Pixel art is all the rage these days, so it’s understandable that many designers would want to add it to their skill set. It’s fairly easy to make with digital software, including Paint Tool SAI. So, how do you make Pixel art in Paint Tool SAI?

To create pixel art in Paint Tool SAI, first, you need to create a neat outline or sketch of what you want to draw. Next, you must draw the pixels within the outline and color it in. Lastly, don’t forget to add shadows and highlights.

Keep reading below for more detailed information.

What is Pixel Art?

The distinctive art form known as “pixel art” celebrates the large, clearly visible pixels that are the basic building blocks of an entire image. Pixel art may be enjoyed for its distinctive pixel visuals and the method used to create it, which involved working with a small size and color palette. The simplicity, with amazing combinations of large colorful pixel blocks, is frequently where the beauty resides.

How to Create Pixel Art Using Paint Tool SAI

You can create pixel art in Paint Tool SAI by following the instructions in this section.

For more information on how to create pixel art in Paint Tool SAI, watch this video below:

Pixel tutorial Paint Tool Sai

Step 1: Make a Simple Outline

• Make a New Canvas with a resolution of 450 x 450 pixels. Because we’ll be using pixels, a large canvas is not necessary. Use the Pen tool to begin drawing!

With a dynamic stance, we can give the image some motion. A picture with motion is always more engaging and enjoyable. Additionally, keep in mind that the cleaner your sketch is, the simpler it will be to pixelate.

Step 2: Draw a Black Outline to Form the Basic Foundation 

• Create a New Layer over the top of the sketch layer and adjust its opacity to 20–30%. 
• Use the Binary tool, sometimes known as the Pixel tool in some software versions, and begin to pixelate the outline. 
• Make sure your brush has a 1 px size and 100% opacity. Take the time to make your lines as clean as you can.
• To start, you may play around with several layers or canvases until you feel comfortable with the Binary tool and are happy with your outline. Anyhow, you may always correct your errors later and carry on.

Step 3: Make Another Layer

• To avoid worrying about messing up the lines when drawing, making another layer and drawing pixels in the sensitive areas would certainly be wiser. 
• Then Merge down all levels except the drawing layer, which you may remove or disable.

Step 4: Applying color

After finishing the pixel outline, we can add color to our object. 

• Take the Magic Wand and first choose the area that you wish to color. Next, add a New Layer on top of it, and use the Bucket tool to fill in the chosen region.
• With each piece of the design, repeat these procedures. To make coloring much simpler, it would be preferable if you created a distinct layer for each large component.

Step 5: Zoom In

• Enlarge your drawing to roughly 300-400%. 
• You will notice that there are a few single-pixel gaps here and there when you operate with the Bucket tool. 
• With the Binary tool, you’ll need to color them independently.

Step 6: Create Shadows

We may begin creating shadows as soon as we’ve finished working with the base colors. 

• Create a New Layer and clip it onto the base color layer above our base color layer. We no longer have to be concerned about straying outside of this area when drawing.

Note: When working with pixels, you might feel tempted to add a lot of colors to make it appear more lifelike. It is preferable to utilize a base color, two colors for light, and two colors for shadows. Your pixel art will appear cleaner as a result.

Additionally, you might try adding one additional vivid color for the highlights. You might select a new hue for this design that is entirely distinct from your primary color scheme, which would work well to create an intriguing appeal.

And that’s it for pixel coloring! Good work!

Conclusion

And there you are. In this article, we showed you how you could create pixel art in Paint Tool SAI using very simple and easy-to-understand instructions. We hope this tutorial will prove useful when you want to make your own pixel art. Happy editing!

Creating smoke can be a great way to add some cool effects to your project in Illustrator. However, it may not come so easily to beginners who are just coming to understand the basics of this digital art application. So, how do you make smoke in Illustrator?

Ensure that the shape you just created is on top, then click on it. Press the Object > Arrange > Bring to Front key (Command-Shift-Right Bracket) after that. Go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Top Object after selecting the path and the strokes (Command-Alt-C).

Keep reading below as we take you through these steps in more detail.

How to Make a Smoke Brush

The line tool, pen tool, envelope distort, and Transparency panel is all the tools you’ll be employing to create smoke. Although it’s not hard, it may be a little tricky, so pay close attention to the little things. Set the artboard backdrop color to black as you begin since we’ll be utilizing white to create the smoke.

Step 1: Start by drawing a straight line using the Line tool. The stroke weight should be 0.02 points, and the stroke color should be white.

Keep in mind that the smoke will appear softer the narrower the stroke.

Step 2: To access the Move options, double-click the Selection Tool. The vertical value ought to be 0, and the horizontal and distance values must be changed to 0.02 (the equivalent of the stroke weight).

