45 Fresh Must See Illustrator Tutorials From 2012

June 4th, 2012
Illustrator

We recently did an article which featured 45 fresh photoshop tutorials from 2012, which our readers seemed to really enjoy. This time the roundup features 45 of the best illustrator tutorials which were created in 2012.

I really love working in illustrator, it has to be my favorite vector based design program. A lot of designers start out designing using photoshop, and photoshop only. You should certainly make the transition from photoshop to illustrator. This post is great starting point for learning, and mastering the ins and outs of illustrator. Theres tutorials available to suit every designer’s skill level, so there’s no excuse not to dive in to a tutorial, and start expanding your design knowledge.
I would love to hear in the comments your favorite tutorial featured in the post, also would love for you to share any hidden gems (illustrator tutorials) we may have missed from the list.

1. Create a Keyboard Button Using Adobe Illustrator

This tutorial will show you how to create you own keyboard button. you’ll use basic shape building and pathfinder tools to create our shapes, and then color our button using gradients, while keeping a keen eye on lighting directing. Using the techniques in this tutorial you can create other keyboard buttons using different shapes.

2. How To Create a Cool Vector Yeti Character in Illustrator

Follow this step by step Illustrator tutorial to create a cool vector Yeti character. We’ll use as many basic shapes as possible to achieve that quirky style of illustration, then bring the character to life with a palette of cold colours. Despite the use of basic shapes this tutorial includes a good spread of intermediate to advanced tools and techniques.

3. Create a Detailed Surveillance Camera Illustration

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed surveillance camera illustration. Discover how to use professional vector build methods, pixel based highlighting, and vector effects to design this artwork.

4. Valentine box tutorial

Valentine’s Day, the most romantic holiday of the year is upon us. So why not take the opportunity to learn how to create a romantic gift box in AI. In this Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will be learning how to create a heart shaped gift box by using a few basic tools such as the Ellipse Tool (L) and Pen Tool (P).

5. Create a Stylish Switch Button in Illustrator

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple switch button in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll build the switch button using pixel perfect alignment, quality vector shape building techniques, and then color the work with Film Grain effect, Opacity Masks, and highlights.

6. Create a Creamy Ice Cream Poster on Illustrator

This is a step by step tutorial forwarding some of the previous tutorials. The idea is to incentive the idea of playing in Illustrator. It’s a simple tutorial but it will deal with some pretty basic shapes, but a good knowledge of the softwares tool will make things quite easier for you, also if you are using a tablet for this tutorial.

7. Create a Vector Tape Measure in Illustrator CS5

n the following tutorial you will learn how to create a vector tape measure. Learn to use professional pixel perfect vector shape building techniques, break shapes apart as needed with Pathfinder tools, and color your graphic elements with highlights and gradients, resulting in a metallic tape measure illustration.

8. A simple compass icon

It will show you how to create a simple compass icon. You’ll start with a bunch of simple shape and some pixel perfect vector shape building techniques. Next, using the Pathfinder options along with several effects we’ll create the highlights. Finally, using some basic blending techniques and stroke tricks we’ll add the final touches for our icon.

9. How to Illustrate a Stepladder in Illustrator

What can one say about a stepladder? A stepladder may be represented as a concept that shows the development of designers skills and improvement of their creativity. Therefore it is high time to go ahead step by step in depicting the final image of this tutorial. Follow along, while creating your own striking and stunning artwork using a professional vector workflow in Adobe Illustrator.

10. Custom Dusty Type Treatment

Just because you’re working in Illustrator doesn’t mean you have to create clean geometric artwork all the time. With just a couple tips and some custom artwork you can create 100% vector artwork that is grainy, dusty, dingy, and awesome. Plus, these techniques are easy to apply to all kinds of graphics other than typography.

11. Create a Detailed Vector Chalkboard Icon

n the following Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed vector chalkboard icon. This classic school, blackboard illustration is composed using vector shape building techniques, pixel perfect highlighting, as well as brushes and textures for adding interest to the work.

12. How To Create a Vector Sponge Art Effect in Illustrator

I’m sure you all remember painting with sponge (or potato!) stamps as a child, but back then we didn’t really appreciate the cool distressed effect the printing technique created. Today designers and illustrators strive to add that retro/vintage style to their work with textures, so in this tutorial you’ll cover the process of creating a cute kids style illustration complete with a vector sponge stamp effect.

