how to design a vintage travel poster in adobe illustrator and photoshop

8/19/2019 How to Design a Vintage Travel Poster in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

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How to Design a Vintage TravelPoster in Adobe Illustrator and

Photoshopby Janie Kliever

http://tutsplus.com/authors/janie-klieverhttp://tutsplus.com/authors/janie-kliever


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W


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hat You'll Be Creating

In honor of St. Patrick’s ay! this tutorial "ill "alk you through the ste#s ofcreating an Irelan travel #oster in a vintage style. We’ll be using a si$#le!geo$etric style ty#ical of #osters fro$ "hat’s kno"n as the %&olen ge of

(ravel)*roughly the early+ to $i+,-s*like the ones belo"/


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By starting in Illustrator an then s"itching over to Photosho#! "e’ll have thebene0t of Illustrator’s easy+to+use ra"ing tools for cris# illustrations! butalso take avantage of Photosho#’s brushes an blening $oes to 0nish ito1 "ith authentic+looking ink an #a#er te2tures.

3or $ore ins#iration! go check out so$e vintage fonts an te2ture brushesfor Photosho# on 4nvato 5arket.

1. Gather Your Resources

(here are a cou#le of things to consier "hen esigning an engaging travel#oster/

,. a recogni6able location! lan$ark! or cultural reference

7. authentically vintage+looking fonts

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So! 0rst! you’ll "ant to select a reference #hoto or gather so$e ins#irationfor "hatever location you’ve chosen to feature on your #oster. If you’ like toco#y the co$#osition you see here! you can 0n the #hoto at the link belo".3or $y Irelan #oster! I’ve chosen an i$age of the Cli1s of 5oher! one of thecountry’s to#+visite tourist sites.

• 8eference #hoto 9via 3lickr! courtesy of Ilaria:

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;e2t! you $ight "ant to o"nloa the other resources "e’ll be using aheaof ti$e so you on’t have to interru#t your #rogress "ith the tutorial later.

• 3onts/ Poller (aken:

!. et "p in Illustrator


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#. $reate a %ac&ground 'ith Gradients

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shae 9D4@E-C: fro$ your s"atches. Fouble+click on the left slier anchange the color to "hite.

;o" a a thir slier near the $ile by hovering "ith your $ouse near thebotto$ ege of the color s#ectru$ until your cursor changes to "hite "ith a

s$all #lus sign 9: ne2t to it. Click to a a slier an change its color to thelightest blue color 9B4FC:.

You can aAust the #osition of the colors by ragging the sliers at thebotto$. You can also aAust ho" the colors blen into each other 9grauallyor "ith shar# ivisions: by ragging the t"o ia$on+sha#e sliers at theto#. (he settings I’ve use are #icture above.

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8e#eat ste#s 7 an ? to create another graient to 0ll the lo"er e$#ty #artof the artboar. (his one is a t"o+color graient! "ith the $eiu$ blue9G?: $entione earlier along "ith "hite! at the settings you see belo".


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;e2t! "e’ll #lace a hillsie in the backgroun. 3irst! a t"o shaes of greento your s"atches/ a arker one 97@B: an a lighter one 97-,E:.

;o" use the Pen Tool to ra" a crooke line that slo#es o"n fro$ left toright across the botto$ of the #oster! an $ake the color the arker green.Fra" a s$aller! si$ilar sha#e to layer on to# an a##ly a graient using bothgreens 9light on the left! ark on the right:! as you see belo"/


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-. Draw the $li/s

tep 1=ock the Backgroun layer an create a ne" layer! na$ing it %Cli1s).

;o" it’s ti$e to take a look at your #hoto. It hel#s to #lace it o1 to the sie of your artboar for easy reference. se the #hoto to get a basic iea of thesha#e an scale of the cli1s.

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se the Pen Tool to rough out the sha#es of each cli1. It oesn’t have to be

e2act! but you o "ant the sense of the cli1s receing in si6e o1 into theistance. You can even trace over the #hoto to get the general #lace$entright if you like.


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5ake sure to not $ake the$ too large! so you have roo$ for the te2t at theto#. s a grou#! the ege of the cli1s shoul sto# short of the right ege ofthe artboar! an the to# of the tallest one shoul en about t"o+thirs ofthe "ay u# the artboar fro$ the botto$.

If you nee to aAust the si6e! select all the #ieces at once to #reserve theirsi6e an #osition relative to each other.

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We "ant the cli1s to be lighter in color as they get s$aller so they look as ifthey’re faing into the istance. n easy "ay to get lighter or arker versions9also kno"n as tints an shaes: of a base color it to use Illustrator’s Color&uie tool.

So 0rst $ake the largest cli1 a ark grayish+bro"n color! D@DD-. (his is our

base color. ;o" o#en u# the $olor Guide 9'indow * $olor Guide: anselect hades fro$ the ro#+o"n $enu.

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You’ll see our base color in the $ile of the 0rst ro" "ith a little arro"#ointing at it. (o the right of that are lighter versions! or tints! of that color.##ly those to the re$aining three cli1s.


