Working with Illustrator CS5: Tips Tricks and Drawing Sprites Q's. & more.

ozboybrian

I have had some really helpful information on..

www.gshelper.com

But i'm wondering, why does the brush tool not allow me to use it sometimes?
How do I use the fill bucket tool? I don't see it.

I can't seem to cut objects with the lasso tool for some reason.

Also how do I draw sprites from SCRATCH is there a big secret?

Can you CURVE edges so they look curved? I did one thing but it looks chunky.

I have a sheild I designed for fun, how would I change the Texture with the basics (colour etc)

AND how do you change the Gradient tools colour (for the colour option that uses two colours that seem to reflect)

I wanna use lynda.com but i'm waiting for a reply to an email I sent them (they cost money)

thanks guys.

AppsRacK

1. You must be in the gradient mode. press shift + g to change it to bucket mode.
2. Check your layer if your cutting on the correct one.
3. no big secret but you must have good imagination and skills.
4. You can try changing the hue-saturation. Try to change the curves and level. experiment experiment experiment until you get what you like.
5. Theres a great tutorial in youtube, search it and you wont fail.
6. just click on the tab bar below the menu tabs.
7. yes thats how they earn for a living.

Hope i answer all your question.

-Drahc

ozboybrian

Haha Thanks Drahc, pretty good answers

ozboybrian

mmm Shift + G when using Gradient doesnt open bucket mode :S

ozboybrian

how do you insert the points to make curves? Trying to curve the top of a Square but it won't let me do it.

AppsRacK

I suggest you watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/user/CartoonSNAP

watch how he do the inking it will get you started.

ozboybrian

Thanks for your help man.

I just worked between Flash and Illustrator. Made things a little easier.

mattyr64

continuing drahc's list:

8. don't pay for lynda.com or entertain the thought. seriously, it seems like a quick way to figure stuff out. but in the long run you won't be doing yourself any favours. all the info you need is out there on the web, just search google for specific stuff, look on youtube for vids about it. it's easy to get into the mindset of just wanting the answers to how to do stuff and you think a certain book, or set of tutorials will suddenly turn you into the all knowing whiz kid professional, but it doesn't (i've been there!). i've learnt that finding info for yourself always helps you to LEARN it just keep posting here and there when you get stuck... for everything else, the answers are out there!

- Matty

ozboybrian

Thanks Matty,

Main reason I considered Lynda was just for the purpose of learning things I don't know about or that I wouldn't even think of looking up.

debugdesign

Illustrator is the best but it can be quite daunting at first.

The paint bucket, lasso slice etc is all to photoshop so forget about all that.

for illustrator you are best to start with the pen tool. So press (p) to bring it up and click on your start point and click around to create a pentagon or something and make sure you come back to the same point because when you do joint the beginning and end points that becomes solid.

Then you can use the color picker on the left control panel to give it a fill color or an outline stroke.

lesson 2: try and do the same again but when you make the 2nd point, hold the button down and move your hand about, this will make the straight line all bendy so instead of making a pentagon it will make a wiggly star.

Let me know if you get the hang of that.

simo103

I found this helpful to get started and then clicked around to the other videos in the series and beyond:

http://www.youtube.com/v/EZTj5YQxGLc?fs=1&hl=en_US