vectors

Playing with Vectors in Pixelmator

abduzeedo — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:53:55 +0000

One of the new features of Pixelmator 2 is the vector tools. You can create primitve shapes like rectangles, triangles, ellipses and edit them like in Illustrator or using paths in Photoshop. I decided to give it a try and create a poster using some impossible structures like Escher.

So in this tutorial I will show you how to create a poster using the vector tool in Pixelmator mixed with some textures and basic painting tools. The whole process won't take you more than 45 minutes and I am sure you will like the outcome.

Step 1

Open Pixelmator and create a new document. I am using 1200x1600 pixels. After that select the Rectangle Shape Tool and add a rectangle like the image below.

Step 2

Click on the gear at the top right of the window and select Make Editable. Then click on the rectangle twice to edit the points. Move the bottom points to start adding a perspective to the rectangle. Duplicate the rectangle and again edit the points to create a 3D object. Note: add one shape per layer, not all in one layer only, otherwise it's not possible to select different colors for each side of the object.

Step 3

This is the basic object that we will use to create the whole composition.

Step 4

Duplicate the basic object and rotate. Move it to the left and match the edges.

Step 5

Duplicate again and rotate to finish the triangle.

Step 6

Select the bottom side of the horizontal object and the right side of the one on the right. Use a dark grey for the color. To do that is easy now in Pixelmator. Just select the shapes and the go to Shape Settings and select the Fill Color.

Step 7

Select the left side of the left object and the top one of the bottom object and fill it with a light grey.

Step 8

Select the other 2 shapes and use a middle grey. You might have to adjust the order of the layers and also adjust the middle grey one on the left. It will be on top of the bottom object, just move it so you have something like the image below.

Step 9

Time for some refinements, especially with strokes and the connection of the objects. Once you do that the impossible triangle is done :)

Step 10

Add a new layer and then with the Gradient Tool (G) fill the layer with a radial gradient with black on the outside and dark grey in the center.

Step 10

Select the light object at the bottom and add a layer on top of it. Go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask. After that with the Brush Tool (B) and a big soft brush you will paint with black to create a shadow on that area.

Step 11

Repeat the same for the other 2 inner sides.

Step 12

Duplicate the left side and move it down. The idea here is to create the letter A of Abduzeedo.

Step 13

Repeat the same thing for the other side. You will have to create the top part of this object. Do that using a very dark grey for the color. It will give the depth we need to make the impression it is behind the impossible triangle.

Step 14

Now lets add a paper texture on top of everyhing. The one I am using is by R-studio and it's called Paper Texture. Courtesy of Shutterstock.

Add the texture on top of all the other layers and change the Blending to Multiply. After that go to Image>Hue and Saturation. Reduce the saturation to almost greyscale. Duplicate this layer and change the Blending to Color Burn at 30%.

Step 15

Select just the vector objects with shadows and duplicate them. After that merge the duplicated layers so you will have one layer with the impossible A. Rotate it and move it behind the main object. The last thing to do here is to change the Opacity to 10%.

Step 16

Duplicate a few more times to create a sort of pattern for the background.

Step 17

Add a new layer on top of all others. Select the Brush Tool (B) and then a very soft brush. Start paiting with blue, yellow and pink. Use the image below for reference. You can also try different colors to fit your taste and style.

Conclusion

Change the Blending of the previous layer to Overlay and the design is done. Just add the text you want and that is it, you have a nice poster design using impossible objects.

Pixelmator 2 and the vector tools make the process of creating this kinds of shapes much easier. It's all about trying and exploring.

Download the Pixelmator File

Click here to download the Pixelmator file used for this tutorial

About the author

Abduzeedo is a blog about design. There are all sorts of articles for those who want to look for inspiration. Also you will find very useful tutorials for the most used applications out there, with a special selection of Photoshop Tutorials and Illustrator Tutorials. You can get in follow us via Twitter at @abduzeedo

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Colorful Illustrations by Roya Hamburger

abduzeedo — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:30:26 +0000

Roya Hamburger is an illustrator from Amsterdam, Netherlands and since she was a child her favorite activity was drawing and she wanted to turn that talent into her profession. Starting as freelancer she created illustrations for magazines such as FNV and Flair, major magazines in Belgium. Now she has worked for clients such as Cosmopolitan magazine, Elle, M, Avant Garde, ABN-AMRO, Bruna, British Airways, Man Power, Dutch Railways, Postbank, Deloitte and Touche, Peter Stuyvesant and Martini.

