Illustration styles and techniques (vector, raster, freehand, digital painting, photo manipulation)
Illustration styles and techniques (vector, raster, freehand, digital painting, photo manipulation)
Illustration Styles and Techniques
Vector Graphics
- Vector graphics are created using mathematical formulas that define geometric primitives such as polygons, lines, curves, circles and rectangles.
- These graphics are infinitely scalable without any loss of quality or clarity, making them ideal for large-format applications.
- They are mainly used in making logos, typography, icons, and other designs that require crisp and clean lines.
Raster Graphics
- Raster graphics, also known as bitmap, are composed of individual pixels.
- They are best used for complex images like photographs that require a wide range of colours and gradients.
- One downside is that they can become pixelated when scaled up or down.
- Key tools for creating and manipulating raster images include Adobe Photoshop and GIMP.
Freehand Drawing
- Freehand drawing involves an artist using either traditional materials or digital tools to draw by hand, without the use of guides or tracing.
- This method can be used to quickly sketch ideas or create detailed illustrations.
- It allows for a more natural and expressive feel to the artwork as it directly reflects the hand movements of the artist.
Digital Painting
- Digital painting utilises digital tools to mimic the process of traditional painting using software that has brushes, colours and other tools.
- The software offers the flexibility to undo, erase or modify any part of the painting, unlike traditional methods.
- It can create different styles of painting, from oils to watercolours, and is used in many fields, including illustration, concept art, and graphic design.
Photo Manipulation
- Photo Manipulation is the art of transforming or altering a photo using various methods and techniques to achieve desired results.
- Some photo manipulations are so skillfully constructed that they look real, while others are clearly designed to be surreal or abstract.
- It is commonly used for adding creative effects, fixing flaws, or combining various elements to make a completely new image. Tools like Adobe Photoshop are commonly used.