Adobe Illustrator Tutorial: How to Create a Vector Hand-Painted Sign

Tutorial Details

    
• Program: Adobe Illustrator
    
• Difficulty:Intermediate
    
• Estimated Completion Time:2 hours

In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial we will learn how to create an inscription in a retro style based on the free font- the Agency FB. In the process of the font-change we will learn something about letter anatomy. The techniques described here will be useful not only for the work with typography but also for the work with any vector objects.

Step 1

Take the Type Tool (T) and create the inscription "Vector Tuts". You can edit the parameters of the text with the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). I used the free font Agency FB for my text. You can also choose any other free Sans Serif font from here. Set the Optical kerning between the characters and the Vertical scale 150%.

The professional typographers never use this way to scale the text, but we will change the shape of the letters, so this way can take place.

Step 2

Select the text and go to the Type > Create Outlines.

Now we can work with the form of letters as with regular vector objects. Create the horizontal guide and place it in such a way that it would go through the points of the title-letters.

While working in typography, always use the guides, they will help you to place the elements of the letters. For more precise work turn the Smart Guide mode on (Command + U).

Step 3

Drag the guide down while holding down the Option key; this action will duplicate it. This guide should pass through middle bar of the letter ‘e’. (Bar is the horizontal stroke in characters such as A, H, R, e, and f)

Keep the new guide selected and go to the Object > Transform > Transform Again or use the shortcuts Command + D

Step 4

Ungroup the text (Shift + Command + G), then select the ‘V’ letter and drag the left corner of the bounding box while holding the Shift key. After the transformation, the lower part of the ‘V’ letter should pass through the lower guide.

Delete the extra points of the ‘V’ letter, if you think that they should be deleted.

I use the delete Anchor Point Tool (-) for deleting of the points.

You can read full version this vector tutorial on VectorTuts+

Follow us if you want to be the first to know about the latest Adobe Illustrator tutorials and articles. Vectorboom team works for you!