When working for publishers and advertising agencies objectives always revolves around communicating a message. This is exactly where my passion and skills overlap. When it comes to commissioned work, the main point is “telling another’s story” After sixteen years being a professional in commissioned work, its time for me to tell my own story as well with chosen subjects and communicating in my own way. I have this long-time dream to create work that “broadens consciousness”, with an idealistic flavour, using graphic design, illustration and animation as vehicles.

For more information about Roya Hamburger visit her Web site at http://www.royahamburger.net/

deardeer

Lost and Found Typographic illustrations

The Elbow Room

The Only One

the Segregation

In my work I am always looking for the best possible balance between composition, shape and atmosphere to carry out a certain message. I seek to integrate different images into one by using both graphics and realistic images. So my work gets more depth by merging 2D and 3D. I therefore feel more like a designer then an illustrator per-se.

More than once ore twice

About the author

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Heart Collection by Luca Molnar

abduzeedo — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:42:55 +0000

Luca Molnar is a graphic designer and illustrator from Hungary, who is currently furthering her studies at the Interactive Design Institute (University of Hertfordshire). She has worked as an illustrator since 2006, with her works being featured in magazines all over the world and she has worked for all kinds of companies.

Luca Molnar has a style which no one else has in the world. Her designs are colourful, shiny, luscious and extremely detailed. She draws inspiration from all kinds of different cultures such as Egypt, India and South-America.

One of the most recent works of Luca was the Heart Collection which is a set of beautiful illustrations with the the heart as subject.

Heart Collection

Luca is represented by the prestigious Illustration Ltd. For more information about her work visit Luca's website at http://lucamolnar.com

Some Other works

About the author

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Stylish Artworks by Bradley Sharp

GisMullr — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:36:23 +0000

I was browsing around the web searching for my daily inspiration images, something that I do everyday, when I bumped into Bradley Sharp's work and really liked it. The image that got my attention was the first one from this selection, which by the way is already my new desktop wallpaper. Since I liked the style and the idea from that one image I decided to check out his portfolio for more stuff and noticed that it was pretty cool to show here to you. His illustrations/vectors are really stylish. His lines, characters, E.T.s alike elements, colors and shapes are pretty cool and eye catching.

Hello all.. I'm Brad Sharp, a Graphic Designer from the UK. I spend a good amount of time on personal work and with my illustrations - beginning with sketchbooks from as early as I can remember. In the past 5 years I've been playing more and more with vectors, which I'm always learning. I often get inspiration from nature or technology and sometimes look at the interplay between the two.

Check out the selection we put together and don't forget to visit his website for more. Hope you like it! Enjoy. =)

T-shirts

Wallpapers

To get the wallpapers go to his website and download the desktop wallpapers file at the bottom of the page. He also has some iPhone wallpapers at his page, so check it out.

About the author

Someone with a bachelor degree in Foreign Trade that really likes technology, design, photography and creativity. A person ‘digging’ a new way as a ‘geek apprentice’, blogger 'wanna be' and a communication lover! Current location: Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil
Twitter user: gismullr

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Beautiful Illustrations by Pablo Bisoglio

abduzeedo — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:52:15 +0000

Pablo Bisoglio is a visual artist and illustrator based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has illustrated numerous works for a range of international publishers and magazines, including: Wired (USA) Ford Magazine (Argentina), Young Creative Network (UK), Fortune-Time inc. (USA), Grupo de Revistas La Nacion (Argentina) Panasonic (UK), Roger (UK), Teachersmag (UK), Diego (Sweden), Sushi (germany), Flattenmag (China), Reach+ (Japan), Odicca (USA), RevistaColectiva (Costa Rica) and Universal Music (Brazil) among others.

Before establishing himself as a full-time freelancer in 2004, Pablo worked for a Buenos Aires-based graphic design company creating CD and DVD booklets.

He was also involved in motion graphics development for television post-production projects.

Some Works

For more information visit Pablo's website at http://www.pablobisoglio.com.ar/

About the author

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20 Fantastic Vectors by Cristiano Siqueira

abduzeedo — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:42:16 +0000

Following our series of vector inspiration and after the great post we had yesterday with 20 Insane Vectors by Ahmed Alrefaie, we will feature another vector master, Cristiano Siqueira. We have already published some of his works in the Daily Inspiration and also did an interview with him, however Cris Vector updated his portfolio and the new designs are simply fantastic.

