Fall Leaf Tutorial

Fall leaf tutorial:

Open Adobe Illustrator

Go to File: NEW

Select ONE of the Fall leaves… then drag the jpg (bitmapped) image onto the blank canvas

Create a new layer (look for the post-it note in the bottom rt corner of the layers palate)

Name the layer: leaf color.

Set Fill Color to none: Lock bottom layer click on pen tool

Trace the leaf (not the stem)

When you have a great outline, turn off the visibility (eyeball on layers palate) and look at the pen outline:

add new layer “veins”

select the paintbrush tool: set brush:

draw the center vein, then the side veins. Make sure they overlap in the center, and go outside the leaf on edges

zoom in, make sure all lines intersect move with direct selection tool (white arrow – as needed)

Lock all layers except veins using the selection tool (black arrow) draw a box to select all veins

group the veins

move layer w/veins under the leaf color select BOTH veins and outline (using shift)

Open pathfinder (Window, pathfinder), click on divide (bottom lt corner)

Change fill to gradient: double click gradient: this pops up

Double click on the white box, change to a fall color

Double click on the black box, change to a fall color

Adjust the stroke thickness and color (brown looks nice) Turn off original picture layer

Add a stem with the pen tool: