[Vincent]

Special Effect - Gradient Mask Layer

As per Gambit's request:

1)
First of all, copy the entire object and duplicate it.
Once you've done this, select it and assign a single colour so all the vectos will be colored the same.

2)
Expand the object (Object -->Expand) by select only "object" option.
Once this is done, it's time to trasform it into one single vector by clicking the "Combine" button on the dedicated window tool.

3)
Ok, now create an ellipse (or whatever shape the lightsource will need to be) filling it with a gradient circular effect (I.e. just like the one you can see marked in green), and assign it a special transparency setting "Multiply".

4)
Put the gradiented ellipse on the back of the Red vector copy.
Select them altogether, and select "create clipping mask" (from object menu).

5)
You'll now have your toy done, as you can see we have created a pixel perfect reproduction of the original vector but with a special lighting property (which can be altered as any gradient, of course!).
Let's just place it on top of our shape and.. Congratulations! ^^

This post has been edited by Vincent: 11 April 2009 - 08:31 AM

[Gambit]

Thanks, now I just need to toy around with things until I figure out what looks the best.

[blueblur87]

Thanks for doing these tutorials Vincent, they are great; very quick and simple. I plan on helping to do some graphics when I have more free time, I'm currently finishing my degree at University. Where can I find a list of graphics that still need to be done? The reason I'm asking is I don't want to start work on a piece to find it has already been done thats all. Keep up the amazing work, please let me know.

[LOst]

blueblur87, on Apr 15 2009, 03:23 AM, said:

Thanks for doing these tutorials Vincent, they are great; very quick and simple. I plan on helping to do some graphics when I have more free time, I'm currently finishing my degree at University. Where can I find a list of graphics that still need to be done? The reason I'm asking is I don't want to start work on a piece to find it has already been done thats all. Keep up the amazing work, please let me know.

http://sanik.hacking...inker/index.php <-- Check the red dotted ones

[blueblur87]

LOst, on Apr 15 2009, 11:17 AM, said:

blueblur87, on Apr 15 2009, 03:23 AM, said:

Thanks for doing these tutorials Vincent, they are great; very quick and simple. I plan on helping to do some graphics when I have more free time, I'm currently finishing my degree at University. Where can I find a list of graphics that still need to be done? The reason I'm asking is I don't want to start work on a piece to find it has already been done thats all. Keep up the amazing work, please let me know.

http://sanik.hacking...inker/index.php <-- Check the red dotted ones

Thanks LOst. I already saw this page but I just wanted to make sure it is up to date, since I've seen lots of WIPs in the forum posts that are not on there (mostly Badniks and Robotnik). I won't be doing any artwork just yet so it's not urgent.

[LOst]

blueblur87, on Apr 15 2009, 03:55 PM, said:

LOst, on Apr 15 2009, 11:17 AM, said:

blueblur87, on Apr 15 2009, 03:23 AM, said:

Thanks for doing these tutorials Vincent, they are great; very quick and simple. I plan on helping to do some graphics when I have more free time, I'm currently finishing my degree at University. Where can I find a list of graphics that still need to be done? The reason I'm asking is I don't want to start work on a piece to find it has already been done thats all. Keep up the amazing work, please let me know.

http://sanik.hacking...inker/index.php <-- Check the red dotted ones

Thanks LOst. I already saw this page but I just wanted to make sure it is up to date, since I've seen lots of WIPs in the forum posts that are not on there (mostly Badniks and Robotnik). I won't be doing any artwork just yet so it's not urgent.

The database has been updated recently. If you see stuff (badniks etc) here, it is most likely not approved yet. Anyone can have a go on it!

[Vincent]

Well said LOst,

As a tip, Before starting to build your first badnik out of the factory, bear in mind that the (green dots) on Database represents "Approved Art" source files!
They contain an array of working preset of shades + vectors for you to alter and explore! ^^

[Gambit]

Since test-object wanted to know how to do this.

Opacity Masks in Illustrator

First take two shapes that are filled with gradients.


Now align both of them so they are directly aligned, if they aren't one will clip part of the other off and you'll get something akin to a clipping mask as well, and that isn't always what you want.


Select both the shapes you're using, then go to your transparency window, if it isn't open go to Window>Transparency to turn it on, and hit that small drop down button below the X. Then select "Make Opacity Mask."


After you do that you should notice that your gradients will have gone somewhat transparent. If it hasn't, don't worry. You can play with some of the options, such as the "Invert Mask" option that I turned on, and you can mess with the gradients themselves.


If you don't think it's strong enough, you can copy and paste your mask over itself to brighten it like I did here. And the last thing, you can click on the shapes in the "Transparency" window and edit them while they're an opacity mask. So if you select the opacity mask itself, you can edit it to clip off a portion of the other shape without having to actually edit them both. Also note that moving one will not move the other unless you release the mask.

[McGuirk]

I was interested in trying my hand at drawing some art for S2HD, but I don't have 600 dollars lying around waiting to be blown.

Are there any less expensive or possible free programs out there can do a similar job to Illustrator?