Illustrator to look like airbrushed art?

[vectorgfxqueen]

http://graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/cool.gifI am trying to develop a style using Illustrator that looks like airbrushing...anybody else trying that? Any ideas? I have done some things, including retro cars (www.voodoochilli.com (http://www.voodoochilli.com) - artist, Patricia Adams) but I could use some ideas on smoothness. Wish it had the smudge tool!

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[PrintDriver]

Welcome back Vectorgfx!
You do some real cool stuff using Illustrator.
The airbrushing thing is kinda beyond Illustrator's capabilities though.
Have you tried mucking around with the gradient mesh? I don't have the patience for it but maybe you can (and do) use it.
The real problem with grades in Illustrator is the step banding. Ya gotta watch for that if you do anything Large Format.

What we do sometimes is recreate the grades in Photoshop and use them as placed images to keep the steps from happening. Make sure you link the Photoshop grade though. If you embed, the AI file becomes very large very fast.
Come to think of it, you may be able to figure out how to use that technique for airbrush effects.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[vectorgfxqueen]

Thanks PrintDriver..that was actually an interesting idea. For instance, on the T-Bird picture, I could do that gradient triangle in Photoshop and then bring it back into illustrator and attach. Ok, here is the question I have managed to avoid, mainly because I don't blend ps and ill much, because of bad results. I now see it is lack of knowledge. Anyway: what are and how do I use links? I just looked up in an illustrator book and it is always confusing to me...however, they did mention when you change the dpi in ps, don't resample! Ha!

Can you give me exact 1-2-3 steps to take the gradient triangle from ps to ill? Boy, I love learning new stuff...did you go to voodoochilli and see the '56 ford?

Thanks for all info, you are obviously a technical guru, where that is my weak area.
Peace

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[vectorgfxqueen]

PrintDriver, also, I have read in various magazines about designers who might create in Illustrator then go into another vector---I think freehand---specifically for the gradients. Now that might have been a few years ago and no longer relevant, I don't know.

Also, I was reading these back threads and there was one where the person gave you a lead to http://juniatwork.mrtio.com/designs.php. This chick does the most amazing humans and gradients and she says she does them in Flash. I have heard that Flash is not anywhere near as powerful as Illustrator. To me, her pictures look like a 3 D program, so I am missing something. They blew me away...I don't know what to think.
Peace

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"I've got a Rock N' Roll heart" - Eric Clapton

[PrintDriver]

Oh, I'm no guru.
Maybe In Training. I just like software puzzles.

I don't know that much about Freehand. I only use it when a client sends me something done in it.

You place a photoshop image into Illustrator by using File>Place then selecting the image.
If given the option when selecting, make sure you have 'Link' checked at the bottom of the place window (CS and maybe other versions). When saving your Illustrator file, don't check the 'Embed Images' box.
When you send your Illustrator file for print, you have to send all the linked Photoshop files too.

Do you know how to use masks?

The thing you have to know before you start making grades in Photoshop is the resolution and size at which your piece is being printed. That part is easy for me cuz the file is already done when I get it and I know what printer it is going into. But for you it may require knowing how your client wants the final piece printed then calling the print vendor and asking.

When you build your grades in photoshop, you set the size and resolution parameters in the File>New pane. Color matching will probably be a problem if your programs aren't set up the same way. Or you can build your grade first and sample the color in Illustrator using the eyedropper.

Play around with it. It may not be a direction you want to be going in.
Illustrator also has the Blend tool and Transparency features.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.