Select Copy.

Step 3: To replicate the line, press and hold the Command (or Ctrl key for Windows users) and D keys. 

Step 4: Group the lines and reduce the opacity to roughly 20%.

Step 5: Finish the path by drawing a smoke form with several crossing points using the Pen tool. Set the fill color to white and get rid of the stroke color.

Step 6: With the lines and the form selected, select Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top object from the upper menu.

You have now produced a vector of smoke. Create a brush out of it next.

Step 7: Move this vector smoke into the Brushes panel after opening it. Set the colorization technique to Tints and Shades after selecting Art Brush.

You may give your smokey brush a name or alter its orientation.

We are now finished. Test it out to see how it appears.

How to Create Smoke Effect

To produce vector smoke, you may use the envelope distort and mix tools, or you could just blend in a raster picture to achieve the same effect. Read on for instructions on the two different smoke effects.

For more information on how to create a smoke effect in Illustrator, watch this video below:

Vector

You can create and add a smoke effect by using the smoke brush demonstrated in the abovementioned steps because it is already a vector. And it is one method for creating vector smoke. But let’s also check out another method for producing vector smoke that uses the mixing tool.

Step 1: Using the pen tool, draw two wavy lines overlapping. Stroke weight should be changed to 0.05 or less. The lines appear more lifelike when they are narrower.

Step 2: Click both lines, then select Object > Blend > Make from the upper menu.

As you will see, it doesn’t appear very realistic because there is too much space between the pathways.

Step 3: Switch the Spacing to Specified Steps and raise the number of steps by going to Object > Blend > Blend Options.

As you make adjustments, use the Preview box to view how it appears.

And we are now done! Although it doesn’t have the same realistic appearance as a smoke brush, you may change the opacity or blending mode to make it work with your design.

Raster

Although Photoshop should be used for this, because only some have access to it, we’ll demonstrate how to create a smoke effect with Adobe Illustrator.

Step 1: Locate a smoke- or cloud-containing picture and insert it into Adobe Illustrator.

For better blending, look for a picture with a backdrop color close to yours. If not, you may need to create a clipping mask to eliminate the backdrop.

Step 2: Reposition and resize the smoke/cloud picture to match the original image where the smoke should appear. To view the position, reduce the opacity.

Step 3: From the Appearance panel, choose the smoke picture and adjust the Blending Mode. You may select the blending mode by clicking Opacity.

For the best outcome, you may also experiment with the opacity.

Conclusion

Adobe Illustrator can create smoke effects, and a benefit is that the vector smoke may be edited. The blend tool approach is the quickest way to do it, but the outcome is less realistic than what Envelope Distort produces. It ultimately depends on the type of project you’re working on. It’s beneficial to have a variety of smoke for various purposes.

Filling a shape with text in Illustrator may seem like an intimidating job at first, but we assure you it’s not! In fact, it can be done by following a few simple instructions. So, how do you make text fill a shape in Illustrator?

Using the Type Tool and the Envelope Distort tool, you can easily fill a shape with your text to produce a fantastic text poster or vector. You’ll discover a solution for whatever you’re working on today.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you two quick and simple methods for using text to fill a shape in Adobe Illustrator.

How to Fill a Shape with Text in Adobe Illustrator in 2 Simple Ways

With only a few selections and clicks, you can use Envelope Distort and the well-known Type Tool to fill text into a shape. Whereas the Type Tool only fills text into a shape without distorting it, Envelope Distort fits text in a shape by warping the text’s appearance.

To learn more about how to fill a shape with text in Illustrator, watch this video below:

1. Envelope Distort

The envelope distort tool makes it very simple to produce a pretty unique text effect.

Create Using Warp

1. The create with warp function in Illustrator is the first method for warping text into shapes. This enables you to change your text into a variety of pre-made forms.
2. Go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp after creating a text object, selecting it, and then clicking on it.
3. The Warp Options window with several defaults for warping your text object should now show up.
4. You may warp your text into a variety of shapes using the Style drop-down menu. If you want, you may go through them one at a time.
5. You will be given the option to select between a horizontal or vertical alignment in the Warp Options panel. This represents the axis along which the warp is placed.
6. For the purpose of this tutorial, let’s utilize the Arc style. The effect is applied to the horizontal axis when Horizontal is chosen. It applies to the vertical axis whenever Vertical is chosen.

The remaining options in the Warp Options panel are quite straightforward. They provide you with the ability to modify the warp’s placement in addition to its strength and intensity (you might, for instance, provide the arc more or less of a curve or move the peak of the arc a little bit towards the left instead of the right, etc.)

Method 2: Type Tool

The Type Tool should always be used if you wish to fill in a paragraph of text in an object without distorting any of the content.