13. Create a Detailed, Vector Clothespin Illustration

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a detailed clothespin illustration. It all starts with a simple pixel perfect vector shape building techniques. Then we’ll use the appearance panel and Illustrator effects to add dimension to the illustration. You can use these professional techniques to create quality icons, detailed web graphics, and more.

14. Create Cute Characters in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator can be a little tricky to get your hands around, particularly after getting used to the workflow of applications like Photoshop. The differences between layer use and the creation of objects and shapes can be really strange at first hand.

15. Create a Block Game Interface in Illustrator

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a block game interface in Adobe Illustrator CS5. Vector game graphics allow for versatile artwork. The workflow presented in this tutorial will teach you how to create game graphics in Illustrator. These techniques can be applied to multiple interface design and game design projects. It’s time to jump in, learn to create these shapes, and give them colorful graphic depth.

16. Create Plants Vs. Zombie Type in Illustrator

This is an intermediary tutorial, but even If you’re experienced in Illustrator, you might find some good insights and ideas on it, have fun.

17. Quick Tip: How to Create a Cute Cartoon Dinosaur

This Quick Tip will show you how to create a cartoon dino using only basic shapes like rectangles and circles. This is a step-by-step tutorial for beginners. The icons from the inkscape toolbar are added to the images to make it easier to find the tool and function I am describing in the text.

18. 3D Gift Box Tutorial in Illustrator

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a 3D gift box in Adobe Illustrator using Extrude and Bevel effects, gradients and expand object elements.

19. Quick Tip: Create a Modern Volume Bar with Adobe Illustrator

In the following steps you will learn how to create a simple volume bar. It’s a pretty simple tutorial that will introduce you to the basic tools, effect and techniques used in Adobe Illustrator. You will start with a simple rectangle and circle then using multiple fills, strokes and several simple effects along with some nice blending and masking techniques you will create your own volume bar.

20. How to Create Snooker App Icon Using Adobe Illustrator and SubScribe Designer Plugin

A great tutorial upon how to create a snooker app icon.

21. Create a Retro Triangular Pattern Design in Illustrator

Follow this step by step Illustrator tutorial to create the popular retro style pattern design made up of lots of colourful squares and triangles. The process is pretty simple, making this a good tutorial for newcomers to Adobe Illustrator. We’ll be using tools to accurately align our elements, then see how the Pathfinder can easily create custom shapes.

22. Quick Tip: Create a Set of Glowing Buttons in Adobe Illustrator

In the following steps you will learn how to create a simple set of glowing buttons. It’s another tutorial that focuses on the Appearance panel as the entire button is created using only one shape with multiple fills and strokes plus some simple effects.

23. Create a Detailed Lifebuoy Illustration

In the following Adobe Illustrator tutorial you will learn how to create a semi-realistic lifebuoy graphic. We’ll start with a bunch of concentric circles and some basic vector shape building techniques. Once we create the starting shapes we’ll continue with some Pathfinder options, several Warp and Gaussian Blur effects plus some basic masking techniques.

24. Create A Colorful Cocktail Icon Using Illustrator

The cocktails are probably the only drink that you can get any color in this world. The variety of colors, shapes and ingredients of these drinks are just amazing. In this simple tutorial I will show you how to create a colorful cocktail icon inside Illustrator.

25. Create a Frog Prince in Adobe Illustrator

26. Create a Mobile Phone Music Player Interface

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a mobile phone music player interface. We’ll build the interface using pixel perfect alignment, quality vector shape building techniques, as well as gradient and lighting control.

27. How to Create a Mail App Icon Using Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial I’ll tell you how to create icons for iOS-applications, we will also talk about the technical requirements that are applied to this kind of products. In the process we will be using unique techniques that will allow you to create light and shade and soft play of colors.

28. Create A Jeans Vector in Illustrator

29. How to Illustrate Crocus Flowers in the Snow

This work is a common project created together with Iaroslav Lazunov and Alexander Egupov. Do you love flowers? You think that nobody says: “No” in answer to this question. All of us like the tenderness and elegant beauty of a flowers’ leaves and buds. You love Roses and Daffodils, Daisies and Snowdrops, Water Lilies and Lilies of the Valley, and of course, Crocuses, which spring after the snowy and frosty winter. Learn how to create Crocuses in Illustrator.

30. Create A New Year Card in Illustrator

31. Quick Tip: Create a Simple Audio Player Bar in Adobe Illustrator

In this quick tip you will learn how to create a simple audio player bar. This is mostly about the basics of pixel perfect vector shape building techniques. We’ll start with a simple rectangles and the Rounded Corners effect. Next, we’ll use some Offset and Pathfinder techniques to create the highlights. Finally, some masking/blending techniques and the Drop Shadow effect will help us add the final touches.

