dekePod

There are model railroad geeks. And there are vector graphics geeks. In this episode of Deke's Techniques, the two groups of geeks get to meet. Because this week, I show you how to make a railroad track in Illustrator, using nothing more than a single perpendicular path outline and a whole lot of strokes.

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Welcome to what is easily the most challenging Deke's Techniques so far. In just 11 minutes and 47 seconds, I show you how to convert the blobbiest of all possible brush tool drawings into a wicked cool synthetic lightning effect, all by way of an elaborate smart object that turns Photoshop into a kind of lightning bolt-generation factory.

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This week, I visit an Internet meme. One that started in 2010, so I'm not exactly the Fast Acting Formula. Plus, the meme ended three months ago, which makes me altogether behind the time. But it's funny so who cares?

A coupla years ago, a guy named Simon Fletcher created one of the world's great visual-imaging memes called Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses, in which he invited visitors to share their drawings of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tattooed on the noses of celebrities and regular dopes like you and me. Simon likes Ninja Turtles, but he loves noses. God makes noses; our faces are merely the absurd frames that hold The Designer's artwork.

As if to prove Simon's point, I offer a Ninja Turtle rendered on my own absurdly framed but ultimately beautiful (if supremely pores) nose. As captured by friend and photographer Jacob Cunningham.

Here's the official description from lynda.com: Read more » 

In just two days, on March 1, Adobe Illustrator turns 25 years old. (If only it wasn't a Leap Year, the blessed event would've happened a day earlier!) Meanwhile, I've been using the program since its inception. So I guess that makes me approximately 112 years old.

This week, I celebrate Illustrator and the wider world of vector art with a technique that'll blow you away. Quite figuratively! Because this week, I show you how to create a graphic explosion.

Here's the official description from lynda.com: Read more » 

As I recorded this one, I worried it might be received as a bit lame. As in "Making a frame? Around an image? In Photoshop? With a drop shadow? Are you serious? WTF?"

But, on balance, in retrospect and stuff, it's actually a solid technique. Watch it if you dare. Meanwhile, here's the official description from lynda.com: Read more »