MOST of the fashion design process is done in Illustrator, from sketching to coloring and repeating pattern designs to presentation boards. Because so many people use it, it's cost-effective (~$50/month or $600/year for the entire collection) and always maintained.
WHAT VERSION OF ILLUSTRATOR DO I NEED?
If you're just using Illustrator for your own design purposes (eg not sharing files with clients or other team members), older versions may work just fine. That is if you are on CS6 (older version) and your client is on CC. newer version), they can open YOUR files, but you won't be able to open THEIRS.
WHAT DO FASHION DESIGNERS USE ILLUSTRATOR FOR?
Illustrator has an amazing pattern making tool that makes it easy to create custom seamless repeating patterns. Fashion designers typically put all the garments in all the colors together on one "board" to display the collection as merchandise.
PLEASE DON’T.)
Illustrator doesn't link data..so when you have to enter the same information over and over again it's a huge pain and a LOT. See how I build technical packages in Excel and download my free template or for a super in-depth step-by-step learning, I have a comprehensive technical package course. I've "converted" a lot of designers who have graciously thanked me for cutting their tech pack time in half.).
HOW DO I KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT ILLUSTRATOR FOR FASHION
DESIGN?
But with a degree in graphic design and "receptionist" on my resume, I didn't feel qualified to land a fashion job.
Business grew and for the first time in my life my dream was NEAR. I spent endless hours sketching apartments in Adobe Illustrator with my boss often over my shoulder.
I could very easily have put together a LONG list of Illustrator to fashion tutorials and called it a day. And yes, this guide includes a list of tutorials in logical order.. we'll get to those soon.
5 MYTHS YOU BELIEVE ABOUT ILLUSTRATOR...AND WHY
PROFICIENCY IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
First, let's look at 5 MYTHS you believe about Illustrator..and why skill is CLOSER than you think. You can learn the tools to do this even if you are NOT an artist.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO LEARN ILLUSTRATOR FAST (AND MAYBE
EVEN FREE)?
Just to show you that NOT all opportunities to learn Illustrator are the BEST opportunities. How to kill your fashion design dream: the truth no one else will tell you. And even if you've been in the business FOREVER and can draw flats really fast in CM (Colour Matters, some of that outdated fashion software we talked about earlier), it doesn't matter.
The reason you are reading this is to access the BEST way to learn Illustrator for fashion design. SO THAT YOU are armed with the right knowledge and choose the right path to learn. Instead, you'll regale me with a success story, like some of the designers I'll introduce you to later.
If I'm going to spend money on a course to learn Illustrator, I want to be able to list a reputable fashion school on my resume.”. With 10+ years of experience in fashion, I have seen what comes out of fashion school FIRST.
PROS
CONS
FIT NYC
IMPORTANT - READ THIS!
I realize many of you don't live in these centers, but it will give you a good overview. You have the discipline to learn from a book instead of letting it gather dust on your shelf (I've been guilty). It's hard to find someone QUALIFIED locally or online to suit you.
You may get a piece on how to do a specific task, but then get stuck. And later in this guide, I'll share a bunch of them with you, organized so you can find exactly what you need. Because when it comes to online courses, there are BIG differences in what you get.
The one when your boss turns to you and says "you're going to lead this project, you've PROVEN you can do it". What is the value of the growth you will get over 5 years, 10 years from now.
FREE ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
TUTORIALS FOR FASHION DESIGN
IMPORTANT, READ THIS
TUTORIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
- THE ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER SERIES PART 2: FASHION SKETCHES (AKA FLATS)
- INTUITIVELY DRAW CURVED LINES
- RECOLOR YOUR DESIGNS
- SEAMLESS REPEATING PATTERNS
- TECHNICAL DESIGN
- FASHION BRUSHES
How to Create a Twill Plaid in Illustrator (and a Little Photoshop) How to Add a Background Color to a Pattern in Illustrator. How to Create a Realistic Denim Texture from a Photo How to Create a Mesh Texture in Illustrator. How do you figure out what size your repeating pattern should be? How to relax/expand/break up a pattern in Illustrator.
How to Draw Stitching in Illustrator (Cover Stitches, Flatlock, etc.) Create a Lace Brush from a Photo (or any other realistic edge like sequins, pearls, etc.). EVERY file EVERY time).
