It's not a straightforward job to create vector images. It takes time and skill and experience to create a file that's both useful to a customer and easy to work with. All too often, extra vector points, unfilled shapes, meaningless layers etc make working with a file frustrating. Of course, iStockphoto only accepts high quality work, but I try to build my files so they're easy to use and economical on file size. Once the illustration is complete, I spend a while tidying up the loose ends and logically grouping and layering all the little bits and pieces. Let's take a look at an example: This little yellow car:
It's made up of 45 separate elements. 8 in each of the wheels, 14 various yellow bits for the paint, 10 various reflections that make up the glass and 4 white elements which form the lights, all sitting on a black under layer. In outline form all those individual vector objects look something line this:
First things first. Starting at the bottom, the black background forms the outline, the windows, the tyres and anything else that's black:
Then on goes the base layer of yellow for the body:
A further 13 objects of yellow fades to give the bodywork some gloss:
Next some grey fades to give the same treatment to the glass:
The 4 white bits that form the light reflectors:
Finally the wheels and we're done!
There's no magic or transparency here, all done to EPS / Illustrator 8 standards and will open just fine in any application that handles vector graphics. In fact this is created in CorelDraw X3 and exported to EPS format via Illustrator CS. Nothing high tech at all. Just one more thing to do is add a few more colours and put the whole package on iStock.
The download from iStock also includes a hi resolution jpg file and as of January 2011, where it might be useful, all my new vectors will include layered PhotoShop psd versions too!