32. How To Create a Grainy Abstract Lines Poster Design

Follow this step by step tutorial to create a cool abstract lines design with awesome vibrant lighting effects. We’ll use Illustrator’s easy tools to create the vector linework then add a range of glows, colours and effects in Photoshop to finish the design with a cool grainy but luminous style.

33. Create A Robotic Pony in Illustrator

34. Create a Simple Clipboard Icon in Illustrator

In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple clipboard icon. Use a complete Illustrator CS5 workflow, vector shape building techniques, and vector effects to design this icon.

35. Create a Casino Slot Machine in Illustrator

In this tutorial you’ll be creating a slot machine in Adobe Illustrator. You’ll build it from simple vector shapes, then color it, use the Appearance panel to add effects, use symbols, and apply the symbol tools. You’ll end up with a nice vector slot machine.

36. Illustrator Tutorial: Holland Tulip Field

This tutorial will show you how to create a beautiful Holland landscape filled full of colorful tulips and a traditional Dutch windmill. We will start by creating a red tulip flower with the Gradient Mesh tool and then make yellow and purple color variations of the tulips. Then we will create the windmill using simple gradients and solid fills and finally we will arrange all the elements to complete our landscape. I have included steps that are crucial to get the desired look assuming that the user is familiar with basic Illustrator drawing and coloring tools. So let’s start creating!

37. Quick Tip: How to Create a Simple Set of Ribbon Icons

n the following tutorial you will learn how to create a simple set of ribbon icons. First, we’ll build the starting shapes using several basic tools along with some simple effects and vector shape building techniques. Next, we’ll add extra details and colors using Pathfinder options, dashed strokes, a built-in pattern and some new effects. Finally, we’ll add a simple text with a discrete shadow effect.

38. How to Create a Roulette Wheel in Adobe Illustrator

Gambling illustrations are very popular. All over the internet you can see dices, poker chips, roulettes, coins, playing cards and other similar elements for gambling advertising. Well, today we will be learning how to create a nice vector illustration of the roulette wheel. Creation process is actually very simple. All we have to do is to use few basic Adobe Illustrator Tools and some nice colors and gradients in order to create an eye catchy illustration.

39. How to Create a Line Art Vintage Vector Scooter in Illustrator

In today’s tutorial, It will show you how to create a vintage vector scooter illustration. I’ll show you how to create simplified line art without overcomplicating the image. You’ll learn how to create a quick texture as a finishing touch from resources you have available to you within Adobe Illustrator. Learn how to give your work a vintage vector art feel.

40. Craft a Dramatic Vector Landscape Environment

This tutorial will show the intermediate Adobe Illustrator artist how to make a dramatic landscape environment. You should have a basic understanding of Adobe Illustrator tools before you begin this tutorial, as the tutorial moves at a rapid pace.

41. Creating a Tattered Parchment

Today, in this all new Adobe Illustrator tutorial, you will be learning how to create a very popular illustration; old tattered parchment. There are many beautiful illustrations that seem to be complicated to create, but they are actually not. This is the main purpose of this tutorial, to show you how easily some of these can be achieved. We will deform some basic shapes and objects, combine them, and perfectly complete the whole illustration with some decorative elements and gradients.

42. Create a Professional 3D Twitter Icon in Illustrator

Learn how to create a sleek & professional Twitter icon or button using Adobe Illustrator. To create this icon we’ll be using must know methods and techniques to create this attractive icon which can be used for various design projects.

43. How to Create a CD Cover Design Using Illustrator, VectorScribe, DrawScribe and Mesh Tormentor

In today’s tutorial, you’ll use the most advanced technology in the world of vector graphics. The methods described here will allow you to work faster and more efficiently. I bet in this tutorial you will discover information which you have not heard of before!

44. How to Create a Liquid Logo Using Adobe Illustrator and DrawScribe Plugin

In this tutorial you will cover the techniques of creating “liquid” objects with the help of the Dynamic Sketch Tool, part of the DrawScribe plugin, plus the Blend Tool. This tutorial includes detailed instructions and interesting tricks that will allow you to succeed in creating this kind of style.

45. Create a Vector Hair Dryer in Illustrator

A hair dryer is a tool that helps women add beauty to their hair. Let’s illustrate a vector model of it and learn important techniques, which can improve the designer’s skills along the way.