Illustrator provides us with a wealth of brush samples, and we can draw different brush path graphics with brush tools. These brush samples are mainly divided into four types: point brush, calligraphy effect brush, pattern brush and line brush. When you are familiar with its application, you will know the power of Illustrator brush!
Tools/raw materials
Adobe Illustrator CS4
Steps/methods
Open Illustrator and Ctrl+N to create a new document, as shown in the figure:
If there is no Brush palette in the software window, select (Window-Brush) or F5. Call the (brush) palette.
There are four main types: calligraphy effect brush, point brush, pattern brush and line brush.
Calligraphy effect brush: imitates the effect of brush, and draws the brush path along the center of the path line.
Point brush: copy several basic graphic objects and distribute them along the path to form a brush path diagram.
Pattern brush: a basic graphic object is repeatedly displayed on the path to form a brush path graph.
Line brush: Stretch the basic graphic object along the path to form a brush path graph.
Here's how to use the brush tool to create a brush path map:
In the brush palette that opens, select a brush sample as shown below:
Double-click the brush tool to open the brush tool options dialog box, as shown:
In the Fidelity text box, you can enter a value between 0.5 and 20. The larger the value, the closer the brush path is to the path dragged by the mouse; conversely, the more the brush path deviates from the path dragged by the mouse.
In the (Smoothness) text box, you can enter a numerical value or drag the slider to set the smoothness, and its value range is 0%- 100%. The larger the value, the smoother the brush path is drawn.
Select the check box (fill new brush handwriting), and our newly created brush path will be filled; If you select (keep selected) the check box, the created brush path will remain selected after releasing the mouse; After selecting the (Edit Selected Path) check box, you can edit the newly created path map again.
Click the (OK) button when the settings are finished. Click and drag the mouse in the view, and the brush sample you just selected will appear on the drawing path, as shown in the figure:
If you want to modify the path, you need to select the path first, and then drag the mouse. The original path will change as the mouse drags.
Here is a simple stippling shadow:
Calligraphy characters written with a brush:
Use the pattern brush to stroke the path map:
Graphics drawn with the line brush tool:
To delete a brush effect applied to a graph, simply select the graph and click the (Delete Brush Stroke) button under the (Brush) palette. This leaves the original path. As shown in the figure:
Click the (Options for Selected Objects) button to open the (Brush Options) dialog box of brushes applied to the selected drawing, and you can change the appearance of brushes by adjusting the parameters in it. As shown in the figure:
Select a brush in the (Brush) palette, then click the button on the upper right of the palette to open the palette menu, and select the (Copy Brush) command, and the copied brush will be displayed in the (Brush) palette. As shown in the figure:
If you want to delete a brush, select it and click the (Delete Brush) button under the (Brush) palette, or choose the (Delete Brush) command from the palette menu. The Delete Brush dialog box will be displayed. Click Yes to delete it.
Click the (New Brush) button to open the (New Brush) dialog box and create a new brush.