ArtBistro

How To >> Browse Articles >> Illustrator

Simple Steps to Make a Brush from Illustrator Artwork

Simple Steps to Make a Brush from Illustrator Artwork

Did you know you can create your own custom brushes in Adobe Illustrator from any artwork object? This makes it easy to scatter copies of an object across an area, or to apply artistic effects without modifying the original object.

How To Create and Use a Brush

1. Open or create any object in Adobe Illustrator.

For example, here is a simple, two-piece object drawn in Illustrator:

2. With the Selection tool selection tool, shift-click to select all parts of the object from which you would like to make a brush.

3. Open the Brushes panel. (This may be accessed in two ways: click the Brushes panel tab or click Windows, and click Brushes from the Menu bar.)

The Brushes panel appears:

4. Initiate the new brush in ONE of the three following ways: a. Click the Options button in the Brushes panel: <img src=“http://artbistro.monster.com/nfs/artbistro/photos/0021/6968/optsbutton.jpg” and click New Brush… c. Click the New Brush icon <img src=“http://artbistro.monster.com/nfs/artbistro/photos/0021/6963/newbrushicon.jpg” in the Brushes panel. d. Press and drag the selected object into the brushes panel. A dialog box appears, asking which type of brush to make. There are four types of brushes you can make:

• Calligraphic Brushes create strokes that resemble those of a calligraphic pen
• Scatter Brushes disperse multiple copies of your object along or scattered around a path
• Art Brushes paint one object per stroke and sylize your object as you paint
• Pattern Brushes create repeating copies like scatter brushes without the “rotate and scatter” effect
  
  
  
  
  5. Click a Radio button for one of the types listed above.

Note: Occasionally, you may see an error message, “The selected artwork contains an element that cannot be use in a scatter brush.” This indicates that there is a drop shadow, a transparency, a gradient, or other effect present. To eliminate these problems, examine each part of the object or make a new one by tracing the original with drawing tools. Make sure the fill and stroke are solid. A Brush Options dialog box appears, which allows you to name the brush and make specifications such as size, rotation, distance from the path, and more. Many of these controls allow you to randomize each effect. Don’t worry about how it will look right now; you can adjust it later.

6. Select some specifications and click OK.

Now, you can apply the brush to any existing path or paint the effect with the Brush tool.

7. Deselect the original object before you begin drawing.

8. To apply the new brush, use one of two methods:

a. Click the Brush tool and draw a path. b. Create any path with a drawing shape tool, select the path with the Selection tool, and click the brush’s icon in the Brushes panel. The new design appears:

You will probably find your first attempt in need of some adjustments. At this point, don’t delete or undo your work.

How to Modify a Brush

You can use any brushed path to modify the brush to your liking.

1. To adjust the brush, in the Brushes panel, double-click the brush’s icon.

The Brush Options dialog box opens. Make sure the Preview checkbox is checked.

2. Change the specifications as you wish.

The existing artwork changes as you modify the settings.

3. Click OK.

A dialog box opens, inquiring whether you want to apply the new specifications to existing artwork or leave the strokes as they are.

4. Click one of the two choices.

Your brush is ready for use.

To learn how to use Illustrator, consider taking Illustrator: The Basics or Illustrator: Complex Illustrations as a self-study tutorial, offered through IT Training and Education at Indiana University.

See the workshop topics at http://www.ittraining.iu.edu/workshops/workshop_groups.aspx and order materials up at http://www.ittraining.iu.edu/materials/.

IT Training & Education offers instructor-led computing workshops and also provides self-study training resources to the Indiana University community and beyond. We deliver training to more than 30,000 participants each year across all campuses through our instructor-led workshops and self-study training resources. Our goal is to provide you with excellent technology training and customer service. We continue to be dedicated to meeting the training needs of all of our participants, from the true beginner to the more advanced user.

---