I'm Back! + Adobe Illustrator Opacity Mask Tutorial.

I came across this proverb today, "A poor workman always blames his tools," and I was like, that sounds just like me! (sounds like am boasting, but am actually pretty ashamed of myself).

For the past year, I have been blaming the absence of a software in making my Youtube videos. When I read this proverb, a thought struck me, there must be a substitute software for making my videos, I researched like mad, and discovered I did have an alternative software all along! Dumb me!

Anyway, I didn't waste any time...I whipped up a new video tutorial today.

You know how we have gradient masks in Adobe Photoshop? Well, many people don't really know how to get the same effect in Adobe Illustrator. It is in fact very simple.

It can be done by using Opacity Mask.

You can watch the video here or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQb5TC0wCvI to watch it:

This technique can be applied kinds of images, be it photographs or vector images. I feel it is very useful when creating vector logos.
This should be the final look once the effect has been applied.

Notice the reflected smiley fading into transparency.

Well, that's it for now. I would love to receive suggestions on future tutorials from whoever comes across this blog. 


Happy Weekend People! :)

Shame!

You know what's shameful?
it's been nearly one year since my last blog post! That means I have wasted nearly one year of my life in doing things that I felt obligated to do rather than those that I actually enjoyed (Yes, blogging is what I was really enjoyed!)

This year, I want to start afresh. I want to get back to blogging, making new videos on Youtube and focusing on my career.
This is not really a New Years Resolution. It is more like a new mindset I want to embrace for now and always.

So here's wishing you all a Happy New Year! May this year be filled wish joy and success for all!

PS. I would love to receive design-related suggestions from you guys for my future tutorials. So if there is anything you want me to make a tutorial on, please bring it forward!

XOXO

My Mesh Tool Fruits

If you have gone through my previous posts, you might have noticed that I have posted some of my fruit illustrations using the Mesh tool in Adobe Illustrator.
These fruits were drawn for a reason - Packaging. The packaging is going to be displayed in a branding gallery where I work along with many others that my colleagues and I have created.
This project is what kept me away from making videos and posting on my blog.

I will be posting some of my final artwork here after the launch of this new gallery. So please keep checking!
I shall also (hopefully) start making my videos again soon. I have truly missed them and I really hope I can squeeze in this hobby into my tight schedule.

Till then. take care and stay inspired!!

Another Self-Reflection

I was reflecting on my life today...summing up all the things I used to do, have been doing and want to do...
Here is what I came up with:

USED TO DO:
- Write poems...tons of them!
- In the process of building six pack abs
- Collector of various Photoshop goodies - brushes, textures etc
- Read lots of novels
- Work out daily
- Drink Avocado milkshake and have a banana daily!

WHAT I DO NOW:
- Work as a Graphics Designer
- Blog occasionally.
- TRY to work out once in a while
- make video tutorials for youtube.

WHAT I WANT TO DO:
- ALL that I used to do + what I do now + get a new exciting hobby

After this self-reflection,
I tried to tackle the no.1 thing in my list. Write a poem.
what used to come naturally to me before, took me ages and in the end I just gave up. A bad case of writer's block and a warning sign that I shouldn't let go of my passion!!
This really scared me.
My word of Advice for all today is:
if u like to do something, DO IT! don't leave it for a later time. Time don't wait for no one! we all know that...yet we take it for granted?
hmmmm...

What a strange morning

I slept like a baby last night; feeling really relaxed and calm. I woke at 7am, 30mins before I usually wake up for work and I felt happy that I had gotten enough sleep.
Then I felt something strange: I could not open my right eye. It felt like dust or my puppy's fur had gotten inside my eye. I stood up to wash it off...after a few minutes I realized that it wasn't dust or fur. My eye was infected :( It had turned terribly red and wouldn't open.
The worst part about this was that it was my right eye - my good eye. I can barely see from my left eye. I had to skip work (yay) and go back to sleep.

An hour later, I was awakened by my phone ringing. It was DHL with great news. My new laptop that I was expecting on Monday had arrived 2 days earlier. that boosted me up.

A few hours later, my eye felt better. It is still slightly swollen but I can now see and keep it open. Thank God.

I am glad I can now get back to making my videos. I really missed it!

I really like the idea of sharing my thoughts in here...I think I am going to do that more often now :-)

Why I haven't been posting on my blog lately...

These past few weeks have been terribly depressing for me...my laptop has been giving me lots of problems. It goes off without warning and disrupts everything I have been doing. I just lost heart in making my tutorials and posting in here.

I have been saving up for a Macbook and I have finally managed to purchase one. Once my order arrives (on Monday) i will be back to uploading videos once a week and be more active in my blog.

Just thought of updating you all :)

So till my next post, take care and stay creative!! :)

Using the Layer Mask - Adobe Photoshop CS3 tutorial

This is one of latest tutorials where I teach how to use layer mask to create an entirely different look on Sandra Bullock.
Transforming a beautiful natural look into a glamorous sexy one!

Layer mask is great fun to use. The advantage of it is when you make a mistake, you can easily fix it by switching between black and white color using the brush tool. If you want to know what I mean, check out my tutorial :)

Here is the link:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ngcwmix10
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN4zwU2Pqfw&feature=related