[@chris-piascik]

Hi Len, I’ve only experienced this a couple times and each time it’s just a preview thing. When I zoom in close, the space is not there.

[@Matthew_Turner]

Okay maybe a dumb question but the style of your artwork like on the T-shirt what is that style of artwork called? Love it!

[@chris-piascik]

Not a dumb question, but I don’t know if there’s a specific name, it’s just sort of my style. I know there’s similar stuff out there, but I like to think mine is somewhat unique. But I think it’s like a hybrid of cartoon, street art, and retro design or something.

[@robertfulton4232]

Hey Chris! Is there a way to make your own VECTOR brush? Say a half tone pattern on a brush, say dots then the snap to line would space them evenly when is straightens out while also tapering with weight pressure?

[@chris-piascik]

Unfortunately not currently-hoping that comes!

[@tucoerquilenne6765]

I am sure Kyle has something cooking for that. If not he needs to get some suggestions for that type of brush. @@chris-piascik

[@kzbee]

Hi! I love your art! I want to do this so bad but my resources are limited, I only have a laptop. Can you maybe do something like this in Illustrator? I feel like I can do so much better with this than with the pen tool in AI though 😂

[@chris-piascik]

Thank you! You could use the blob brush tool in illustrator-that works similar to normal drawing.

[@thomasherrera658]

Is this fresco a app ? New to the digital art world. Been hand drawing and painting for yrs. Figured its time to move up in the world of art.

[@chris-piascik]

Yes, it’s available for the iPad and also Windows devices (but it should be a touch device to work properly).

[@hotmonkeyfilms]

What size document do you make when drawing in vector? I know 300dpi does not matter but I more concerned about how different documents sizes can make a similar looking brushes look the same size at 5 px or 1000 px. I just wondering what good practices are so I’m not dealing with the extreme ends of setting it up. Thanks

[@chris-piascik]

When I’m drawing in pixel based brushes I usually set my document to at least 4000 pixels wide regardless of print size (if it’s going to be printed). I find that gives me the best control over my brush. This isn’t as much of an issue with vector brushes, but I’ll still usually work at a minimum of 2500 pixels when using vector brushes. Hope that helps!

[@SelkG4m3r]

Thanks for all your videos. Tell Adobe to push the developers of Fresco for Android, we lose Ai Draw long time ago and still waiting. I enjoy so much working with Fresco on my Surface but also want to have it on my Android device.

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks! I don't really have much(any) input on what Adobe does.

[@SelkG4m3r]

@@chris-piascik any moment... You will, you rock!

[@chris-piascik]

😊 😊😊😊

[@jecosmiano]

do you use RGB mode for digital printed designs? or CMYK?

[@chris-piascik]

It sort of depends on how it’s being printed. If it’s something that is being mass produced it’s generally going to need to be CMYK, but a lot of the print on demand companies or digital printers are emulating RGB so you often get better results sticking with RGB for those situations.

[@kerrymitchell3982]

Can you merge layers in fresco ? I downloaded illustrator for the iPad and I don’t know how to merge layers. Would fresco be better for this ?

[@chris-piascik]

Yes it’s easy to merge layers, you just tap the layer to get the layer menu and choose “merge down”

[@BluCranium]

Hey Chris, does fresco have the ability to create a layer mask? so as to be able to separate the line art layer from a white background? i could you do a tutorial video on that if it does for a future video, also had sent you a DM on Insta not sure if you got it or you get a ton of them.

[@chris-piascik]

Hey, fresco can do layer masks, but it sounds like all you’d need to do is put your line work on a separate layer from the background. I’m sorry I missed your DM, I do get a ton on there.

[@BluCranium]

I think I found the answer in one of your videos.@@chris-piascik

[@inquizitive1]

Great vid... but.. Why does vector lines when you open them in photoshop look pixelated?

[@chris-piascik]

Thanks, if you open your file in Photoshop it's likely converting them to pixel because Photoshop is mainly a raster based program.

[@tatamigaIaxy]

photoshop doesn’t support vector types. it’s probably a vector smart object being displayed on a pixel canvas.

[@leonardoramirezcarrasco5692]

is possible to create a halftone brush? for shadows for example?

[@chris-piascik]

Unfortunately there isn’t currently a way to make halftone pattern vector brushes in Fresco. Hoping there will be more options for this in the future.

[@diegobolanos2893]

El Dibu!!

[@chris-piascik]

😇

[@christophermccaig6160]

I might have missed it but what file do you need to export from procreate to be able to cleanup the lines in fresco?

[@christophermccaig6160]

Jk I found it! Lol great video

[@chris-piascik]

Oh glad to hear! Thanks!!

[@albertlebron4885]

🫨vector trimming !!!whhaaa

[@chris-piascik]

ikr!! 🤩

[@Life_of_TUSH]

Do you have to load your vector? Are you finish in fresco to Photoshop? Can you just do it direct

[@markjching]

What is that ipad stand you have?

[@chris-piascik]

This is Darkboard by Astropad: shop.astropad.com/products/darkboard?sca_ref=3945225.VmwOixKAye

[@rickjr111589]

where do you get your sticker sheets printed?

[@chris-piascik]

These were printed with StickerMule.

[@jbello9398]

Will this work like Procreate? Is it as easy? If so I will switch

[@chris-piascik]

Fresco and Procreate are very similar. I prefer Fresco though, especially bc of the vector abilities.