One other technique to warp text into shapes in Illustrator is to design your own unique custom shape and utilize it as a model for your text transformation when none of the shape presets inside the warp options box give you the right shape for your text. This feature’s operation is pretty straightforward. 

1. Create your own object first, then right-click on it and select Arrange > Bring to Front to ensure that it is lifted over your text. 
2. After that, choose the text object as well as the custom shape, and align them on the horizontal and vertical axes.
3. Go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object with both of the objects chosen.
4. You can see that this function truly allows you to let your imagination go wild because there are so many various ways to bend text into different shapes.
5. You can see that this function truly allows you to let your imagination go wild because there are so many various ways to bend text into different shapes.

How to Change the Color of Text That Has Already Filled in Shape?

By selecting the text and picking a color from the Color Picker or Swatches while using the Type Tool approach, you may instantly alter the text’s color.

Double-click on the text inside the shape to alter the color using the separate layer if you wish to alter the color of text that has been envelope-distorted. To leave the layer editing mode, double-click the artboard once more.

Conclusion

Adobe Illustrator makes it simple to insert text into a shape. When you just need to fit text inside a form, the type tool technique works well. It is speedy and makes text editing simple. Try the Envelope Distort option if you’re thinking of making a text vector or design and don’t care if the text gets distorted. Just remember that a path must be your top object.

Merging multiple shapes to create new ones or larger compositions is a breeze with Illustrator. Designers should be able to complete this simple task with ease. So how do you combine two shapes by merging their paths?

To merge paths in Illustrator, using your keyboard’s “A” key will enable the Sub-selection tool. Then, select every anchor point while holding “Shift.” Lastly, to join them, press “COMMAND+J” (Mac) or “Ctrl+J” (Windows).

We’ll demonstrate three techniques for merging the paths of various objects in Illustrator in this article.

What is a Path?

The black line that displays whenever you create a line in Adobe Illustrator is referred to as a path. A path is composed of a collection of so-called “anchor points” and the line segments that connect them. The “control handles” at the anchor points at each path’s endpoint can be utilized to change the curve’s direction.

Paths can be categorized into three categories:

• Open Paths: This is a straight line with two endpoints.
• Closed Paths: A closed path without ends. Ex: a circle, a rectangle, etc.
• Compound Paths: Multiple open or closed paths.

Merging Paths in Illustrator With the Join Command

You can merge paths in Illustrator using the Join command by following the steps listed in this section below.

For more information on how to merge paths in Illustrator, watch this video below:

Step 1: Launch the Illustrator File

• Begin by double-clicking the Illustrator file that corresponds to your document to open it. 
• In case the Illustrator file is already open, you may select “File” from the top menu, then “Open,” and then select the file you need. 
• To expedite the process, you may also utilize the Command+O (Mac) or Ctrl+O (Windows) keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Locate and choose the Selection Tool

• Search for the sub-selection tool from the toolbar on the left side of your screen. Alternatively, you may quickly select the tool by pressing “A” on the keyboard.

Step 3: Choose the Anchor Points

• Select the anchor points at the endpoints of the pathways you wish to connect while holding down the “Shift” key. The chosen anchor points should now be highlighted, while the others should remain white.

Step 4: Connect Paths

• Lastly, to combine your paths, click “COMMAND+J” (Mac) or “Ctrl+J” (Windows).

Merging Paths in Illustrator With the Pathfinder Panel

Using this technique, you may combine the paths of overlapping objects into a single object by using the Pathfinder Panel.

Step 1: Locate and Choose the Selection Tool

• The Selection tool may be found on the toolbar to the left of your screen. As an alternative, you may quickly choose the tool by using the “V” keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Pick your Objects

• Select each of your objects while holding “Shift” to select them all at once. To select both items at once, you may also hover your mouse over them and click and drag.

Step 3: Access the Pathfinder Panel

• Navigate to “Window” and choose “Pathfinder” from the menu at the top of the screen. The Pathfinder panel will appear on the right side of your window.

4. Connect Paths

• To combine the paths of your shapes, select the “Unite” button in the Pathfinder panel.

Merging Paths in Illustrator Using Shape Builder Tool

The paths of overlapping objects may be seamlessly combined using the Shape Builder tool.

Step 1: Locate and Choose the Selection Tool

• On the menu at the left of your window, search for the Selection tool. As a workaround, you may easily select the tool by using the “V” keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Pick your Objects

• Select all of your objects while holding “Shift” to select them all at once. To select two items at once, you may also hover your mouse over them and click and drag.

Step 3: Locate and Choose the Shape Builder Tool

• On the menu at the left of your window, search for the Shape Builder tool. As an alternative, you may quickly choose the tool by pressing “Shift+M” on your keyboard.

Step 4: Connect Paths 

• Click and drag your cursor across all of the points that overlap your objects when using the Shape Builder tool.

It’s important to know that you don’t have to join the path to create a closed path if you want to color the shape. A colored fill can be used on an open route. But if you want a stroke to extend around the fill area, you must connect a path.

Conclusion

And there you go. In this article, we discussed how you could merge paths in Illustrator. As we mentioned before, it’s a very simple and useful skill. We hope the instructions in this article are easy to understand and follow.

The ability to convert vector images into raster graphics, which are frequently used to print documents or save them as bitmap files, is another feature of Adobe Illustrator, among many others. You’ll learn how to rasterize in Illustrator in this article. So, how do you rasterize text in Illustrator?

Thanks to Illustrator’s rasterize feature, this is simple to do. To add text to your document, just open Illustrator, choose the Type Tool, and click Add Text. Select the text, then choose Object > Rasterize. Click OK after selecting your Anti-Aliasing setting.

Read on for additional information as we walk you through everything below.

What Does Rasterize Mean?

In Illustrator, the term “rasterize” refers to the process of taking a vector graphic composed of paths and anchor points and turning it into a raster picture composed of pixels. 

Using the capabilities in Adobe Illustrator, vector drawings may be quickly modified as visual representations of mathematical formulae and do not lose quality when zoomed in.

Should You Rasterize Objects in Illustrator?

If you need to access a vector graphic in Illustrator with an application that doesn’t handle vector graphics, you often rasterize the item to make it into a jpg or png. You are not required to rasterize a vector in Illustrator unless you want to transfer it to Photoshop. 

Simply copy and paste it into Photoshop, where you can edit it as a smart/linked object or change it over there.

One reason to rasterize in Illustrator is when dealing with text. When sharing the design to a device that lacks the required font, you can rasterize text in Illustrator so that the recipient can still see the text object.

How to Rasterize in illustrator

To rasterize a vector in Illustrator without sacrificing quality, follow the steps listed in the section below. 

For more information on how to rasterize text in Illustrator, watch this video below:

Step 1: Choose the Vector or Text You Wish to Rasterize

• If you wish to rasterize various objects into one picture, hold down Shift while making your selection. 
• Your objects will rasterize to the size that they are shown on your artboard. 
• You will therefore obtain a higher resolution image if you rasterize them first and then scale them up.

Step 2: Create a Hidden Layer/Artboard/File to Copy the Vectors 

This way, if necessary, you may retrieve them as vector files in the future. Once you save your file, the rasterization procedure is permanent and irrevocable.

Step 3: Rasterize

• Go to Object>Rasterize
• Rasterize options will appear in the new window that appears. 
• Choose the color mode that you want for your rasterized object. 

The basic color mode will be the same as your actual document. Therefore, if you put it up as CMYK, CMYK will be the standard. The same is true with RGB. In any case, you have the choice between Grayscale and Bitmap.

Step 4: Decide on a Resolution

• 300 PPI is ideal for printing, whereas 72 PPI is optimum for screen viewing and internet sharing. 
• If you want to create a unique resolution, you can select “other.” 
• The resolution of your rasterized picture will mirror that of your current document if you choose to “Use document raster effect resolution.”

Step 5: Decide On a Translucent or a White Backdrop 

The ultimate quality of your photograph is unaffected by these, so you can choose either of the two.

Step 6: Pick Anti-Aliasing Setting 

• Inserting pixels around the margins and color limits while rasterizing your image will allow anti-aliasing to soften and smooth down sharp edges. 
• By doing this, you may avoid having jagged or unnatural-looking curves and diagonals. 
• If “None” is chosen, edges will be more defined, but curves and diagonal lines will seem jagged.
• Anti-aliasing that is “art optimized” will give your shapes this look but is not advised for writing. The most effective method for rasterizing text is “text-optimized.” If you are unhappy with the outcome, you may experiment with these parameters and undo the raster.
• Click “Ok” after leaving the other options alone. You have now rasterized your object.

If you feel that there isn’t any difference, the image has been rasterized in high quality. It’s possible to see the pixels if you zoom in closer. Unlike vector objects, there won’t be any pathways or anchor points in your rasterized image.

Conclusion

And there you have it. It’s crucial to keep in mind that text in Adobe Illustrator is treated as an object, so when you rasterize it, it will appear in the Object menu rather than the Type menu. As soon as the text is rasterized, it is impossible to change it; therefore, make sure you create a duplicate of the vector text first.

It is very difficult to get lost in Krita, a beginner-friendly software that is extremely easy to use. However, we are here if you still need help merging layers in Krita! 

