Deke's Techniques

In last week's episode of Deke's Techniques, Deke shared the prosaic, but presumably helpful, process of extending your Illustrator artwork all the way to the bleed. In the course of that video, however, he inadvertently introduced the world to his distractingly compelling character, the Necrowalrus, who happened to be the subject of the artwork in question. 

Just how attention-grabbing was the tangential introduction of Deke's elusive non-existent video game character? Well, I think this tweet says is all:  

@akacolleen is there any chance we can get a JPEG of the Necrowalrus? It'd likely end up on our site worldwidewalrusweb.com

— WorldWideWalrusWeb (@walrusweb) April 30, 2013

So this week, Deke reveals how to draw some key components of his delightful game-changing Necrowalrus in Illustrator. Read more » 

In this week's free Deke's Techniques episode, Deke takes a delightfully narrative but not nearly threatening enough warning sign, and adds a sharp-toothed incentive to stay off the frigging cliffs. 

The Cliffs of Moher on Ireland's west coast receive something in the vicinity of one million visitors a year from all over the world. Thus, they need graphically narrative signs that warn people away from the friable edges. But, of course, intrepid photographers ignore those signs on occasion. And Deke, being one of those sign-scoffers decided to use the power of Photoshop to enhance the perceived danger portrayed in the sign. Like this: 
 

Now, lest you think this is just Deke being Deke (which, it is, on so many levels; I can tell you, I climbed over more than one "No Trespassing" sign, written in English, during our visit to the Cliffs, in order to retrieve him and his fancy camera before they slid off the muddy edge).

But nonetheless, I will also tell you that this particular technique, whilst frivolous and cartoon shark-infested on the surface, nonetheless does a terrific job of showing how to create masks, manage paths, and master the Transform command options. If you follow along, you may just find yourself doing something actually useful with this knowledge down the line. And if not, you're well set to create a humorous warning sign from your next set of vacation photos. 

And for members of lynda.com, Deke's got an exclusive episode this week as well, in which he shows you how to add that extra bit of texture to your shark (or whatever danger bonus you create) that really sells it as an original bit of sign. If you're not a member of lynda.com, you can get a free week's trial to check it out at lynda.com/deke.  Read more » 

In this week's Deke's Techniques episode, Deke contemplates the creation of cartoon gaming characters in Adobe Illustrator. (This creature may or may not bear homage to a certain video game Deke might have played before he became obsessed with Fieldrunners.) 

But the point of the exercise is to explore how the highly graphical creatures that populate our modern pastimes are created from standard shapes, which are then stretched, filled, warped, duplicated, highlighted, and shaded in Illustrator. So start with this:

And end up here by the end of the video: 

I sort of love this featureless egg-like-but-with-telltale-hair creature, but there's more:  Read more » 

One of my favorite things about Deke is his focus, and by that I mean he gets an idea in his brain and won't let go until he's figured it out. I have a feeling that's what happened the first time he started doing Op Art experiments with Adobe Creative Suite. He focused in on each style, using Photoshop (as in Deke's Techniques 189, known temporarily as Deke's Techniques 105: "Op Art Experiment 1a: Inflated Checkers in Photoshop) or Illustrator as needed. Eventually, he ended up with today's Illustrator technique: an Op Art inspired pattern of undulating lines and hypnotic diamonds. Ironically, as much as it represents the manifestation of Deke's mental focus, it could actually mess with your literal ability to focus your eyes.

But the visual effect is only temporary (I hope). The increase in your powers with Illustrator, however, will be permanent (I also hope). Starting with two sets of curly lines, plus an itinerant diamond shape, Deke duplicates, reflects, joins, blends, and eventually creates a pattern that yields this result. You can then fill an entire shape with your pattern and wow your friends and colleagues with your ability to create perfectly aligned visual mayhem. (You can probably use it to bend them to your will, as well.) 

Along the way, you'll become familiar with these key Illustrator tools, commands, and idiosyncrasies:  Read more »