Tips on Creating a Silhouette in Adobe Illustrator

So you've just bought a copy of Adobe Illustrator and you want to create your first silhouette. Perhaps for fun or maybe for a school project. Whatever the reason, there are some basic steps to follow.

What You Need -

Obviously, you'll need a few items to get started. A decent computer will be needed; a more powerful one if you're going to use the latest and greatest version of Illustrator. Otherwise, a normal computer will do. You may also want to have a photo or a sketch of what it is you wish to create a silhouette out of. If you're the type that can just do this out of your head, then more power to you.

Layers -

Layers are an integral part of Illustrator, and they're also vital when it comes to creating silhouettes or other types of illustrations. This is especially true if you're going to use a photo or a sketch as your "model". Place the photo or sketch on layer one, and then lock that layer down. After this, create another layer for your silhouette.

Depending on the complexity of your silhouette, you may only need these two layers. Locking the photo or sketch layer down simply keeps you from accidentally moving the image you're trying to create a silhouette of. It just makes things a little easier. When you've finished your silhouette, then be sure to delete the layer that has your photo or sketch on it. This helps with organization and file size.

The Tools You Need -

For many people, the pen tool is all they use to create their silhouette or illustration with. It usually will take time to master the pen tool because it is a fairly complex process. You basically start with a single point and then click and drag to form another point; etc. You create curves by holding down the mouse button and maneuvering the points here and there.

Another popular way of creating silhouettes is by using the brush tool. The brush tool is slightly easier to use then the pen tool; however, it poses it's own set of unique challenges. When used properly though, it is just as effective as the pen tool. There is also the pencil tool, but it's more efficient to just use the brush tool or better yet, the pen tool.

Open Paths -

One thing you'll need to watch out for is open paths. This is especially true if you're going to sell your illustrations online via websites such as iStockphoto. Your file will be rejected for open paths, so make sure you don't have any of these. Open paths occur when you fail to connect all of the little square points to one another. It is usually easy to fix, unless you have a lot of them. In which case, it can become a bit of a nightmare. There is a simple plug-in available that will tell you if you have open paths (among other things). And it's free. This plug-in is brought to you by the folks at rj-graffix.

It's up to you to determine when it is best to check for open paths. If it's just a simple illustration, then you can check for open paths when you're finished. But if it's more complicated, then you may want to look for open paths earlier on.

Creating a silhouette can be a simple or complex process; it just depends on what you want to create. But it's definitely fun to learn if you enjoy making illustrations.