To merge layers in Krita, go to the layers panel and select the ones you want to merge. Now hit Ctrl + E. The layers will be merged. If you wish to flatten the image, go to the control menu on top, go to the Layers option, and click on Flatten Image. 

To learn these techniques in more detail, please continue reading the article. 

How To Enable The Layers Panel In Krita?

Before you can begin working with layers, you must enable the layers panel if you cannot see it already. 

To do so:

1. Open Krita.
2. Select the “Windows” menu from the control bar on your screen.
3. Now, go to Dockers from the drop-down menu.
4. Select Layers from the list of available dockers.
5. The Layers panel will now appear on the right side of the Krita window.

Watch this Youtube video to learn about layers fully:

Merging Layers In Krita

Let us get straight into the matter of concern! To merge the layers in Krita, follow the instructions below. 

1. Draw an artwork using multiple layers.
2. Go to the layers panel on the right side of your screen. 
3. Before we begin merging, turn off the Background layer.
4. Start selecting the layers that you wish to merge. 
5. Now hit Control + E. 
6. Your layers will move into one singular layer. 

How To Select Layers Easily In Krita?

Selecting layers can be tricky sometimes. Two options are available to do this easily; one selects layers close by while the other selects layers at a distance. 

To select layers that are next to each other:

1. Press and hold the Shift key. 
2. Now select the layers that are close to each other. 

To select layers that are at a distance from each other: 

1. Press and hold the Control key.
2. Now select the layers randomly, even when they are not placed next to each other. 

How To Hide A Layer In Krita?

When displaying an image, you can hide or show one or many specific layers. This is good when you are experimenting with new things, and you need to test the introduction of something new in your work. If you do not like it, you can turn the layer off and hide it. 

To do so, follow these steps. 

1. Go to your layers panel.
2. Look at the left side of your layers, where they are listed.
3. Click on the little eye that appears in this spot. 
4. Click on it to make it white and hide the layer from the display.
5. You can click on it again to make the eye gray in color to show the layer in the display. 

Merging Layers In Krita By Flattening The Image In Krita

Did you think we were done? Krita offers its users another feature that is very similar to merging layers. Flattening the image allows you to combine all the layers into one background layer. You do not need to select the layers. 

To perform this action in Krita: 

1. Go to the control panel on the top of your screen.
2. Go to the Layers option.
3. Look for “Flatten Image.” This would be the second last option in the drop-down menu. 
4. All the layers will turn into a Background layer. 

How Is Merging Layers Different From Flattening The Image?

Merging two layers is combining two separate layers into one while flattening an image is merging all of the visible layers of an image into one layer. Merging images allows two layers to be combined, while flattening an image reduces the number of layers in an image to one, resulting in a single image. 

Merging layers allows for greater flexibility in editing, while flattening an image reduces the complexity of the image. For an artist to be in control and be able to tweak little things in their art, merging layers offers more versatility than the flattening the image option. 

Is Merging Layers Better Than Flattening The Image?

Merging layers can be beneficial if you need to apply certain adjustments or effects to multiple layers together or if you want to change a layer without affecting the other layers. Flattening the image can be beneficial when you want to reduce the file size or make a single-layer image easier to work with. The need for the two options varies greatly depending on your needs from Krita. 

Conclusion

Layers are an artist’s best friend when it comes to having creative freedom; being able to fix mistakes or introduce newer elements into your art piece is only possible due to layers. If it was not for layers, you might have had to start from scratch every time!

Clip Studio Paint is a great application for beginners looking to brush up on their drawing skills. One downside is that it may be difficult to navigate through, but not to worry. We are here for you.

To draw straight lines, go to the figure tool and select straight lines. Now hold down the shift key and drag your cursor on the canvas as you like—release when you are satisfied with the length.

Please continue reading to learn more about the line tool and how to use it best. 

Locating The Line Tool In Clip Studio Paint

The line tool is not available as one straightforward tool you can select in Clip Studio Paint. It is incorporated in the figures tool, and most beginners may struggle with finding this. 

We have detailed instructions to help you easily locate the line tool. 

1. In the tools panel on your right, look for the figure tool.
2. You can also hit the F key to activate this tool. 
3. This opens as a Sub Tool. Click on Direct. 
4. The first option here is a straight line. 
5. Choose this to draw straight lines in your piece. 

Making A Straight Line Using The Line Tool In Clip Studio Paint

Let us put this tool that we just discovered to the test. To make a straight line using the line tool:

1. Choose the straight-line tool. 
2. On the canvas, click and hold down the shift key. 
3. Now drag your cursor to where you want your line to go. 
4. Release once you are happy with your line. 

How To Change The Width Of The Line In Clip Studio Paint?

