Working with Brushes - Part 1

Working with Brushes - Part 1

Learn how to use 3 of the 5 main brush types in Adobe Illustrator.

When to use

The calligraphic brush, scatter brush, and art brush can be used anytime you want to add variation to a design or if you want to create multiple shapes or symbols quickly.

Instructions

Getting Started

• Create a New Document by pressing Command/Ctrl + N on the keyboard or by going to the File Menu and choosing 'New' from the menu.
• Set your document up as a 1920 x 1080 file with a single artboard and RGB Color Mode, then click 'Create'.

The Calligraphic Brush

• Open the Brushes Panel found under the Window Menu.
• Select one of the first four round brushes in the panel and check to make sure you have a black outline and no fill color.
• Begin painting and creating some lines on your artboard, and notice how even if you are using a mouse, Illustrator will help to smooth out the lines.
• You can also create your own Calligraphic Brush by clicking on the small '+' icon at the bottom of the Brushes Panel.
• After clicking on the plus icon, choose 'Calligraphic Brush' and then click 'OK' to proceed.
• You can now give your brush a name, change the angle of the brush, the roundness, and the overall size.
• Once you're happy with the appearance of your custom brush, click 'OK' to finish making the brush.
• Try out your new brush by painting on your artboard!

The Scatter Brush

• Select the Star Tool from the toolbar and then click and drag out a small star shape filled with solid black.
• Click on the '+' icon at the bottom of the Brushes Panel and this time choose 'Scatter Brush' before clicking 'OK' to proceed.
• From the Scatter Brush Options you will be able to name your brush, and you will also see several other settings that you can adjust.
• Change the 'Size' to 'Random' and move the slider to around '22%'. 
• Change the 'Spacing' to 'Random' and move the slider to '48%'.
• Change the 'Scatter' setting to 'Random' and move that slider to '-450'. 
• Leave the 'Rotation' as 'Fixed' and change the angle to about '126°'.
• Click 'OK' to create your new brush and begin painting to see the scattered star effect.
• You can double-click on your new brush in the Brushes Panel to adjust any of the settings as desired.

The Art Brush

• Go to the Brushes Panel and click on the hamburger menu in the upper right.
• From the dropdown menu that appears, scroll to the bottom and choose 'Open Brush Library' from the list and then select Decorative > Decorative_Banners and Seals.
• Choose the second, orange, banner brush and begin painting with it on your artboard to add banners that follow the shape and direction of your lines.
• You can turn any shape, graphic, or piece of vector art into an Art Brush by first creating the shape, and then clicking on the '+' icon in the Brushes Panel before selecting 'Art Brush'. 

Hints & tips

• Drawing tablets are a great way to practice using Illustrator Brushes. 
• You can modify any of the brushes by double-clicking on the brush you want to edit in the Brushes Panel.
• If you modify a brush when you already have a few brush strokes on your artboard, Illustrator will ask if you want to apply the changes to the strokes or leave them. Make sure to choose 'Apply to Strokes' to make sure your changes are reflected.
• Try out some of the preset brushes in Illustrator by going to the Brushes Panel, clicking the hamburger menu in the upper right, and going to 'Open Brush Library' before choosing a preset.