Digital illustration is a thriving and dynamic industry that has transformed the way we make art. Artists now have an extraordinary assortment of tools and techniques at their disposal to express their creativity, thanks to the advancement of powerful software and technology.

This comprehensive guide to digital illustration will offer you the knowledge and inspiration you need to take your art to the next level, whether you’re an aspiring digital artist or a seasoned pro trying to develop your talents.

Who is Digital illustration?

Digital illustration is simply illustration created digitally, within a software program, rather than with traditional media such as paint. The principles of illustration remain unchanged: designing a book cover, a children’s picture book, a comic book character, or a science textbook. Digital illustration technologies alter the process and provide the artist with new opportunities.

There are really too many benefits to digital illustration to list here. When you dig deeper, it’s easy to see why digital illustration has surpassed traditional techniques of making artwork, at least in a professional capacity. What used to take hours with paint may now be completed in seconds with software.

Illustrators no longer require an armory of equipment on the table, thanks to shortcuts to multiple brush sizes, an infinite color palette, and seamless color mixing. There’s no need to wait for a canvas to dry or overcome mistakes – digital illustrators can create work fast and efficiently, bouncing back and forth between versions to eliminate the chance of making a mistake.

Illustrators’ output volume grows as they work faster, and digital files may be provided to clients and publishers seconds after the illustration is produced.

Styles of Digital illustration

Another advantage of digital illustration is the ability to switch between styles fast. With the click of a button, illustrators can create pencil sketches, watercolors, acrylic paintings, charcoal drawings, or strong abstract vector art.

Having unlimited control over brush strokes and font customization allows users to experiment with new styles and mix methods in ways they may not have considered while working with traditional media.

Illustrators have access to vector illustration, which opens up a universe of styles that would not be feasible to create using traditional mediums, in addition to digital illustration that mimics old approaches and is generated in raster image software.

Vector illustration allows artists to create graphics with faultless colors and exact lines, resulting in stunning images with no room for error.

Software for Digital illustration

Digital illustration software is widely available for both amateur and professional artists. Raster image applications such as Corel PHOTO-PAINT and Corel Painter are specifically created for digital illustrators who want to imitate the painterly effect of traditional mediums.

CorelDRAW is vector illustration software that allows illustrators to generate high-quality vector artwork for individuals who wish to fully embrace the digital side of things.

Vector files are made using mathematical formulas, as opposed to raster graphics, which work with pixels and allow for continuous tonal variations in the artwork. This enables illustrators to generate absolutely flawless lines and color blocks that are ideal for people seeking a sharp, abstract aesthetic.

Almost all vector drawing software allows users to export files in file formats such as EPS, SVG, AI, and CDR that may be scaled indefinitely without losing quality.

Wrap Up

Digital illustration is a limitless realm of creativity just waiting to be discovered. This definitive book has given you the knowledge and abilities you need to confidently launch on your digital art adventure.

Remember that painting is a lifelong pursuit, and there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish. So grab your stylus, let your creativity run wild, and use the digital canvas as your playground to create stunning works of art that will inspire and enchant the globe.