You may not like the thickness of the line set by default, or your art may require a different effect. To achieve this, Clip Studio Paint does not have a tool to allow you to change the thickness of a line, but it offers a variety of brush sizes that you can switch up to get the desired effect.

1. Select the straight-line tool. 
2. On the properties panel, there is a section for Brush Sizes. 
3. Explore the options here and choose the one that is the most befitting for your work. 
4. Try some on the canvas to get a complete idea. 

How To Taper A Straight Line In Clip Studio Paint?

Clip Studio Paint allows you to give your lines the tapered effect mostly acquired by using a pen or when making freehand art. This tool will enable you to draw a straight line while still making it look like a hand-drawn line. To do so: 

1. Select the Straight Line option.
2. In the Properties window, look for the Starting and Ending section. 
3. Click right next to it, where it says “None,” and in the drop-down menu, choose Brush sizes. 
4. Click on the + sign next to Starting and ending. An option for starting and an option for ending will appear separately. 
5. Toggle the slider on the starting and ending options. Any changes that you make will show in the preview window. 
6. Once done, draw a straight line. It may look like a straight line while you are drawing it, but the tapering effect will show once you release the cursor. 

How To Turn The Tapering Setting Off? 

You may notice that once this setting is on, all the lines you draw are tapered. One way of setting this off is to change the settings manually, but this can be tiresome and repetitive. To do this easily: 

1. Look for a circle at the bottom right in the starting and ending sections. 
2. Click on this to restore all the settings that you may have altered. 
3. This takes you back to the default settings. 

How To Change The Color Of A Straight Line In Clip Studio Paint?

You cannot draw black lines everywhere, can you? To change the color of the lines, follow the steps below. 

1. Select the Straight Line Tool.
2. Before you draw a line, go to the properties panel and look for the color picker at the bottom.
3. Choose the color you want to use, and then continue drawing your lines. 

Watch this helpful video to get the most out of the line tool. 

Conclusion

The most basic component of any art piece is the type of lines that make up the work. If you get this one thing right, you can slowly build your skills and make fantastic art that much praise. We helped you learn how to draw straight lines and maneuver them to look more real.

Incorporating water into your designs is one way to enhance your skill set. Drawing water also helps you create more cool effects. However, it is also a bit tricky to do. This tutorial teaches you how to draw water using Paint Tool SAI.

To draw water in Paint Tool SAI, start by adjusting the brush size settings. Select the area where you would like to draw the water. Sample different colors and color them in using the brush tool. Now, adjust the brush size and create a new layer. On this new layer, you can add different highlights and effects.

Keep reading below for more details on these steps.

Drawing Water: Paint Tool SAI vs. Photoshop

Some people prefer to use Paint Tool SAI for drawing water, and others prefer Photoshop. In this section, we briefly compare both programs so you can decide which one to use.

Features

Layers, brushes, and colors are just a few of the fundamental elements Paint Tool SAI offers. Although Photoshop includes several more sophisticated functions, including picture editing, web design, and 3D modeling, it also offers these features.

Paint Tool SAI will do if you only need basic paint software. However, Photoshop would be better if you want more sophisticated functionality.

Ease of Use

Paint Tool SAI is incredibly intuitive and simple to use. Even though Photoshop might be trickier to learn than Paint Tool SAI, once you’ve gotten the feel for it, it can be just as simple to use. If you are not accustomed to working with digital art applications, both tools have a steep learning curve.

Price

A $50 one-time payment is required for Paint Tool SAI. On the contrary, Photoshop demands a $9.99/month membership. In the long term, Paint Tool SAI will be less expensive if you want to use either application for a period of time that is longer than a few months.

How to Draw Water Using Paint Tool SAI

Follow the steps in this section to learn how to draw water using Paint Tool SAI.

For more information on this topic, watch this video below:

Step 1: Adjust Brush Settings

To draw water in Paint Tool SAI, you must first adjust the brush settings according to these specifications:

• Min Size: 50%
• Density: 71%
• Noise (density): 0%
• Color Blending: 0%
• Opacity Mix: 0%
• Persistence: 6%
• Quality: 3
• Hardness: 0%
• Min Density: 0%
• Max Density: 0%
• Hard – Soft: 60%                                  

Make sure to keep the opacity option ticked.

Under the Pressure option, ensure the size, color, and density options are ticked.

Step 2: Make a Selection

Focus or capture the section of water you want to color in.

• To do this, expand the section by using ‘Selection’ > ‘Expand select by 1px.’

Step 3: Sample Colors

• Pick the ‘Brush Tool’ and sample the colors you want to use for the water section.
• Right-click with a tablet to sample colors more quickly.

Step 4: Color In

• Make large blots of color using the brush tool at different areas of the water.

