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Quick Tip: Beveled Text without Filters or Effects

August 20, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator | 30 Comments »

Every once in a while we might find ourselves needing to get that “inset” or “beveled” look for text, probably more often for buttons and web design, than anything else. But whatever reason you might need or want inset text, here’s a quick tip to get that effect without using a filter, effect, layer style or appearance. Why? By not using filters, your file is more solid and reliable, you can open it in previous versions of the same software with less headache, and if you send vector files to print it will give you less errors by only using paths instead of filters/effects. I will be using Illustrator in the example, but this technique can be applied to just about any software you use to set your typography.

Quick Tip: Beveled Text without Filters or Effects
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Improve Your Illustrator Workflow with Layer Masking

August 8, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator | 76 Comments »

You may or may or may not know/use this Illustrator feature, but Layer Masking is a very under-used feature of the Adobe Illustrator series of software. I’m not talking about making a clipping mask. This is entirely different altogether. By making a “layer mask,” you can save precious time by not having to release and reapply clipping masks, and even better – there’s a toggle button in the Layers Palette! Tutorial below.

Save time in Illustrator with Layer Masking
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Make a Perfect Triangle Path in Illustrator

July 5, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator | 118 Comments »

There is no triangle tool in Illustrator, which to this day, boggles my mind (wtf Adobe?). I have memories of the times when I first started using Illustrator and really tried to get to know the program in depth. This was one of the things that frustrated me regularly (making a perfect, equilateral triangle) until I finally figured out a simple solution. If you use Adobe Illustrator on a regular basis, chances are you might need to create an equilateral triangle every once in a while. This may seem like a simple task, and it is, but not as easy as it should be. I’ll show you how to easily make a perfect triangle path in Illustrator, and hopefully, you will have one less vector headache to deal with in the future.

Create a Perfect Triangle Path in Illustrator
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How to make Smooth Lines in Illustrator

June 25, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator | 60 Comments »

This may seem trivial to a good many of you, but when I first started using Illustrator, it seemed to present itself as a serious challenge. I want to show you a couple different ways to make your linework a little smoother in Illustrator. With a couple easy tool settings, you’ll be making smooth lines in seconds baby!

How to make Smooth Lines in Illustrator
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Glossy Vector Web 2.0 Logo Text in 5 Easy Steps

June 4, 2007 | Posted in Illustrator | 69 Comments »

I’ve found a ton of Photoshop tutorials on how to do this, but you would be surprised at how simple and easy it is to get a “glossy” text effect in vector using Illustrator. Don’t get out of your seat, because this won’t take long at all.

Vector Glossy Logo Text Tutorial: Illustrator
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