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I also ae graients to the $ile t"o cli1s for a little e2tra e#th! $aking

the right eges one shae arker you can o the sa$e if you like.

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(o a so$e grassy #atches to the cli1s! take a look at the reference #hotofor #lace$ent ieas! an then use the Pen Tool to #lace so$e si$#le!angular sha#es.


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(he greens are the sa$e "e use for the hillsie*the arker green for the0rst cli1! an the lighter green for the secon one.

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8e$ove the outline on the sha#e if you have one 9by changing the tro&e color to 2one:! an then a##ly a graient. 3ro$ the Gradient 3ill ro#+o"n $enu! select 3ade to 'hite. (his "ill $ake one sie of the graient

"hite an the other clear! letting "hatever color is unerneath sho"through. You can see the other settings belo"/

. $reate a Tourist 3igure

In the style of illustration "e’re using! ra"ing #eo#le really isn't thatco$#licate. It’s si$#ly a series of geo$etric an curve sha#es 9like theones "e’ve been ra"ing alreay: stacke strategically together. You $ay

"ant to "ork on this #art o1 in the e$#ty s#ace besie your artboar so youhave so$e roo$ to #ut all the #ieces together an so the backgrounoesn’t get in your "ay.

If you’ like to Aust go for it an create your o"n 0gure! feel free 9an thenski# o"n to the %rrange the (y#ogra#hy) section:. But if you’ like to co#ythis one! rea on for the ste#+by+ste# #rocess. 3irst! lock the %Cli1s) layeran create a ne" one calle %(ourist).


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(he $ain boy is basically Aust t"o ta#ere rectangles 9ra"n "ith the PenTool:/ one "ith straight eges an the other "ith curve sies. (he "ith ofthe sha#es shoul be the sa$e "here they $eet. (he colors are as follo"s/

C,7@7F for the re ?,DDG? for the blue.

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3or the ar$s! start out by ra"ing a shallo"! sie"ays L "ith the Pen Tool*this is the insie angle of the left ar$. Continuing fro$ one of the en#oints!still using the Pen (ool! ra" a straight line e2tening out an t"o curvelines to for$ the outer ege of the ar$ close the sha#e "ith another straightline.

9Mere’s a Huick Pen (ool ti#/ When transitioning bet"een a curve an astraight line! you’ll "ant to click on the anchor #oint before continuing to

convert it fro$ a s$ooth #oint to a corner #oint! so you’ll have a co$#letelystraight line an clean angle.:


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If neee! resi6e the co$#lete sha#e so it’s the sa$e height as the torso.We’ll reuse it for the right ar$! so co#y an #aste the sha#e to u#licate it!an then rotate it ,E egrees by selecting 4b5ect * Trans6or7 * Rotatean ty#ing in 18,. With the sha#e still selecte! click on the to# $ilehanle on its fra$e an rag it o"n a bit so the ar$ is not as tall as the0rst.

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;e2t u#! the hans an legs. 3or the hans! ra" right on to# of the ar$s"ith the Pen Tool so the #ro#ortions turn out right an you on’t have toresi6e. Si$ilar to the ar$s! "e have a co$bination of straight an curvelines/ straight lines for the to# of the hans an 0ngers! an a curve for theunersie of the han "here the #al$ is.

3or the legs! ra" t"o narro"! ta#ere rectangles an a so$e si$#leshoes or boots on to#. Select both the legs an boots an sen everything tothe back 94b5ect * Arrange * end to %ac& : so they’re behin the skirt.


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=astly! the scarf! hair! an hat 9"e’ll be #lacing the$ in that orer on to# ofthe torso:.

3or the scarf! all you nee is a rectangle "ith curve sies an t"o leaf+likesha#es! in the sa$e arker green color "e use before. Fra" these "ith thePen Tool "ithout "orrying too $uch about creating #erfect sha#es $ost ofthe scarf "ill be covere u# by the hair.

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3or the hair! start o1 "ith the 9llipse Tool to ra" an oval. (hen return tothe Pen Tool to ra" a sort of a curve triangle "ith a tail for the ens ofthe hair.

fter you arrange the t"o sha#es together! you can unite the$ into one by

selecting 'indow * Path:nder * "nite even out any lu$#y s#ots "iththe 7ooth Tool 9access it "ith a click+hol of the Pencil Tool:.

(he color of bro"n I’$ using for both the hair an boots is G?E,?.

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We'll #ut together the hat in t"o stages! covere in ste#s G an @. 3or so$evisual su##le$ents to these ste#s! scroll o"n to the i$age at the en ofste# @.

• se the 9llipse Tool to ra" an oval for the bri$! an rotate it so it’stilte slightly! about D egrees.

• Select the Add Anchor Point Tool 9accesse "ith a click+hol on the

Pen Tool: an click to a an anchor #oint on the oval about half"aybet"een the left an botto$ #oints. Change over to the Directelection Tool an rag that ne" #oint slightly in"ars.