Step 5: Adjust Brush Size

• At this stage, switch to a smaller brush size to make blots of color and give it more detail.

Step 6: Create New Layer

• Keep the section focused or captured and create a new layer above the layer of color.

Step 7: Sample Colors

• This newly created layer is for highlights and effects. Sample and try out lighter colors to use.

Step 8: Change Blending Mode

• Change the blending mode on the new layer to ‘overlay.’

Note: This program has an unofficial English translation so it might not appear in your program. Therefore, try different modes to see if you get the right results. If you don’t get the right result, just import it into Photoshop later and use the overlay blending mode.

Step 9: Add Details

• Use a small brush size and make a group of small dots with the brush tool.

These dots are just decorations used to give the body of water more detail; hence, they are optional. If you don’t want to include any dots, don’t draw them.

Step 10: Create Ripples

• Use a large brush size and make dashes with the brush tool that appear to be going in the same direction.

Step 11: Add More Details

• Use a small brush size and create more dots. This time, use a slightly bigger brush size than before and a different color.

Bonus Tip

If you have any characters in the water, then make sure to add additional shading in the water so that it can indicate their presence.

Conclusion

And there we are. In this section, we demonstrated how you can use Paint Tool SAI to create any water body. Although it is a simple process, it can be tricky at first, especially if you are new to digital art applications.

Drawing a straight line in Photoshop is difficult, but diagonal lines? This is where most people feel lost. We have got your back. 

To draw a diagonal line, select the Line tool, select Shape in the properties panel, hold down the Shift key, and drag the cursor across the document diagonally. That was easy, right?

Please continue reading to learn more about how diagonal lines can add variance to designs. 

Why Are Diagonal Lines Used In Graphic Design?

Diagonal lines are used in graphic design to add visual interest and draw the viewer’s eye to a particular focal point. They can also be used to create movement within a design. Diagonal lines can develop a sense of energy or action in a design and divide a composition into sections or add depth and perspective.

Making A Diagonal Line In Photoshop

To draw a diagonal line:

1. Look for the Line tool in the tools panel. Select this. 
2. In the properties panel on top, select Shape. 
3. Hold down the Shift key and drag the line across the document. Release when you are done and satisfied with the length. 
4. Your diagonal line will be ready. 

How To Increase Or Decrease The Width Of A Diagonal Line In Photoshop?

Is the diagonal line you drew less thick than you want? Follow the instructions below to fix the issue. 

1. Select the line you wish to change the thickness of. 
2. Go to Windows and select the Properties menu. 
3. In the dialog box that opens, look for the Appearance section.
4. Here, click on the downward arrow next to the box that shows the number of pixels. 
5. A slider would appear. 
6. Drag the slider to the left to decrease the thickness of the line.
7. Drag the slider to the right to increase the thickness of the line.
8. If you have a particular number of pixels in mind, enter the number of pixels in the box. 

How To Change The Color Of The Diagonal Line?

To change the color of your line:

1. Draw a new diagonal line or select an existing line. 
2. Go to Windows in the top panel, and choose Properties. 
3. In the dialog box that opens, look for the Appearance section. 
4. Go to Stroke, and pick a new color according to your liking. 
5. You can even make a new color from the color picker. 

How To Duplicate A Diagonal Line In Photoshop?

To duplicate the diagonal line:

1. Select the line that you wish to copy. 
2. Press the Alt. the key if you are a Windows user or the Option key on Mac. 
3. With the key still pressed, drag your cursor away from the original line. 
4. A duplicated line will appear. 
5. Repeat for as many lines as you want. 

How To Invert A Diagonal Line in Photoshop?

To invert a line:

1. Select an existing diagonal line or draw a new one. 
2. Go to Windows and select Properties. 
3. In the dialog box, look for the Transform section. 
4. In the row that shows the angle, change the value. 
5. Instead of -45, enter a discount of 45. The sign needs to be changed to invert the line. 

How To Extend A Diagonal Line?

Does the diagonal line need to be longer? Look at the steps below to learn how to fix this. 

1. Select the Move tool in the tools panel. 
2. Select the line you wish to extend. 
3. Now select the Pen tool from the tools panel.
4. A small circle would appear at both ends of the line. 
5. Select the circle, hold down the Shift key, and drag it to extend the line. 
6. Release when you are satisfied with the length. 

How To Turn Any Line Into A Diagonal Line?

Do you have multiple lines and want to experiment with turning them into diagonal ones? This may seem like a task, but there is an easy way. To do so:

1. Select the line that you wish to transform into a diagonal line. 
2. Select the Move tool from the tools panel.
3. Go to Windows and select Properties. 
4. In the dialog box, under the Transform section, look for the angle. 
5. Enter an angle of 45 or -45 degrees, depending on your desired direction. 
6. The line will be changed into a straight diagonal line. 

