The 16th Graphics Expo 2011

A dobe Illustrator comes with a wide array of tools that helps you create and
edit vector shapes and objects. Vector graphics are made of lines and curves
so smooth and seemless that scaling them up to their maximum magnification
does not affect its quality. It remains crisp and sharp unlike bitmap images that
shows pixelation when magnified.

So imagine if you can view your portraits or pictures in vector format instead of
the usual bitmap format. That wouldd just be awesome right?

If you do an internet search, you will find that there are a number of websites that
hosts what we call “vector portraits”. These are stunning vector representations of
photographs recreated using either Photoshop or Illustrator or both. Have a look
at some them below so you would have a better idea.

These images look so realistic, you can’t even tell if they are photographs or vector
artwork. You too can create such artwork using Adobe Illustrator. But you need
to know how to use a number of tools within the program to be able to recreate
these works of art.
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The 16th Graphics Expo 2011

Things You’ll Need to Know...

For you to be able to create vector portraits, you should have a basic under-
standing and knowledge of Adobe Illustrator. Specifically with regard to us-
ing the following tools:

The Selection Tool

This is the dark-colored arrow you see on top of the Tools

panel. The selection tool lets you select objects in Illustrator,
move them to different locations within the artboard and can
also help you scale or rotate objects by dragging the handle
bars found in the corners of the bounding box that appears around an ob-
ject when it is selected.

The Direct Selection Tool

The direct selection tool is the white arrow you normally find
beside the selection tool. This tool differs from the selection
tool in that it lets you select not just the object buit the an-
chor points or lines that makes up the object itself.

This tool can alter the overall appearance of a shape in that it not only lets
you select and move anchor points and lines but it also lets you delete or
reduce the number of anchor points or lines that make up an object.

This tool will come in handy when you are already adjusting your mesh
lines that will control the distribution of color in your vector portrait.

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The 16th Graphics Expo 2011

The Paintbrush Tool

You use the paintbrush tool for drawing shapes you will be
needing for your vector portrait. You use this tool freehand-
style and works best for adding highlights to the hair, eye-
brows, or the lips. It is basically used for adding detail to
your artwork.

The Mesh Tool

Perhaps the most important tool in the vector portrait crea-

tion process, this tool lets you control the distribution of
colors in a given object which is a given for all photographs.
If gradients let you transition smoothly from one color to
another in a given direction or angle, the mesh tool gives
you more flexibility because you can control the flow of color in the most
unique directions. It can let you illustrate the highlights, midtones and low-
lights of an image more effectively.

The Swatches Panel

The swatches panel is where you will be

getting the colors you will apply to your
vector portrait. Best workflow for this
kind of job is to sample all the colors that
make up your photograph first so you can
store them in the swatches panel and then
just pick them up and apply them to your mesh lines by dragging and drop-
ping.

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The 16th Graphics Expo 2011

Basic Drawing

Though you will be tracing artwork when creating vector portraits, knowing
the basic drawing principles will help you plot your mesh lines according to
the contour and proportions of the human face. Below are some helpful tips
you can go by in plotting your mesh lines to align them to the parts of the
face.

• The average human head is like an inverted egg so you start off by drawing an inverted egg.
• Divide the egg in half horizontally. This should fall in the middle of your nose.
• Divide the egg vertically in half and this determines where your eyes should be.
• The middle of the nose and chin is where your mouth should fall.
• Divide the upper half in half once again and that is where your hairline should be.
• The middle of the hairline and the eyes is the where your eyebrows should be.
• The distance between the eyes is another eye.
• The size of the ears are usually from our eyebrow to the tip of our nose.

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The 16th Graphics Expo 2011

Additional Tips for Drawing the Eyes

When drawing the eyes, it’s best to draw two circles. One for the eye and one
for the middle of the eye. For those who have black eye color, the middle
cirle is usually going to bear the darkest color or shade of black while the big-
ger circle should be colored in a lighter shade of black. This is more obvious
for those who have blue or green eyes because the middle circle stands out
with its black color inside a blue or green circle.

To give emphasis to the light that strikes the eyes, add a white circle just be-
side the black middle circle to show more detail and a more realistic look.

It’s good to start the lips by drawing 3 circles as illustrated below. These
circles represent the area where light strikes the lips so it should give you a
headstart on what part you should apply the lightest color or swatch. The
area outside of these circles should be colored with the darked shades then.

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