LESSON 1
Types of Illustration – Style and Techniques: Traditional Illustration and Modern Style
TYPES OF ILLUSTRATION
With the growths in technology and the increasing importance of illustration for some different fields, illustration techniques have gained a whole new array of possibilities and styles. There is now various software that can be used to achieve different illustration styles, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkscape, and so on.
TRADITIONAL ILLUSTRATION
Illustration has been around from the time cave people began drawing little stick figures on their cave walls. While it has come a long way from there, illustration is still a significant manner of communication and expression. Today, we walk you through some of the more traditional forms of illustration.
1. WOODCUTTING ILLUSTRATION
This is one of the oldest techniques of illustration that was popular during the Middle Ages, and gained prominence after the invention of the printing press. Carved blocks became important when books began to be published in large quantities since carved block illustrations could be used to make illustrations that were printed using the same cutter. This technique is still used today by artists and illustrations who want a natural or rough feel to their work. Woodcut illustrations also held a lot of prominence in feudal Japan.
2. PENCIL ILLUSTRATION
This method needs no explanation since it is so well known and commonly employed, by artists, illustrators, and even by people attempting to explain or convey a concept simply. A pencil is a vital tool that allows for a variety of effects, shades, lines, and effects. Artists may choose to use either pencil of a single colour, a graphite lead, or a variety of pencils of different colours to achieve their desired effect.
3. CHARCOAL ILLUSTRATION
Charcoal illustrations cannot boast of the same precision and lines that are made using a pencil, but they have the distinct characteristics that make them appealing to individual artists. They are often the preferred medium for illustrating stories, for making quick portraits and sketches, or for making illustrations that need all constructions and rough lines to be left visible. Charcoal can boast of excellent blending properties and some different grades and hardness for different effects.
4. LITHOGRAPHY ILLUSTRATION
Lithography is derived from a Greek word that means stone. Initially, this method was started by drawing on the surface of smooth limestone plates with the help of oil, fat, or wax.
5. WATERCOLOURS ILLUSTRATION
The primary aim of watercolour illustration is creating effects and shades by adding water to create different transparencies of the pigmented colour. There is a lot of depth and detailing which is often obtained from this method.
6. ACRYLICS ILLUSTRATIONS
These are a preferred medium for people who are just beginning their illustration journey since they are relatively easy to work with. Some different effects can be achieved, and they can be used on some different surfaces, and are water resistant after they have dried.
7. PEN AND INK ILLUSTRATION
Ink illustrations are prominent in situations where the illustrator wishes to have precise, detailed work, and have high contrast between the elements they are using. Most illustrations use a single colour and different tints of it on a plane surface to get work that is monochrome but highly detailed. This medium is characterized by fine lines and varying line qualities. Different dots, lines, and densities are used to obtain effects.
MODERN ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES
With the growths in technology and the increasing importance of illustration for some different fields, illustration techniques have gained a whole new array of possibilities and styles. There is now various software that can be used to achieve different illustration styles, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Inscape, and so on. If you are a traditional artist looking to set foot into the world of modern or digital methods or are just looking to further your knowledge, this should be enough to get you started. It can feel intimidating when you first begin to take in all the possibilities offered by software and technology, but there is also a lot of essential similarity to traditional art, and it is easy once you get started. Here, we cover the broader categories that digital art can be categorized into by the format and the type of images that will be formed.
1. FREEHAND DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION
This bears a striking similarity to the sort of illustrations that are done on paper, canvas, or similar traditional medium. The only difference here lies in the entire process, or at least most of it, being digital, and usually done using a single stylus or pen tool. The main advantages here include access to a multitude of different colours, brush presets, and tools which can be used to speed up the process effectively. Moreover, mistakes are easily undone, and changes and edits can be made.
2. VECTOR GRAPHICS
Each point is given a specific point on the coordinate axes of the work plane which determines the direction that will be taken by the path. Vector graphics are usually stored in SVG, EPS, or PDF formats. The way that these graphics are produced allows for more scaling and zooming functions before they begin to appear pixelated. They can be enlarged to a greater extent before they lose quality. They are more chunky and have less gradation or flow, and are mainly used in creating illustrations for the web such as posters, logos, and so on. They are characterized by their clear outlines and more defined nature.
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