How to Make Vector Brushes

Vector and bitmap, or raster) images are two major graphics types used and created by most graphic editing software programs. While bitmap graphics use an array of pixels, or dots, to represent images, vector graphics use complex mathematical formulas to represent images. Both vector and bitmap images have their own advantages and disadvantages. Bitmap images are usually used to depict complex photographic images but, due to being pixel-based, cannot be resized without some distortion. Bitmap can utilize mathematical functions that allow some effects, such as blur or emboss. Bitmap images cannot have previous edits changed after later edits have been performed. The images take up a bit of disk space and take longer to load online.Vector images are used to create simple graphics, such as icons, 2-D computer graphics, text, 3D rendering, and blueprint plotting, but not photographs. Since these are not pixel-based, they can be resized without distortion or loss of smoothness. Fewer effects can be done. Vector images can have previous edits changed after later edits have been performed. The images take up very little disk space and take much less time to load online.Graphical brushes are basically premade shapes used as brush tips to draw or paint computer graphics. I am sure that all graphics software users have used the normal round or square brushes available. Graphical brushes can be almost any image you want, from patterns and shapes to simplified photos. Vector brushes are just brushes that may be resized without any degradation to suit the users needs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop (optional)
• A simple image

1. Download, install and load the latest version of Adobe Illustrator to your computer. Most any version will probably do but the menus and options will be different, which, given Adobe's vast number of functions, makes it more difficult to follow this or any guide for another version of the software.

2. Open your image that you wish to use as a brush with Adobe Photoshop or another graphics editing program. The image should not be too complex but, if it is, it will need to be simplified or use a few simple elements of the image, such as a tree in the background of a photograph of a park. If it is not your image, be sure that have the proper permission to use the image or elements of it. If the brush will only be used on your own computer, and not for commercial or public Internet purposes, it is not a problem.

3. Simplify the image, so that only one or a few elements of the image will be used. The image needs to have its number of colors reduced to two, being black and white, or at least greyscale (shades of grey, black, and white). If the image is in color, it will need to be edited down. Use your graphics software to greyscale the image by desaturating it. Go to the "Image" menu and choose "Adjustments", then "Desaturate". This will remove all of the non-grey colors from your image to grayscale.

4. Simplify the image even more, so that it is as clean, smooth, and recognizable as possible. After greyscaling, the image might have to many different shades of greay. Changing the brightness and or contrast settings should accomplish this task. Go to the "Image" menu and choose "Adjustments", then "Brightness/Contrast" and change the settings to make the image have the less gray as possible and mostly black and white as possible. Having more grey present will create a mist effect, which is sometimes desired.

5. Open your image with Adobe Illustrator and use "live trace" (under the the "Objects" menu) or the Silhouette plug-in to trace the image. This will create the vector brush.

6. Use the "select tool" to choose one of the elements of the image that you want to use as the brush. It can be rotated or resized as needed.

7. Open the Brush palette by going up to the "Window" menu and choose "Brushes", then "New Brush". Select the brush type that this is supposed to be used as. In our case, choose the "Art" brush. The options may be left as their default settings. Rename the brush to what you want and click "Save".

8. Your vector brush is now done. Try using the brush to make sure it works. You never know when an error or file corruption will occur.

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[thesquirrelymom]

on 12/21/2008 Just what I was looking for, thanks!