[@bobtem1]

Can Illustrator open a vector file created in Fresco? From the open dialog window within Illustrator (either on my Mac or iPad) I don’t see any Fresco files that I saved to my Adobe CC account. If I use the same open dialog screen from within PS, I can see the files I created in Fresco.

[@chris-piascik]

There's not a direct way, but towards the end of this video I demonstrate exporting your vector file to illustrator. You can export a PDF and open that in AI, or simply tap the Open A Copy in Illustrator option.

[@rosalbacolindres1591]

👍👍

[@chris-piascik]

😎

[@DobynsMedia]

Is this on a drawing pad or and Ipad?

[@chris-piascik]

This is an iPad.

[@fakepeople5347]

can you make a tutorial how to make a blur effect. in adobe fr?

[@chris-piascik]

There’s currently not a very straightforward way to do it, but I’ll put some thought into it.

[@honeymirouwi]

Can we edit the path or point in vector brush? Like in illustrator? Sorry for my bad english

[@chris-piascik]

No, in Fresco vector is basically just like drawing with the blob brush in illustrator.

[@honeymirouwi]

And how to change the background colour

[@honeymirouwi]

​@@chris-piascikthankk youu soo muchh

[@thehallhive9425]

​@@chris-piascikbut if you export it over to open in Ai, you could edit the points then couldn't you?

[@chris-piascik]

Yep! If you open it in illustrator you can adjust the points there.

[@CaliberDawn]

Can I auto open a vector image I made on Fresco to Illustrator? I’m confused how that works, I know the files auto show up on Photoshop regardless of using vector brushes.

[@chris-piascik]

Yes, you can choose open in Illustrator where you export. You can also save a pdf and open that in illustrator.

[@skeskali]

I keep trying to convince myself that I need to know Illustrator (or Affinity Designer) for vector work, but I end up abandoning them and going back to Fresco every time.

[@chris-piascik]

It really does make it super easy.

[@LaPrimaRara]

What happens if you try Riso brushes to color vector art? Do they get pixeled?

[@chris-piascik]

They would if you tried to scale them up much bigger. But if you’re working at a large enough canvas size it would be fine.

[@thehallhive9425]

Question... Why would graphic designers/illustrators/etc really ever want to draw with raster and have to worry about sizing if vector eliminated that worry? I only doodle and haven't done so seriously, but I've never understood what the pros are to drawing with something that has to have the final purpose fully understood before actually drawing because of scaling limitations. Why not just go ahead and do everything in vectors? I'm assuming there are cons to that that still have people choosing raster most of the time. I'd love to know!

[@chris-piascik]

There are limitations to the amount of detail can you achieve with vector art. You can’t quite emulate an authentic analog look with real textures like you can with raster brushes. Any sort of painterly style isn’t really possible in vector, or natural looking shading, realism, etc.

[@fot3k]

Really wish they would bring this out on Android, Samsung Ultra tablets are made for this!

[@chris-piascik]

Maybe some day!

[@mattiesanders1851]

Great video! Your mic looks like an ice cream sandwich!

[@chris-piascik]

It does! 😂😂

[@dhavalchauhan4580]

where is the modifier option ?

[@chris-piascik]

It’s the little circle on your art board. You may have inadvertently turned it off in your settings.

[@Galih4]

Can I add an audio file?

[@chris-piascik]

No, fresco doesn’t have an option to import audio.

[@kriss12loverap]

U could just turn the image into pixels. Magic erase backround. And turn it into vector.

[@chris-piascik]

That would sort of work, but live tracing pixel based artwork isn’t perfect.

[@chillywilson]

The cloud based app save makes any speed of this program go right out the door. I hate this cloud based must save on server app stuff.

[@chris-piascik]

The files are saved locally while you’re working on them. There shouldn’t be any delay on anything. As someone that has been drawing for a living digitally for almost 20 years I find Fresco to be the snappiest and have never had any lag even with files that have many layers of animation.

[@chillywilson]

@@chris-piascik If they are saved locally then where are they? They aren't in my NAS, are they storing them in TEMP files on drive that shouldn't be used for working files? Do you see the issue here

[@miahsix]

vector!!! Haha

[@chris-piascik]

lol glad you liked that.

[@Brianmatthewlewis]

Sooo… is it preview mode or outline mode? 🤣🍕

[@chris-piascik]

lol

[@redhawlthecyberghost3974]

What do you mean by monday bad candy for stinktober,

[@chris-piascik]

The prompts are intentionally vague so that you can do whatever you want for them

[@harshpro]

i thtought the mic was an icecrewam sandwich bruh

[@chris-piascik]

I wish

[@therealdannydanvers]

I'm very aggressively shouting "WHAT EVEN IS VECTOR ART WORK" at my screen. #teamaggressivequestions

[@chris-piascik]

lolol

[@zaepian]

I’m gonna be completely honest - I was slightly triggered that he continued to call it preview mode after he’d discovered it was called outline mode. 😖😂

[@zaepian]

Honestly great video, though. I’m proficient with AI but was unaware AF was so capable. Gonna be spending a lot more time in that app now!

[@chris-piascik]

lol! you caught me!

[@rogerrtewwr4723]

Hello, What Ipad stand is that for your desk that you are using?

[@chris-piascik]

This is the Astropad Darkboard.

[@_HealthySoil]

Very well explained video and very helpful @mediaartssbcc

[@chris-piascik]

thank you!!