For more information visit Cris' websites at http://www.crisvector.com,

Crisvector is the artistic identity of Cristiano Siqueira, an illustrator specialized in digital and vector illustration with works done for various clients around the world such as Tetra Pak, Ache, Richmond Publishing, Editora Abril, Del Valle, Ultra Music Festival, among others. Cris is member of the depthCORE, a digital art community and also member of the SIM (Sociedade dos Ilustradores do Brasil).

About the author

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Amazing Photo Manipulations and Vectors by Liquid Pixels

GisMullr — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:26:37 +0000

This is the second post from the series about the some cool artists we found online! This one will show the work from Japi Honoo, also known as "liquid pixels". She is an artist that express lots of creativity, female energy and sexuality at her work.

She produces photo manipulation and vectors using some creative tools such as photography, drawing, women sensibility and also some spirituality. At Japi Honoo's website you will find further information about her work/bio.

"I become the work I create. It is this moment, this sensation of being one with my image, this is the passion roller coaster that I search for as a Art comes to life." Liquid Pixel.

Photomanips

Vectors

About the author

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Incredible Vector Illustrations by Mel Marcelo

abduzeedo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:31:16 +0000

Today is the Vector day, we have the 5 great vector packs giveaway from Designious and now we feature the fantastic work of Mel Marcelo, an artist and illustrator living in Southern California.

The first time I saw his work was in one of those oackley ads and I was amazed by the quality of the illustrations.

I'm a starving artist/illustrator in Southern Cal (starving by choice). I love music. I love to run. I love to run to music. You can find me violently happy at any Starbucks or club/Rave/whatever dance floor.

For more information visit his flickr and myspace pages.

Some works

About the author

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5 Great Vector Packs Giveway from Designious

abduzeedo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:47:05 +0000

I love vector images, in special floral. We simply can do all sorts of things with them. I remember in the past, it was very hard to get nice vector packs, back in the day when I used to use Corel Draw 6 or 8 I think. Now, however we have nice vector packs available and for a very affordable price, like the Designious Vector Packs.

Designious offers a huge ammount of vector packs, of all sorts of symbols and images such as Skulls, Wings, Buildings, People, Nature, and many more. I had the chance to get some images of the Florals Pack and they are really good, I have even done an image for a tutorial using some of these vectors in Photoshop and Fireworks.

Designious is a design studio that creates great vector illustrations and design elements. All our work is hand draw and most of all is original.
Our studio creates designs for web , print and apparel like t-shirt templates.
To create our designs we use professional Wacom Graphic Tablets and Adobe Illustrator. Every piece of work is vectorial.

And there is one more thing, we have 5 packs to give away, and if you want to get one is very easy, just leave a comment. But remember, you have to be an Abduzeedo member. We will announce the winner next week.

For more information check their site out at http://www.designious.com/

vectors

Playing with Vectors in Pixelmator

Step 1

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Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

Step 13

Step 14

Step 15

Step 16

Step 17

Conclusion

Download the Pixelmator File

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Colorful Illustrations by Roya Hamburger

deardeer

Lost and Found Typographic illustrations

The Elbow Room

The Only One

the Segregation

More than once ore twice

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Heart Collection by Luca Molnar

Heart Collection

Some Other works

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Stylish Artworks by Bradley Sharp

T-shirts

Wallpapers

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Beautiful Illustrations by Pablo Bisoglio

Some Works

About the author

Sponsored Links:

20 Fantastic Vectors by Cristiano Siqueira

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Amazing Photo Manipulations and Vectors by Liquid Pixels

This is the second post from the series about the some cool artists we found online! This one will show the work from Japi Honoo, also known as "liquid pixels". She is an artist that express lots of creativity, female energy and sexuality at her work.

Photomanips

Vectors

About the author

Sponsored Links:

Incredible Vector Illustrations by Mel Marcelo

Today is the Vector day, we have the 5 great vector packs giveaway from Designious and now we feature the fantastic work of Mel Marcelo, an artist and illustrator living in Southern California.

Some works

About the author

Sponsored Links:

5 Great Vector Packs Giveway from Designious

My experiment using the Florals Pack

About the author

Sponsored Links: