This tutorial provides a guide to the process of applying texture, brush strokes and half-tone to vector artwork.

Textured vector graphics are becoming increasingly

popular as designers strive for a retro aesthetic.
Illustrator designs no longer have to be flat and
lifeless, instead they can have a tactile, three-
dimensional effect.
This simple tutorial will guide you through the
process of applying depth and dimension to
graphics. Stylesight provides easy steps explaining
how to apply brushes, grain effects, gradients,
blending modes and halftone patterns to vector
artworks.
This tutorial was created In Illustrator CS5.
Download the artwork seen in the tutorial here.
Step 1 Brushes Panel
Start by downloading the artwork shown in the background here. To
add an artistic or textured stroke to a shape you will need to open
up the Brushes panel, Window > Brushes. In the Brushes panel
select the drop down menu and go to Open Brush Library >
Artistic > Artistic_ChalkCharcoalPencil.
Step 2 Brushes Panel
The Artistic_ChalkCharcoalPencil panel will appear. Here you
can choose from a selection of pre-set brushes, in various widths
and intensities.
Select a shape with your Selection tool (double click until your
shape is in Isolation Mode this makes it easier to work with) and
click on your desired brush stroke. You can change the weight of
the brush in the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke). Here Charcoal
Feather with a weight of 0.5 pt. is a sample choice.
Step 3 Expanding Strokes
Now expand the stroke. Go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 4 Pathfinder Panel
Once the stroke is expanded, you will need to merge it with the
shape to create one complete object. Make sure the Pathfinder
panel is open (Window > Pathfinder) then click on the shape and
go to Unite in the Pathfinder panel. Sometimes the color changes,
so you may have to fill the shape again with the original color.
Click esc to exit isolation mode. *You may need to bring the object
to the front to see the complete effect (Object > Arrange > Bring
to Front).
Step 5 Increment Settings
For the next few steps you will need to change your Keyboard
Increment to 200pt. This will allow you to nudge a duplicated
shape to the side of your artboard while you work on it, and then
you can simply nudge it back to its original position. To do this, go
to Preferences (at the top of your screen) and change the
Keyboard Increment to 200pt.
Step 6 Gradient
Now duplicate the shape and paste in the same place (Cmd+C,
Cmd+F). Hit the left arrow key on your keyboard to nudge it to the
left. Make sure your Gradient panel is open (Window > Gradient)
and add a light to dark gradient to the shape. You can alter the
colors by double clicking on the Gradient Slider icons and move
the sliders to adjust the position of your gradient.
* (Cmd) for Mac, (Ctrl) for PC
Step 7 Grain Effect
Now it's time to add texture to the shape. Click on the shape and go
to Effects > Texture > Grain.
Step 8 Grain Effect
A new window will appear where you can adjust the settings of the
grain effect. Here we have chosen an Intensity of 10, a Contrast
of 30 and changed the Grain Type to regular. Click ok and you will
be taken back to the artwork.
Step 9 Blending Mode
Then hit the right arrow key to nudge the shape back into its
original position. In the Appearance panel (Window >
Appearance) click Opacity, and then change the blending mode to
Lighten.
Step 10 Repeat Process
Repeat this process on some of the other shapes and adjust any
settings to fit, i.e. alter the brush type, grain settings, gradient colors
and blending modes.
Step 11 Halftone
Next, we want to fill some of the shapes with halftone to add more
depth to the artwork. Firstly, go to the drop down menu in the
Swatches panel and go to Open Swatch Library > Patterns >
Basic Graphics > Basic Graphics_Dots. A Basic
Graphics_Dots panel will appear.
Step 12 Halftone
Now it's time to customize the color of the dots to suit the artwork.
Drag your desired swatch (I have used the Undulating Coarse Dot
swatch) onto your artboard, select all the lines of dots individually
with the Direct Selection tool and color them in a tone to add
depth.
Step 13 Halftone
Now drag the newly colored dots into the Swatch panel and a
thumbnail will appear. You can now delete the dots on the side of
your artboard.
Step 14 Halftone
Double click on a shape or group of shapes you wish to fill with
halftone, so you enter Isolation Mode. Then copy and paste the
group into the same place (Cmd+C, Cmd+F). Click on your newly
colored swatch in the Swatch panel and the shapes should fill with
this pattern.
* (Cmd) for Mac, (Ctrl) for PC
Step 15 - Scale Tool
To adjust the scale of the dots, double click the Scale tool in the
Tool panel. A window will appear. Make sure the Preview box and
Pattern box are ticked. Pattern should be the only box ticked in the
Options section of the window. You can now adjust the scale.
Step 16 - Repeat Process
Repeat the same process, adding texture to other shapes until you
are happy with the end result.
Heres the before and after so you can see how
effective adding texture can be. Explore the
Swatch and Brushes libraries in Illustrator and
experiment with all of the different types, its an
excellent resource. If you're feeling extra creative,
try creating your own brushes and fills with these
easy to follow tutorials;
Creating a Simple Pattern Swatch
Creating seamless repeat patterns in illustrator