THE ILLUSTRATOR BEGINNER SERIES FOR FASHION DESIGN
DRAW FASHION SKETCHES (AKA FLATS) IN ILLUSTRATOR
You will understand exactly HOW the Pen Tool works so you can PREDICT its behavior. Without getting too technical, your fashion flats should be CLOSED SHAPES to be filled with color (or repeating patterns → think stripes, plaids, prints, etc.). Depending on your final design, there are DIFFERENT ways of drawing that may work better than others.
CONCEPTUALize sketching flats in Illustrator (+ pros and cons of each) that are EASILY filled with color. People ask me all the time if it's CHATING to trace something (a photo or hand drawing) in Illustrator. If you like the way a real-life pen (or pencil) draws on paper, I have good news.
I think you'll like it (almost) just as much.. especially if you use the Pen Tool REGULARLY. And if you think it's WEIRD that I took one of my best tutorials and shared it for free.
DRAW A CURVED LINE IN ILLUSTRATOR
So let me show you the easiest way to make HIM JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. We'll start with this video tutorial: Turn a straight line into a curved line with ONE CLICK. This is one of those tricks that "only those who have used AI for a long time" know.
These keyboard shortcuts will allow you to easily manage curves while drawing, so you don't have to GO BACK to edit. But if you're becoming closer friends, you're ready for this tutorial. This video tutorial will show you how to draw smooth curves in your fashion sketches and avoid the "V-butt" all together.
CHANGE COLORS OR RECOLOR YOUR ARTWORK IN ILLUSTRATOR
CHANGE COLORS OR RECOLOR YOUR ARTWORK IN ILLUSTRATOR. years) #jawdrop when they watched this video. I've seen designers coming from other design software packages (like NedGraphics or Kaledo) complain that Illustrator doesn't have a quick way to color over your artwork. And yes, it works for solid blocks of color, repeating swatches, brushes, and pretty much any other type of artwork you can create in Illustrator.
Before scrolling down so quickly, make sure you're using the right Pantone book.
SEAMLESS REPEATING PATTERNS FOR TEXTILE (OR SURFACE)
DESIGN IN ILLUSTRATOR
Here's how to make a simple plaid pattern AND how to troubleshoot if you find breaks or white gaps in your layout. And in this video tutorial, I'll even show you how to transfer the plaid back into Illustrator so you can use it to fill in all your fancy flat sketches. This video tutorial shows step-by-step how to create a denim texture using Illustrator and Photoshop (for cropping only).
This tutorial will show you how to fake this in Illustrator and fill your fancy faces with it. This tutorial will show you how to quickly create a realistic knitted texture, fill your fancy apartment with it and change the colors. Here's a tutorial on how to mock up a (realistic) repeating lace pattern using Illustrator and (don't kill me) a tiny bit of Photoshop.
In addition to creating the actual repeating pattern for your fabric or surface designs, you also need to know how to manage them. You'll also learn how to specify one repeating tile for production, or split up patterns to use the motifs in other parts of your work.
TECHNICAL (FASHION) DESIGN WITH ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
DO NOT manually change the color mod flats to black and white.. one piece at a time. If your design is complex and has many different shapes (zippers, .buttons, etc.), fill repeating patterns or brushes (zippers, covers, etc.). Even if your design is somewhat simple (like the legs example in the next video).
Once you've done that (because there's nothing like seeing something in an actual body), I'll show you how to model your design (or artwork) at full scale and add measurements in Illustrator. At the beginning of this guide, I told you why it's a TERRIBLE idea to create tech packs in Illustrator. But that doesn't mean there aren't PIECES and PIECES of your tech kit that you can create in Illustrator and then bring into Excel.
I like to do this right in Illustrator, and I'll show you the most efficient (and organized) way to do it in ONE Illustrator file. Here is a tutorial that will show you the fastest way to drop your AI technical sketches (or other illustrations) into Excel with sufficient resolution and a not too large file size.
FASHION BRUSHES FOR ILLUSTRATOR
Then, along the control bar at the top of your workspace, you'll see options for 'convert to angle' and 'convert to smooth'. Draw quilted lines with folds (for example, for a down jacket) in Illustrator (using a brush OR a repeating pattern). You'll learn when to use one versus the other, and why this method is SUPERIOR to doing it manually.
Vow that you will never again draw a large series of squiggly lines again, unless you make a brush. It's YOUR job to take the time to learn how to draw it right with the video tutorial below. Now, if that terminology means nothing to you.. let me put it in other words.
Even if you make a brush from an image (like in the lace example below), you can CHANGE THE COLOR. You've reached the end of the ultimate guide to Illustrator for fashion design.
