When we want to use our imagination and creativity to draw our works of art, Adobe Illustrator offers us very useful tools. In this case, we will explain a tool called the smudge brush, which we can use to draw freehand.
Before using the smudge brush tool, we want to mention some rules that you should keep in mind when using this tool. We also want to mention the options it has so that you can use it effectively.
Blob brush tool in Adobe Illustrator
When you use the tool you should take into account the following:
- When combining paths, they must be together in stacking order. The paths created using the Stain Brush, with any existing illustration, must have the same fill color and have no stroke.
- When drawing paths with the smudge brush, the new ones will blend in with the intersecting paths. When you want to apply paint attributes to the smudge brush tool, you must define the attributes before you start drawing. The smudge brush tool works to combine paths created with other tools.
When you double click on the smudge brush tool you can define the following options:
- Keep selected: All the traces are selected and they remain selected, with this option you can view all the tracings including the combined tracings. Combine only with selection: With this option, the new lines will only be combined with the selected lines.
- Fidelity: This option controls how far the mouse or electronic pen must be moved for Illustrator to add a new anchor point to the path. The higher the value, the smoother and less complex the plot will be. Anti-aliasing: This option allows you to control the amount of anti-aliasing when using the tool. When the percentage is high, the tracing is smoother.
- Size: With the option, you can determine the size of the brush. Angle: You can decide the angle of rotation of the brush. Roundness: The roundness of the brush is decided, you can do it by entering a value in the Roundness text box. When the value is high, the roundness is greater.
Step by Step: How to Draw Freehand with the Brush Tool in Adobe Illustrator
Before starting to work with our drawing we must configure the document, creating a new document in Adobe Illustrator. Then it is convenient to use the rulers, grids and guidelines in Adobe Illustrator, to achieve better precision.
Now you need to configure the smudge brush tool to make your drawing, based on the options we mentioned earlier. To draw freehand you must follow the following steps:
- You must select the path with which you want to combine the new path.
- Now in the Appearance Panel that is located on the left side, you must deactivate the option ” The new illustration has a basic appearance “. This way the smudge brush tool will use the selected artwork.
- Then you need to select the “blob brush” tool. Make sure it looks the same as the selected artwork.
- Then you must draw paths that intersect the illustration. You can use the object blending tool options in Adobe Illustrator to combine them; But if the paths do not match, you must make sure that the attributes of the smudge brush tool are the same as the attributes of the path.
- You can then add highlights and shadows, adding a bit more depth to the illustration. To add light you can use a brighter color that I use in the trace and to shade a darker version of the base color.
- If you want to change any of the colors used; You just have to select everything and choose the ” Recolor illustration ” function. This way you can change the colors used in the illustration.
Once your drawing image is finished, you can use Adobe Illustrator to convert a vector image to a bitmap. After that, convert Illustrator file to PowerPoint easily. This way you can formally present your drawing to other people.
In this way, we have explained in a simple way, how to draw using the smudge brush tool. Keep visiting our page, you can learn other techniques that you can use when making your illustrations.