Saving good causes from bad design.
Until recently, I did all my vector graphic work in InDesign or Photoshop. This might be a cardinal sin among designers. Vectors are what Illustrator was MADE for, it’s far more powerful when it comes to making scalable artwork or logos! But I’ve been using Photoshop and InDesign (and it’s predecessor, PageMaker) since I was 10 or 11, and I was afraid. Afraid of all the strange and different tools in the toolbar, afraid of the myriad unfamiliar options and settings not available in InDesign. I’ve always been more comfortable working with raster graphics.
About six months ago, I took a lettering workshop with the Friends of Type at Typecon, picked up a few crucial tips, and made my first Illustrator vector piece. After that, I made a commitment to master Illustrator, or perish in the process. I decided to convert the dozens of files I had for the board game I was designing, Co-opoly, from InDesign to Illustrator. I’m excited about the new directions Illustrator is taking my work, and thrilled to be learning new techniques and tricks every day.
This Halloween, I thought the best way to truly channel Illustrator was to BECOME Illustrator. I chose to embody Illustrator as a superhero, since my motto is “Saving good causes from bad design.”
Making the logo, pen tool, and arrows: first I made paper templates to cut out, and then traced them on to felt.
Making the tool bars: I used t-shirt iron-on transfer paper, available at any craft store. I enlarged and printed out the toolbars, and ironed them on to white fabric. I’m always impressed by the quality of this stuff! Peel off immediately after ironing for a matte finish, a few minutes after it cools for a glossy finish.
Making the mask & cape: I was excited to find the perfect silky fabric in just the right shade of Illustrator goldenrod! I’ve made capes before for other costumes and followed the same pattern – cutting out a large rectangle and rounding the corners, then cutting a neck hole, and attaching it with velcro. I’ve made paper-mache masks before, but I can’t really wear my glasses with a paper-mache mask, and I don’t have contacts. I realized a fabric mask was the simplest way to make a mask that I could wear with my glasses.
The edges of the fabric threatened to fray a lot, and I was too lazy to sew edging around all of it, so I just used black masking tape on the edges – and it worked well to stop the fraying, and looks awesome!
Yeah, I pretty much wear it all the time. It definitely helps me mentally connect to Illustrator.
Categories: Crafts, Graphic Design, News
Tags: adobe illustrator • costume • crafts • geek costume • halloween • illustrator • nerdy
4 Responses to “Being Illustrator, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pen Tool”
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amazing!!! love it <3
most awesome!
Oh man, Molly, this is awesome! I’m in awe!
THIS IS AWESOME. I am a loyal inanimate-objects-as-costumes costume-maker, so kudos to you on this one!