How To Make A Dashed Diagonal Line?

A dashed diagonal line adds variety. To achieve this: 

1. Select the line you wish to change. 
2. In the Tools panel, select the Move tool. 
3. Go to Windows > Properties. 
4. In the dialog box, go to the Appearance section. 
5. Look for the Stroke option, which shows a straight line. 
6. Click on this, and a drop-down will appear. 
7. At the bottom, click the Dashed line and enter the number of dashes you require. 
8. You may also use the presets that are available. 

For further help, watch this video:

Conclusion

Diagonal lines are a great way to add structure and versatility to your designs. There are so many things that you can do with just one diagonal line. We have briefed you on seven ways a diagonal line can be maneuvered to fit into designs.

Triangles are one of the most basic shapes we have all scribbled on every piece of paper we could get our hands on as kids. You may not have thought you needed a tutorial on making a triangle. Please do not feel bad, this is a different medium, and it is okay to learn things even when they feel so familiar. 

To draw a triangle in Illustrator, select the Polygon tool and click once on the canvas. In the dialog box, choose the number of sides to 3. Now click OK, and you will have an equilateral triangle. 

To learn how to draw other types of triangles, continue reading. 

Draw An Equilateral Triangle Using The Polygon Tool

An equilateral triangle is one in which all three sides of the triangle are equal. In Illustrator, an equilateral triangle is the most basic and initial form of a triangle that you can make. 

The foundation for all triangles is this; tweaks can be made later. 

To draw an equilateral triangle: 

1. Open a new document. 
2. Select the Polygon tool.
3. On the canvas, click once.
4. A dialog box will appear. 
5. In this dialog box, look for the Sides section. 
6. Enter the number, in this case, 3. 
7. Click OK, and a triangle will appear. 

Draw An Isosceles Triangle Using The Polygon Tool In Illustrator

You would not always want to use a triangle with perfectly equal sides. An isosceles triangle has two identical sides, while one of the sides is of a different length. To achieve such an object, follow the steps given below. 

1. Open a new document and select the Polygon tool. 
2. On the canvas, click here once. 
3. In the dialog box that appears, look for the Sides section. 
4. Enter the number 3 here. 
5. An equilateral triangle will appear. 
6. Select the triangle and then the Selection Tool from the tools panel.
7. On the triangle’s base, click your cursor on the circle that appears and drag it up or down. 
8. The two sides will have the same length and get longer or shorter. The base will remain the same length. 
9. Once done, release the cursor, and your isosceles triangle is ready. 

Draw A Scalene Triangle In Illustrator

A scalene triangle is one in which all of the sides are not identical and have different lengths. Now we’re talking, right? 

This is the triangle that allows for the most freedom. To make a scalene triangle, look at the detailed instructions given below. 

1. Draw an equilateral triangle as mentioned in the steps above. 
2. To transform this triangle, go to the tools panel and select the Direct Selection tool. 
3. On one of the corners of the triangle, draw your selection. 
4. Now you can drag the corners in any way you want to switch up the length and angles of all the sides of the triangle. 
5. Continue doing so until you are satisfied. 

Draw A Right Angled Triangle In Illustrator

Drawing a right-angled triangle is different in Illustrator. You will not be using the familiar Polygon tool. Follow the instructions below to achieve this smoothly. 

1. Go to the polygon tool and right-click on this.
2. In the options that appear, select the Rectangle Tool.
3. Hold down the Shift key and drag your cursor on your canvas to draw a perfect square. 
4. Select the Direct Selection tool and make a selection on one of the corners of the square.
5. Once done, look at the properties panel on top.
6. Select the option which says “Remove Selected Anchor Point.”
7.  Your square will turn into a right-angled triangle. 

Watch this video for more help.

How To Make A Rounded Triangle?

Not every piece of art needs geometry. Sometimes the sharp edges do not achieve the desired effect, but rounded edges do. 

To make a triangle with rounded corners, follow the given steps. Using this method, you can learn how to make a circle using a different technique in Illustrator. 

1. Zoom into the triangle that you wish to work with.
2. In the corners, notice that there are small anchors on the inside. 
3. Click on one of these, and drag it inwards. 
4. The more you drag, the more rounded the corners will become. They will eventually form a circle. 
5. Once you are happy with the amount of roundness you have given your triangle, save your document. 

Conclusion

Did this feel like a lesson in Maths rather than a lesson in Adobe Illustrator? Art is sometimes bordering on mathematics, especially when it comes to geometry. Trust us when we say that making these different types of triangles will be far more rewarding and enjoyable than reading about them. We can vouch for that.