You’re currently reading Chapter 7 of The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design
Hand picked and logically organized based on what YOU need to learn RIGHT now.
If you started reading from the beginning, then you’ve gotten through A LOT of this guide.
And you know that, whether you want the freedom and flexibility of a freelance career or the structure of a traditional job, digital skills are MANDATORY to work in fashion.
The good news? You’ve shown you’re committed to learning Illustrator so you can kick a$$ in your fashion career.
The bad news? Reading those first few chapters was the EASY part.
What comes next? The REAL work begins.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Up next are 37 tutorials I HAND PICKED for you.
I know it sounds like a lot. But considering I have 100+ free ones out there? 37 is majorly doable!
And the best part?
You don’t have to go through ALL of them.
Don’t get overwhelmed trying to watch EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
Instead? Choose to learn based on your unique situation RIGHT NOW.
Save the rest for when you need to learn that SPECIFIC skill.
And you can ALWAYS come back for a refresher.
Because I’ll remind you:
You don’t have to know how to do EVERYTHING.
And you don’t have to MEMORIZE it all.
I’ve even been known to go back and watch my OWN tutorials. #truestory
Got it? Good.
Click the section below that makes the most sense for you to get started and hit play.
TUTORIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: THE ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER SERIES
PART 2: FASHION SKETCHES (AKA FLATS)
- How to Draw a Fashion Sketch (or Flat) with the Pen Tool in Illustrator
- How to Fill Your Fashion Sketches with Color (or Patterns) in Illustrator
- How to Trace a Photo of a Garment or a Hand Drawn Sketch in Illustrator
- How to Draw Fashion Flats in Illustrator If You’re a Hand Sketcher
- How to Draw a Shoe (and Other Asymmetrical Designs) in Illustrator
PART 3: INTUITIVELY DRAW CURVED LINES
- How to Turn a Straight Line Into a Curved Line in Illustrator…intuitively
- How to Control Curves While Drawing in Illustrator
- How to Avoid “v” or “butt” Shapes in the Middle of Your Curves
PART 4: RECOLOR YOUR DESIGNS
- How to Change, Replace, Merge, or Recolor ANY Type of Artwork in Illustrator (including pattern swatches and brushes)
- How to Use Pantone Swatches in Illustrator to Color Your Designs
PART 5: SEAMLESS REPEATING PATTERNS
Basic Repeating Patterns
Tossed Repeating Patterns in CS6 and Newer
- How to Create Repeating Patterns in Illustrator CS5 and Earlier
- How to Create a Pattern from an Image / Photo / Scan in Illustrator
- How to Make a Plaid Pattern in Illustrator
- How to Create Twill Plaids in Illustrator (and a little Photoshop)
- How to Add a Background Color to a Pattern in Illustrator
Mockup Fabric Textures
- How to Create a Realistic Denim Texture from a Photo
- How to Create a Mesh Texture in Illustrator
- How to Create Heather / Melange / Space Dye Fabric Textures in Illustrator
- How to Create Lace Patterns From a Photo
Edit (resize / rotate) Patterns and other Technical Extras
- How to Change the Size / Scale or Direction of a Repeating Pattern Swatch in Illustrator
- How to Move / Reposition (and Scale) a Pattern inside your Fashion Sketch
- How to Figure Out What Size Your Repeating Pattern Should Be
- How to Release / Expand / Break Apart a Pattern in Illustrator
PART 6: TECHNICAL DESIGN
- How to Change a Color Fashion Flat Drawing to Black and White (in a few clicks)
- How to Mockup and Spec Full Scale Measurements for Your Fashion Designs in Illustrator
- How to Create Tech Sketches with Text Callouts in Illustrator (for tech packs)
- How to Put Illustrator Sketches in Excel (for tech packs)
PART 7: FASHION BRUSHES
- How to Draw Movement Lines for Ruching or Gathering in Illustrator (using a Brush)
- How to Draw a Zipper in Illustrator (with a Brush)
- How to Draw Stitching in Illustrator (Coverstitching, Flat Lock, etc)
- Create a Lace Brush from a Photo (or any other realistic trim like sequins, pearls, etc)
- Where to Save Brushes in Illustrator (so they automatically load in EVERY file EVERY time)