• Still using the Direct election Tool! grab the left$ost anchor #ointan rag it u# an left so that sie of the oval is longer an straighter.

When you click on an anchor #oint "ith the Direct election Tool! so$ehanles "ill a##ear. You can click an rag those hanles to $ani#ulate theoutlines of your sha#e.

• 42#eri$ent "ith aAusting the hanles of the anchor #oints on the left

sie until you have a Natter oval "ith a slight inent.


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;o" "e’ll "ork on the cro"n of the hat.

• Start o1 "ith a s$all rectangle tilte at a si$ilar angle to your oval.

• se the Add Anchor Point Tool to #lace an anchor #oint on the to#sie of the rectangle near the $ile. (hen rag it o"n an left "iththe Direct election Tool. lso rag the t"o botto$ #oints out"ars!$ore so for the one on the right.

• Click on the u##er left anchor #oint "ith the Direct electionTool! an in the Anchor Point toolbar that a##ears across the to# ofyour screen! select the $onvert selected anchor points to s7oothbutton. (his "ill give that corner a roune ege! an you can aAustthe hanles if neee.

se the Pen Tool to 0nish o1 the hat "ith a re ban. (he blue color is thesa$e "e use earlier for the skirt.


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;o" your tourist 0gure is co$#leteO Aust the si6e of each ele$ent asneee to 0t "ith the #revious #arts of the illustration. When you’re satis0e"ith the result! s"itch back to the regular election Tool! rag an invisiblebo2 aroun the "hole illustration to select all the #arts! an hit$o77and;$ontrol


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0. Arrange the T)pograph)

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If you haven’t alreay! o"nloa an install the fonts "e’ll be using 9Poller


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Place the gra#hic 93ile * Place * locate "here you have the 0le save:!change the color to green 9the green "e’ll be using fro$ here on out is thearker shae:! an reuce the si6e so it 0ts "ithin the curve of the 8.

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;o" let’s a a shao". Co#y %I84=;F) an Paste in %ac& ! changing thecolor to green. ;o" go to 9/ect * Distort > Trans6or7 * Trans6or7.


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Place the "or in the e$#ty s#ace above %I84=;F) 9so the L Aust aboutlines u# "ith the clover: an rotate it to a si$ilar angle. (hen go to 4b5ect *Trans6or7 * hear an ty#e !, in the hear Angle bo2.

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n that "ra#s u# the #lace$ent of our ty#ogra#hy. Mere’s "hat "e have sofar/ the co$#lete vector #ortion of our illustration. ;e2t! "e’ll s"itch over toPhotosho#. 9But on’t close your Illustrator ocu$ent yet! because "e’llnee it one $ore ti$e here shortly.:


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. et "p in Photoshop

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;o" it’s ti$e to a so$e te2ture to our illustration.


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Illustrator. You $ake any changes you "ant! save it in Illustrator! an thechanges $agically a##ear right in Photosho#. Pretty neatO

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With your s$art obAect selecte! go to (a)er * (a)er t)le * %lending4ptions an select Hard (ight fro$ the %lend ?ode ro#+o"n $enu. llthe other settings can stay the sa$e. (his $akes it look as if our vectorillustration "as actually #rinte on real #a#er.


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(he bro"n #a#er "ill give the illustration a certain tone. If you’ like to t"eakthat tone! $aybe $aking it $ore yello"ish or greenish! try e2#eri$enting"ith the o#tions you’ll 0n uner I7age * Ad5ust7ents * Variations.

8. Add Teture


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If you "ant to re$ove #art of your selection 9say you selecte the "hole 0rstcli1 but "ant to subtract the grassy #atches:! Aust hit the ubtract 6ro7selection button 9the thir one in the toolbar at the to# of your screen:before resu$ing using the Buic& election Tool. If you "ant $ore #reciseselecting ability! reuce the si6e of your brush.

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3or the sea foa$! start o1 "ith "hite an concentrate your te2ture brushingclose to the botto$ eges of the cli1s.

(hen use the 9)edropper Tool an #ick blues fro$ the "ater area of yourillustration! "orking in"ars "ith the brush to"ar the "hite te2tures you Aust a##lie to soften the har outer lines of that "hite graient a bit.


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vertise$ent

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=ast but not least! a a little shaing to your tourist! an then a$ire your0nishe creationO


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YouCve Arrived at Your Destination

Congratulations on $aking it all the "ay through. I ho#e you've learneso$e ti#s an techniHues for #airing the uniHue tools an abilities foun inboth Illustrator an Photosho# to co$#lete a single #roAect. Mo#efully you’vegot in so$e goo #ractice using the Pen (ool an anchor #oints in one! ana##lying te2ture "ith blening $oes an brushes in the other.


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s al"ays! feel free to share ho" your #roAect turne out or ask Huestions inthe co$$ents section. Ma##y esigningO

how to design a vintage travel poster in adobe illustrator and photoshop

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