Master the Basics of Adobe Illustrator to Create Awesome Illustrations

Design a movie poster with simple tools in Adobe Illustrator

Concept and Sketching

1. Start a new file

   Start a new blank file and turn on the "snap to pixel grid" option under the advanced tab.

   Also make sure color mode is set to RGB.

   

2. Adjust Blob Brush settings

   Adjust the Blob brush setting. Set Fidelity to Accurate, set size to pressure and variation to max.

   

3. Make a first sketch

   Make a rough sketch to determine the overal layout.

   

4. Sketch with more detail

   Once you're happy with the overall layout of the poster. You can add more detail to the sketch.

   

5. Color in the sketch

   Once you've made the sketch it's time to color it in. Use basic flat colors for each separate object.

   

6. Add shadows and light

   Final step in sketching is adding shadows and light to the sketch. Use HSB color to easily set different values of the base color to pick a shadow color or highlight color.

   

Tracing your Sketch

1. Select sketch and set opacity

   Select your sketch and give it an opacity so you can easily see what you're doing when drawing over it. Also lock the sketch so you don't accidentally keep selecting it.

   

2. Trace your sketch

   Use the Pen Tool to trace your sketch.

   Tip: If you have no experience using the Pen Tool try tracing a Peugeot logo for practice. This logo is perfect for learning the Pen Tool because it has a lot of different curves and corners.

   

3. Divide and unite shapes

   Select all the trace shapes and click on Divide. 

   Ungroup and delete shapes you don't need.

   Unite all shapes that needs to be joined.

   

Adding Detail and Color

1. Color in the shapes

   Select the traced shapes and use the Eye-Dropper tool to pick the corresponding color from your sketch. 

   

2. Add gradients

   Select shapes and move the base color in to the gradient bar. Add new levels of that color to create gradients.

   

3. Add detail

   Zoom in on illustration and work on detail. Add new shapes with Pen Tool.

   

Finalizing

1. Add movie title and credits

   Pick a font that fits the illustration and film then play around with it to create a nice title.

   Add credits.

   

   Subtle Brush set 3 by WeFunction

2. Curve illustration

   Move your illustration to photoshop and use curves to tweak the colors until you are satisfied. 

   

3. Add noise and texture

   Create a new layer and give it a gray tone. 

   Go to filter and add a 1% noise (monochromatic turned on)

   Set layer to Soft Light.

   Use brushes to add texture.