what's this technique called? Tutorial?

[fluidedge]

Hi, can you designers out there help me? I'm looking for tutorials on illustrator/photoshop that describe this sort of artwork:

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/gallery/gallery_2/june_2006?result_page=3
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/gallery/gallery_2/june_2006?result_page=2
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/gallery/gallery_2/june_2006?result_page=1
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/gallery/gallery_2/june_2006?result_page=6
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/gallery/gallery_2/june_2006?result_page=4

I know it's nothing new, but it seems to be on every advert i walk past at the moment and i'd love to know how to do it!

Cheers

[ChicoWeb]

That's not a technique, thats actually design. Is there anything specific you are looking for help with?

It's like saying, "guys, how do I build a car?"

[fluidedge]

ah, a designer with an attitude - who'd have thought it.

I'm looking for a tutorial on how such a piece is made, layer by layer, step by step.

[LeviG]

yeah agree with Chico Web, thats more of a combination of several techniques to get an overall style. What aspect are you after trying to replicate as I can see atleast 3 or 4 different techniques on each one.

edit: As to tutorials thats not exactly easy as they're individual pieces using combined techniques.
For example the first link is using multiple cloned images, hand drawn, images which have been converted to an illustrative style probably from photos, layering with effects to 'burn' parts of the underlaying scenes plus other bits and bobs to 'finish' the scene.

And I wouldn't say its an attitude just the observation of people who understand the basics behind it but need to know more about what you want to do to give you further information on what you need to be able to produce it yourself

[fluidedge]

thats what i thought - quite a lot of hand drawn illustrations scanned and then worked on.

I like all of the ribbon/swirl type things too are they hand drawn?

[ac6789]

I think this type of style/illustration is mainly a case of personal skill in illustration, composition and just natural artistic ability. Finding a step-by-step tutorial will be hard to come by, at most you'll probably find generic tutorials that will introduce you to the concepts and ideas behind the image, but an outright tutorial... I wish you good hunting! :)

If you search hard enough, you'll probably be able to find individual tutorials on the various elements used in the images, but eventually you will have to composite the pieces together yourself.

Here are some links to get some of the background elements (all from veerle.duoh.com):
Link 1 (http://veerle.duoh.com/blog/comments/creating_light_motion_trails_glowing_spark/) - light motion trail
Link 2 (http://veerle.duoh.com/blog/comments/transform_again_in_illustrator/) - Tutorial on creating circular elements
Link 3 (http://veerle.duoh.com/blog/comments/swirly_curls_in_adobe_illustrator/) - Curls

You'll find she only give the basics on how to do these effects and it's more of an exploration of the various tools available in illustrator/photoshop, but in the end it's up to the individual artist on how to incorporate them into your final compositions.

[fluidedge]

many thanks for those links. Nice tutorials there.

I fully appreciate it is the skill of the artist to come up with the final design, i was just hoping for a few links like the ones above that give ideas on the techniques incorporated. Or at least the 'keywords' to google for myself. 'Swirls' and 'illustrator' come up with precious little.

[ac6789]

I would advise breaking down the elements and do a search for those individually. You're being way to specific in what you want. Expand your horizons and do a more general search.

for the background: "Abstract vector backgrounds"
for the people try "photographs to vector"

or if you're familiar with photoshop and illustrator do a posterize to vector for any "people" images.

or even "vector effects" may get some tutorials

If I remember correctly Computer Arts did a tutorial on tracing out an image of a woman to vector, they used (the now defunct) Macromedia Freehand but I'm sure it can be accomplished via Illustrator as well. They created an image very similar to the samples you posted.

[fluidedge]

thanks again. I like the computer arts website. HUNDREDS of tutorials!!

I will investigate further those ideas. I've done a photo-->vector once but it looked a bit rubbish! (i'll try again :o)

[LeviG]

If I remember correctly Computer Arts did a tutorial on tracing out an image of a woman to vector, they used (the now defunct) Macromedia Freehand but I'm sure it can be accomplished via Illustrator as well. They created an image very similar to the samples you posted.

I vaguely remember a version where they used photoshop and a couple of layers to give a similar effect - looked pretty good actually too although no match to a true conversion etc.

[bluetooth]

Looks like there is also some retro elements in some of those examples. Try doing a search for "illustrator/photoshop retro design tutorials"

Here are a few more to help you out:

http://www.bittbox.com/illustrator/illustrator-how-to-make-custom-swooshes-swirls-and-curls/

http://www.fxdesigning.com/retrophoto.php

http://www.stealthdesignz.com/index2.php?page=photoshop/automaticretrodots

http://celestial-star.net/brushes/download/93/

[fluidedge]

cheers - like i said it seems to be incorporated into every print advert i see at the moment!

[ezekielrage_99]

That's not a technique, thats actually design. Is there anything specific you are looking for help with?

It's like saying, "guys, how do I build a car?"

I completely agree, it's about design and there are some very good designs there as well.

The designers who created this used a mixture of shapes, gradient, filters, photos and most importantly a working knowledge of the design philosophy.

Your best direction is to learn the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator before undertaking something as adventurous as this.

http://www.good-tutorials.com/

Good luck :cool: