Are you looking to slant or add creative effects to your objects? This may be a good idea because adding some movement to your work makes it cooler and more appealing. Shearing objects is a great way to achieve that. 

To shear in Illustrator, select your object. In the tools panel, choose the Shear tool and then drag your cursor around to shear the object. You can also double-click on the shear tool and input specific values according to which you want a shear effect. 

To learn the procedures in detail, continue reading. 

What Is Shearing In Graphic Design?

Before we dive into how to perform this procedure, we need to understand what the procedure will lead us to. Shearing in graphic design is a transformation that is used to change the shape of an object or image by slanting it in two dimensions. 

Shearing involves using two parallel lines, also known as the shear lines, that move points along the same axis, resulting in the object’s sides being skewed in different directions. 

It can create interesting angles and shapes for design elements, stretch, and warp images.

Shear An Object In Illustrator Manually

We all love to do things with the drag of our mouse. To shear your objects manually:

1. Open your document and make the design that you want to work with. 
2. Now select the object that you want to shear.
3. Go to the tools panel on the left and choose the Scale Tool. 
4. In the dropdown menu, choose the Shear Tool. 
5. Now, click on the object and drag it in either direction. The more you drag, the more it is sheared. 

For more help, watch this video:

Shear An Object In Illustrator With Precise Numbers

For some people, doing things manually may not provide them with the necessary satisfaction. You can use the following methods to maintain accuracy and precision in your work. 

To do so:

1. Select the object that needs to shear. 
2. Go to the tools panel and choose the Scale tool, followed by the Shear tool under it. 
3. Double-click on this and watch a window appear. 
4. This window contains sections on Shear Angle and axis. 
5. Click the preview button to see all the changes you make. 
6. Choose the axis, i.e., the plane around which you wish to shear the object. 
7. Now choose the angle number with a positive or negative sign. You must be precise, but you can work the numbers to see which looks best. 
8. Then hit OK. 

How To Shear Multiple Objects Together In Illustrator

If you wish to apply the same effect to all the objects in your image or multiple objects, doing each object separately may be tiresome and repetitive. An easier way is to shear all of them together. 

Before you proceed, ensure that you aim to make all the objects shear at the same angle. 

Follow the instructions below to understand better how to do it.

1. Open up the file with the objects added to it.
2. Now click and drag your cursor across all the objects. 
3. A selection will be made. 
4. Now go to the tools panel.
5. Double-click on the Shear tool or click on it to manually change the skewness of the objects. 

How To Change The Point Around Which The Object Is Sheared?

It may not seem like it, but all objects are sheared or skewed around a particular point. By default, Adobe sets this point in the center of the object. However, that restricts the creative freedom of users. To move the center point around to achieve a particular effect, follow the steps given below. 

1. Select the object that you are working with.
2. Go to the tools panel on the right and choose the Scale Tool.
3. Under this, choose the Shear tool. 
4. Zoom into the object if you cannot clearly see all the anchor points. 
5. In the center, look for a small cross. 
6. Click on this cross and drag it around wherever it fits. 
7. You can also drag it on top of an anchor point and fix it here. 
8. Moreover, snap the cross on top of any lines that you want. 

Conclusion

This article has provided a beginner-to-novice guide on shear objects in Adobe Illustrator. If you continue using our guide to practice and get the hang of it, you can move on to more advanced effects that can be created using the Shear tool; for example, making an object a 3D object.

Paint Tool SAI offers its users many features that they can use, especially involving its use of layers. However, because Photoshop differs slightly from Photoshop, many people new to Paint Tool SAI don’t know how to perform basic tasks like selecting all layers.

To select all layers in Paint Tool SAI, you only need to create a new layer set from the option in the layers panel. After that, move all the layers you must select to that layer set. By pressing Ctrl + T, you can select this entire layer set, and thus, all the layers you need.

Keep reading below for more information.

What Is Paint Tool SAI?

PaintTool SAI is a painting program that may be used to create digital artworks such as cartoons and anime. The platform provides user-friendly tools and a streamlined user interface. In contrast to other complicated third-party software, it offers a variety of easier tools. 

PaintTool SAI has many fundamental functions as other applications like Adobe Photoshop. 

Art enthusiasts are using this program to produce their works of digital art. PaintTool SAI may be accessible from desktop computers, laptops, and mobile devices because of its complete digital support. 

When a lower-quality picture is employed in the painting software, distorted graphics and images are decreased.

Advantages of Paint Tool SAI 

The simplicity of usage and extensive feature set of PaintTool SAI are its key advantages. The benefits of using PaintTool SAI are outlined in the following details:

Color Feature

The color feature of PaintTool SAI is one of its most effective features. There are several colors available in the software. Primary colors can be used, or you can employ complex secondary colors to go farther. 

Every time you select a color, a vast array of the color’s dark and vibrant shades will be displayed.

Coloring Tool

Users of PaintTool SAI may choose between several color presentations using the coloring tool. They can quickly change the saturation of a particular hue. They are then free to decide how “colorful” they want their artwork to be. 

Users may observe the darkness or brightness of each hue by simply adjusting the luminosity of that color. Users can create stunning and vibrant artwork with this coloring function.

Layer Tools

Layer tools are another feature of PaintTool SAI that lets users edit an illustration without fretting about removing other parts of it. Additionally, they can mix many drawings on one page or move certain portions of a picture.

Two layers of drawings may be easily locked in and moved together using PaintTool SAI. Similarly, pin buttons are casually positioned next to each layer.

Brush to Eraser Conversion

The software’s ability to turn brushes into erasers is another great function. This feature facilitates switching between tools quickly when creating an artwork.

Comparison with Photoshop

How efficient you are when using each program determines which one is better. This implies that your optimal software will depend on each workflow or ultimate goal.

Photoshop is a program that can handle just about everything effectively. It has a tonne of tools, filters, and other quirky features. But even with the latest release, it does three things much worse than Paint Tool Sai.

Line Stability and Quality

The internal brush stabilizer engine developed by Paint Tool Sai is regarded as one of the greatest, if not the finest, available. Even though Photoshop included a brush stabilizer in 2018, it is far from being as smooth or natural-feeling as the one in Paint Tool SAI.

Blending

Software like Clip Studio Paint, Krita, and forks like Medibang Paint have used Paint Tool SAI’s blending engine (wet mix). In contrast, Photoshop’s mixing engine only distorts colors rather than really blending them. You may use a regular brush that overlays colors rather than blending them.

Resource-Intensive Programme

Many users discovered that Photoshop occasionally experiences brush lag while using high quality brushes, even with the most recent AMD Ryzen hardware.

Photoshop is a great option if you need a professional-grade picture editor. However, Paint Tool SAI is the best option if you want sharp lineart and gentle color mixing skills.

The software is improving with each new release, including Scatter Brushes and enormous canvases in SAI2.

Conclusion

And there we go. In this tutorial, we showed you how you can select all layers in Paint Tool SAI. This is something that comes in handy when creating complex designs in the software. We hope the instructions in this tutorial were clear and useful.

When attempting to rotate objects, especially text elements within Adobe Illustrator, you may have noticed that the alignment doesn’t always work as planned. This can cause the text to appear strange and misaligned. Many people who use Adobe Illustrator wonder what is the right process to rotate text within this software.

The best way to approach this issue is to try and understand how rotating in Illustrator works. If you want to rotate the text, it will appear different depending on the enclosed object. However, with a simple step of converting the text type, you can achieve the look you are going for. 

So, now that you know about this basic tip for rotating text in Adobe Illustrator, you are all set to get started with rotation! In this article, we will go over the multiple ways you can rotate text in Adobe Illustrator and what kinds of different looks you can achieve with each approach! Keep reading this article to learn even more!

Rotating Text With Adobe Illustrator

No matter what you are trying to achieve, there is a process within Adobe Illustrator to make it happen. So, let’s look at three different approaches you can use for rotation with this software to make your text stand out!

Use The Text Box To Rotate

One of the easiest ways to rotate text using the built-in tools is to rotate the text’s box. When using Illustrator, you will notice that all text elements are placed in a box that covers the entire area of the characters. This is how to rotate this:

1. Launch Adobe Illustrator on your device of preference.
2. Start a new project and then use the Type Tool to add text to the file.
3. Convert the text layer to Point Type. You can do this by choosing ‘Select Type’ in the Type menu, and then choosing the option ‘Convert to Point Type.’
4. Select the text box, and hover a little bit outside the anchors.
5. You will now see a double-arrow curved icon on the side.
6. Click the icon, and then rotate to the direction you want to go.

Once you release your mouse, you can lock in the rotation of the text box. You can confirm and keep the changes if you are happy with them.

Here is a tutorial of the most common methods used to transform and rotate text when you are using Adobe Illustrator that you need to check out:

Use The Built-In Transform Tool

Another one of the tools that you can use to rotate text is the built-in Free Transform tool. This will allow you to universally transform many of the elements within your Illustrator document. To follow this method, you can follow these steps:

1. In Adobe Illustrator, create a new text element.
2. Now, select the text layer and click on the Object menu at the top.
3. From here, choose ‘Transform’ and then ‘Rotate.’
4. Now, you can rotate the layer through the Rotate dialog box. 
5. Add in the angle you want to rotate you and confirm the changes.

The text element will now be rotated according to the angle that you decided on. This is a great way to rotate multiple areas of text, especially when there is a specific angle that you want to rotate them against. 

Using The Rotate Tool

Finally, you can use the built-in rotate tool to transform text elements. All you need to use is the keyboard shortcut R while selecting the text layer. You can then see a text anchor point, using which you can rotate the layer. 

The great thing about this method is that you can also change the anchor point’s location. This allows you to rotate the text at specific angles across a specific point, which does not necessarily have to be across the center point of the text layer.

Final Thoughts

Changing how a layer of text is oriented on Adobe Illustrator is incredibly easy. Not only that, but it is a quick way to change how any project looks and make it much more fascinating to the eye. 

Which method will you be trying out? Remember, with a little bit of practice, these Illustrator tools will become incredibly easy and intuitive to use!

The selection tools on Adobe Illustrator are one of the most crucial aspects of learning the software. They may seem basic at first – however, with a good understanding of what selection can do on the software, you can achieve all of your preferred processes. But you may wonder how to use this software to select multiple objects.

There are many different ways to select multiple objects using Adobe Illustrator, and it all depends on the situation you are in. Using specific methods, you can select all the objects on the same layer, select them one after the other, or even choose the specific ones you need! All you need to do is use the right method in Illustrator!

If you are in the process of familiarizing yourself with the Selection Tool on Adobe Illustrator, you are in the right place! With a deep knowledge of what this tool can do, you will be prepared to handle anything that comes your way on Illustrator. So, without further ado, let’s dive into how to use the Selection tool to select multiple objects simultaneously!

How To Select Multiple Objects In Adobe Illustrator

As we mentioned above, there are many different ways that you can select multiple objects while using Adobe Illustrator. From the selection tool, all the way to keyboard shortcuts – there is something in here for everyone. 

However, methods change depending on what exactly you are looking for. So let’s look at each one in detail.

Using The Selection Tool

The first method we can use is to employ the Selection Tool. This is accessible from the toolbar, or you can use the shortcut V to select this tool. To use this tool:

1. Select the Selection Tool from the Illustrator toolbar.
2. Next, click the objects you want to select.
3. If all the objects are in the same proximity, you can click and drag around their area.
4. To select multiple objects selectively, you can hold down the shift key while selecting the objects.

These methods will allow you to select items in different styles depending on what kind of objects you need to select. Make sure to practice – you will get the hang of it!

Here’s a video that shows this process in action:

Using The Lasso Tool

Aside from the selection tool, you can also use the Lasso Tool to select various objects. To do this, you must use this tool and draw around the objects you wish to select. Unlike the selection tool, you can be selective with the shape you draw, which can allow you to avoid selecting objects you want to exclude. 

The only thing to keep in mind with this tool is that you should be careful to close out your pathway, as an open pathway can be problematic in the long run!

Using The Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand Tool allows you to select objects with the same color, opacity, blending, or even stroke. It is a great way to select items that are close together but similarly patterned or textured. 

You can use this tool from the toolbar to select one item with a specific color, let’s say, and it will locate the color on other objects and select them as well.

This can save you a lot of time, especially when you have more complicated patterns and elements going on in your project on Adobe Illustrator.

Using Layers

The final method you can use is the Layer menu to select items. This is especially beneficial when you want to select all of the items on the same layer. To do this, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Open up the layers menu.
2. Select the layer that you want all of the items selected on.
3. Click on the circle on the right to the layer name.
4. All of the elements within the layer will now be selected. 

While this is a great method to select all of the elements, it may mean more work if you need to select specific objects within the layer. 

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to select different objects in Illustrator as they are meant to be applied in different situations. Hopefully, you will now be able to select as many objects as you want, and your understanding of the selection tools in Illustrator has deepened!

Were you struggling to get text to rotate when using Photoshop? This nifty tool can allow you to change how a text layer looks, and there are many different ways to do so when you are using Adobe Photoshop. So how can you rotate text on Photoshop? Let’s find out!

You can rotate text elements in Adobe Photoshop using several methods, including first and foremost, the Rotate Tool. Next, you can learn how to use the Flip Tool to rotate to a specific angle quickly and tilt the text layer to match your desired look. With all of these tools, you can quickly change how the text looks!

If you are interested in changing up how text is displayed in your next project, this is the place to learn more! We will explain all of these fun text effects in this article, so keep reading if you want to apply them to your next project!

How To Rotate Text Using Photoshop

When using Adobe Photoshop, there is a pretty easy way to rotate text to make it stand out. Here is a step-by-step tutorial of what you need to do to get a text layer to rotate:

1. Launch Photoshop on your computer.
2. Start a new file on Photoshop, and use the Text Tool to create a text layer.
3. Now, look for the Move Tool on the left of your Photoshop toolbar.
4. Select the layer in which your text is placed on Photoshop.
5. Now, hover your cursor around the text until you see an arrow icon that is curved and double-sided, this is an indication of the Rotate Tool.
6. Click the arrow, and drag it in whichever direction you like to rotate.
7. You can also hold down the Shift key to make rotations at 15-degree intervals.
8. Once you let go of the arrow, the text will be rotated.
9. Confirm changes to make sure your text layer remains rotated.

You can also use this same method to rotate other elements in Adobe Photoshop! With some practice, you can easily rotate elements and do them quickly when you have a lot of layers that you need to change up in Adobe Photoshop.

If you are curious about how this looks in action, here is a video tutorial of how to rotate text using Photoshop:

How To Flip Text Using Photoshop

Rotation will change the angle of how the text layer is oriented in Photoshop. If what you are looking for is to flip it instead, there is a separate method that you need to use. To make this effect happen, you will need to follow these steps listed below:

1. Run Adobe Photoshop on your computer.
2. Place a text layer down on the canvas to get started.
3. Now, select the layer for the text within the Layers panel in Photoshop.
4. In the top menu in the software, choose the option Edit.
5. From here, select Transform, and then decide which way you want to flip the layer.
6. If you want to do so horizontally, choose ‘Flip Horizontal.’
7. To do so vertically, choose the option ‘Flip Vertical.’

One of the biggest ways this is applied is when you print something that needs to be reversed, for example, something people will see through a mirror. Flipping horizontally can help to make that kind of text readable. 

How To Create Vertical Text Using Photoshop

If you want to change the orientation of text toward vertical alignment, there is a specialized tool to make this happen within Photoshop. You can use this to create your vertical text. To do this, you will need to follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Launch Photoshop, and then add some text to the canvas.
2. Select the text layer, and then choose the Text Tool from the left side toolbar. 
3. In the Text Orientation option, choose the option ‘Vertical.’
4. When you type in, the text will now be added to the canvas in a vertical orientation.
5. Adjust settings, such as the scaling and spacing between characters, to make your text more readable.

There are a lot of applications for vertical text – from menus to announcements, but this type of tool is used sparingly when there are large chunks of text you need to read. Most people opt to keep this tool available for use of headings.

Final Thoughts

Using the built-in tools in Photoshop, you can easily create many changes and effects that can make your text appear rotated, flipped, or in a different alignment.

Are the repetitive hyphens annoying you? Just turn them off!

Select the text and go to the Paragraph panel to turn off Hyphenations. Here, go to the settings and choose Hyphenation. Remove the check mark placed next to Hyphenation and click OK. 

For more guidance, please continue reading. 

What Is Hyphenation In Illustrator?

Hyphenation in Illustrator is a feature that allows users to hyphenate text in their designs; by hyphenating the text, you break the text by the use of a hyphen when it reaches the edge of the document. 

The feature allows users to control the number of hyphens in a text object and the minimum and maximum number of characters between hyphens. It also offers options to hyphenate words within a paragraph or across multiple paragraphs. 

This is useful for creating professional-looking text designs, especially when using long words or phrases.

Turn Hyphenation Off

1. Open up the document that you are working on in Illustrator. 
2. On the left side of your window, go to the tools panel. 
3. Here, select the text tool. 
4. Add the text of your choice and keep this selected. 
5. With the selected text, go to the panel on top of the canvas. 
6. Here, choose a Paragraph. A paragraph panel will open up. 
7. On the top right corner of this panel, click the icon with three horizontal lines. 
8. In the drop-down menu that opens, click Hyphenation. 
9. A dialog box will appear with all the settings related to Hyphenation. 
10. In the top left corner of this box, click the tick mark against Hyphenation to turn it off. 
11. Click OK. 

Watch this for a tutorial: 

How To Set A Limit On Letters In Hyphenation In Illustrator

1. Open up the document that you are working on in Illustrator. 
2. On the left side of your window, go to the tools panel. 
3. Select the text tool. 
4. You can either add new text or select the already added text to the document. 
5. With the selected text, go to the panel on top of the canvas. 
6. Here, choose Paragraph. A paragraph panel will open up. 
7. On the top right corner of this panel, click the icon with three horizontal lines. 
8. In the drop-down menu that opens, click Hyphenation. 
9. A dialog box will appear with all the settings related to Hyphenation. 
10. Here, make sure Hyphenation is turned on. If not, place a checkmark against Hyphenation in the top left corner of the box. 
11. In the settings given below, look for “Words Longer Than.”
12. Insert the letters limit you wish to put on your words that should be hyphenated. 
13. Click OK. 

How To Evenly Hyphenate Words In Illustrator

1. Open the document and select the text you want to work with. 
2. You can also select the Text tool in the tools panel on the left side of the window and add new text. 
3. Now, go to the panel on the canvas and look for “Paragraph.” Click on this. 
4. Click on the icon in the top right corner of the box that appears. 
5. Select Hyphenation. 
6. In the window that appears, ensure that Hyphenation is turned on. Look for a check mark placed against Hyphenation at the top. 
7. See the options below and the “After First” and “Before Last” sections. 
8. In both sections, insert the number of letters you wish the word to break after and before. 
9. If both numbers are the same, for example, 2, your words will be evenly hyphenated. However, this is given that the word has an even number of letters. 

Can Parts Of The Text Be Hyphenated?

1. Open the document. 
2. In the tools panel, choose the Text tool. 
3. Now spot the part of the text that you wish to work on separately. 
4. Click and drag your cursor across these parts. 
5. Release the cursor when you are done. 
6. With the selection made, go to the Paragraph tool in the top panel. 
7. Now click on the icon in the top right corner of the box. 
8. Select Hyphenation and place a checkmark next to Hyphenation in the open window. 
9. Now you can maneuver the settings how you want for your selected text. 

Conclusion

Hyphenation is a great tool to organize your text and give it a cohesive look. While some people may prefer to turn the setting off completely, we recommend you play around with the settings and find the sweet spot that works for your project.

Are you a line art enthusiast, but errors in line thickness annoy you? We sympathize with you but also intend to offer solutions that help you continue with your passion for line art. If you want to learn how to make lines thicker or thinner, you are in the right place. 

To make lines thicker, open the art. Go to Filter > Other > Minimum. Set the pixel radius here to make the lines as thick as you wish. To create thinner lines, go to Filter > Other > Minimum. Set the pixels, keeping in mind that the higher you go, the thinner the lines will get. 

To learn other ways of achieving this, continue reading. 

How To Thicken Lines In Photoshop

Let us dive straight into the procedure of thickening your lines in Photoshop. This method applies to the entire canvas. Every line in the canvas will be affected by the changes you make. 

Look at the comprehensive guide below to ensure you get the whole procedure right and thicken lines successfully. 

1. Open up the art that you wish to work with in Photoshop.
2. In the panel on top, choose Filter.
3. Here, go to Other and then choose Minimum from the drop-down menu. 
4. A window will appear showing a zoomed-in version of your art. 
5. In the Radius section, set in a specific number of pixels. This will be the thickness. 
6. You can also use the slider to increase the thickness of the lines in your art. 
7. Once you are happy, click OK. 

How To Make The Lines Thinner In Photoshop

In the previous method, you may have tried to slide the slider to the far left to make your line thinner, but it must not have made a difference. This is because there is a separate tool that Photoshop has given its users. 

Look at the instructions below to make your lines thinner using the tool. 

1. Open the art that you are going to be working with.
2. In the panel on top, go to Filter and then choose Other. 
3. In the drop-down menu, choose Maximum. 
4. A window will appear, which will show the lines zoomed in. 
5. In the Radius section, set a number that works for you. 
6. Remember, the higher you go, the thinner the lines will get. 
7. Once satisfied, click OK. 

To learn more and see a visual tutorial of these steps, it might be helpful video to watch along with your work. 

How To Thicken Lines Using The Expand Selection Tool In Photoshop

Did you think that was it? We have more than one way to perform the same procedure. The expanded selection method provides more control to the artist. Using this tool, you can select specific lines or different canvas parts to apply a particular effect. 

To think of lines using the expand selection tool, follow along with the steps below. 

1. Select the line you want to thicken using the lasso or marquee tool. 
2. You can also hold the Command or Control keys and click on the thumbnail of the art in the layers panel. This can be found on the right side of your window. 
3. Go to Select > Modify > Expand.
4. In the Expand Selection dialog box, enter the number of pixels by which you want to expand the selection.
5. Click OK.
6. The selection will now be thicker. 

How To Make The Lines Thinner Using The Contract Selection Tool In Photoshop

Yes, we also have another way to make lines thinner in Photoshop. Like the expand selection method, the contract selection method also gives a lot of control to the user in deciding which lines to target when making the lines thinner. 

To use this to your advantage, follow the instructions we have laid out below. 

1. Select the lines that you want to make thinner. 
2. Use the lasso tool or press and hold the Command or Control key while clicking on the layer thumbnail. 
3. Now go to Select, then Modify, and then Contract. 
4. In the dialog box, fill in the number. The higher you go, the thinner the lines will get. 
5. Click OK. 
6. You may not see any change. For the effect to reveal itself, a layer mask is needed. 
7. In the Layers panel, click on the Layers Mask icon. 
8. The line will look thinner now. 

Conclusion

You no longer have to go through the ordeal of redoing your entire piece because the thickness of the line was not right. You can always go back and forth with it now, using the methods we elaborated on in this article.

Stroking a path is, unfortunately, more complex than stroking your sweet little pet. This is a fairly complex procedure that requires some focus. We will be honest; accomplishing this might be more rewarding than stroking your pet. We have simplified the process for you.

To stroke, a path in Photoshop, select your brush tool and adjust the settings to your liking. Then, select the Path, right-click on it, and choose “Stroke Path.” In the window, choose Brush in the drop-down for tools. The setting in your brush will be applied to the Path. 

For further detail, please continue reading. 

How Is Stroking A Path Used?

If you have stumbled upon this article and are curious about why artists want to stroke a path in Photoshop and how this is incorporated into art, let us explain. Stroking a path can be useful in a variety of ways. 

It can help create various effects, such as a border around an object or a shadow effect. It can also be used to create a more detailed design or texture. Moreover, stroking a path can create a smooth transition between two colors or shades. 

Some artists can even create a 3D effect by creating a stroke on the Path with a different angle or color. 

How To Make A Path?

Before you can begin stroking the Path, you must understand how a path is made. 

To make a path easily:

1. Open up the document.
2. Go to the right side of your window and look for the layers panel. 
3. Create a new layer by clicking on the icon. 
4. Name the layer for ease. 
5. From the tools panel on the left, choose the Pen Tool.
6. Make sure to choose Path in the drop-down menu in the panel that shows on top. 
7. Now click to make the anchor points and join them while creating a shape that you like. 

Another Method To Make Paths

We love Photoshop because of its range in doing simple tasks using multiple methods. A different method to make paths is detailed below. Follow these steps if they seem easier. 

1. Create a new layer. 
2. Draw the object that you wish to draw a path around. 
3. With the item selected, go to the left side of your window and go to the Paths panel. 
4. At the bottom, select the icon that looks like a circle. This will create a new path. 
5. This Path will enclose the object that was selected. 

Applying A Brush Stroke To A Path

Let us dive into what we are here for. Follow the detailed instructions below to apply the brush stroke to your Path. 

1. Open up the document that has the Path in it. 
2. While you are on the layer with the path, go to the tools panel on the left. 
3. Now go to the brush tool and choose the brush you prefer for this work. 
4. Adjust the size and the hardness to your preference as well. 
5. Now, deselect the brush tool.
6. Select the Path that is drawn and right-click on it. 
7. In the drop-down menu, choose “Stroke Path.”
8. You can also select this Path by going to the Paths panel on the right side of the screen. Here, right-click on the Work Path and choose “Stroke Path.” 
9. A window will appear. In this window, click on the drop-down menu to see it. 
10. Here, you can pick from a range of tools. 
11. To apply a brush stroke to the Path, choose Brush. 
12. Now click OK. 
13. The Path will have a brush stroke on it. 

For a visual tutorial, here is a video that might help you. 

Hide The Path

For your work to look neat, the Path must be hidden. To hide the Path, follow the steps below. 

1. Once you are happy with the stroke, it is time to hide the Path for a cleaner look.
2. Go to the layers panel on the left. 
3. On the top of this panel, look for the Path option. 
4. Go here and deselect the Work Path. 
5. To do so, click anywhere away from the Work Path. 
6. The Path will disappear. 

Conclusion

Using a path as a guideline for your brush strokes might make your job easier as an artist. This may save you time to work on other intricacies of your piece of art. With adequate practice, you can use this feature further to your advantage and create elaborate effects.

Do you need help figuring out where to start in your project? Let us help you fill in the sketch you made in Paint Tool SAI. 

The most important step in shading in Paint Tool SAI is choosing the right colors for your shadows and highlights. Moreover, the layers tool, brush tool, and watercolor tool also come in very handy. 

For further information, please keep reading. 

For a detailed tutorial, please watch this Youtube video:

Important Tools To Know About

The three tools that play a great role in shading in Paint Tool SAI are discussed below. 

The Layers Tool

When you open a new file in Paint Tool SAI, the layers panel can be found on the left side of the window. This is by default; the position can be changed according to ease. The layers tool will be very handy when shading in Paint Tool SAI. 

The layers tool assists you in making mask layers to add shadows and highlights to the artwork that you are working on. 

The Brush Tool

This is the most important tool that will help you create your work. The brush tool is found on the right side of the window when a new file is opened in Paint Tool SAI. 

Under the brush tool, you will have access to a wide range of brushes that can be used for different purposes. Find the one that suits you the most. You can install new brushes in Paint Tool SAI for your project if the perfect brush is unavailable. 

The Watercolor Tool

The watercolor tool is a brush that can be used on top of an existing brush stroke. This tool is important because it provides the softness that individual brush strokes mostly lack. 

When you are done using the brush tool, it is essential to go over it with the watercolor tool to ensure that the shading looks soft, cohesive, and realistic. 

Choosing The Colors

When you are working on a project, you may have a complex object or shape that you are drawing. If this is a recreation of a real-world image or a face, you may have to introduce both shadows and highlights in the image to make it look more realistic. 

You may have to figure out the light source and decide the colors you would use for the two effects. Below we will discuss how you can choose the colors accurately. 

Choose The Right Color For The Shadows

Below are some tips you could use when choosing the color for the shadows. 

1. Do not choose black as a color for your shadows. It will darken your image and defeat the purpose of a shadow. Black can also be very hard to work with. 
2. With your brush tool selected, go to the color picker and move the little dot on it toward the darker end of the spectrum. 
3. Make sure the color you land on is a few shades darker than the base color for the artwork that needs shadows. 
4. Select this color and brush with it. 
5. Choosing a perfect color involves lots of trials and errors. Go back and forth to hit the spot. 

Choose The Right Color For The Highlights

Consider the following suggestions when choosing the right color for the highlights. 

1. Do not use white to highlight. This may be often recommended, but we advise strictly against it. 
2. Go for a color closest to white but still in the same shade as your original base color. 
3. As in the previous section, go to the color picker tool with your brush and move the dot to the lighter end of the spectrum. 
4. Go back and forth to ensure you have made the right choice. 

Use Light Strokes

When working on the project, make sure you use lighter strokes. To do so, you can change the brush size to a smaller number. Lightly shade in your project so that there is more room for corrections. However, you can use a bigger brush size to fill in bigger areas with the same color. 

Use The Watercolor Tool

Was shading with the brush tool the last step? We are still going. The watercolor tool is a great way to lock everything in and give you the final result. Select the watercolor tool and run it over every area where you have shaded. 

You can go over an area repeatedly to get your desired effect for added smoothness. 

Conclusion

Shading in Paint Tool SAI, or any software, can be very daunting. Figuring out the light source and choosing the colors can be very tricky if you are a beginner. However, we can assure you that practice makes perfect. Keep at it, and you will soon become a pro at shading.

Do you want to make a pattern with the same object repeated all over? Let us introduce you to a feature that helps you accomplish this quickly and easily. 

To step and repeat, create a new layer and draw the object you want to work with. Now press Ctrl + Alt + T. Click and drag the object to a distance. Now press Ctrl + Alt + T + Option to continue to repeat the process. Then merge all the layers and save the document. 

For further information, please continue reading. 

What Is Step And Repeat?

Step and repeat are when a specific pattern is drawn over a canvas. It is the repetition of one particular object or multiple objects, depending on the preference. 

Watch this video for a detailed tutorial on creating a backdrop with step and repeat. 

Step And Repeat In Illustrator

Let us begin with our process. Below is a detailed guide on carrying out and repeating the step. 

1. Open a new document in Illustrator.
2. Choose a background color or image of your choice. This background should be the layer you wish to build upon and make a pattern. 
3. Create a new layer in the layers panel on the right of the window. 
4. Choose the object you wish to step, repeat, and draw in this layer. 
5. Once you’re done, deselect it by clicking anywhere on the canvas. 
6. Select the following keyboard keys together:
   • Command or Control
   • Option or Alt
   • The letter T
7. This helps you transform a copy, not the original layer you drew the object on. 
8. Now press and hold the shift key. Click on the object and drag the cursor as far away as you wish the distance to be for your step and repeat. 
9. Release the cursor and hit enter. 
10. Notice that this creates a new layer in the layers panel. 
11. To repeat the process that you just did, hit the following keys together:
    • Command or Control
    • Option or Alt
    • Shift
    • The letter T
12. Continue doing this until you have adequate repetitions on your canvas. 

How To Change The Number Of Repetitions?

You may have made an error when making repetitions. Below we have discussed how to reduce or increase the number of repetitions. 

Reduce The Number Of Repetitions 

To reduce the number of repetitions:

1. Open the file where step and repeat have been done. 
2. Go to the layers panel on the left. 
3. For every layer that says “copy” at the end, select it. 
4. Now hit delete. You can also right-click on it and delete it. 
5. Continue until you get to the number of layers that you need. 

Increase The Number Of Repetitions

To increase the number of repetitions: 

1. Open the file where step and repeat has been done. 
2. Press Control + Alt + T. 
3. Now press the Shift key and drag the object to the distance you want. 
4. Keep pressing Control + Alt + Shift + T to further make the repetition.

How To Perfectly Space The Repeated Objects In Illustrator?

To perfectly space the repeated objects out on a canvas: 

1. Go to the layers panel on the left of your window. 
2. Please select all the layers that have repetition on them.
3. Go to the tools panel on the left and choose the move tool. 
4. In the options panel that appears on top, choose one of the distribution options. 
5. The “distribute by the center” option spaces objects out across the line. 
6. The “distribute on the right” feature moves the objects to the right. 
7. “Distribute on the left” moves and distributes the objects on the left side. 

Finishing Off The Step And Repeat In Illustrator

A document with too many layers can be difficult to work with as it can confuse. Once you are sure about the pattern and do not wish to make further changes, merge the layers or turn them into a smart object. 

Merge Layers

To merge the layers:

1. In the layers panel on the right of your Illustrator window, select all the layers that incorporate together to form a step and repeat pattern. 
2. Go to the Layers panel option.
3. Select Merge Selected. 
4. All your layers will disappear, and one layer will be formed. 

Create Smart Object

To create a smart object from the layers: 

1. Select all the layers. 
2. Right-click on them. 
3. Choose Convert To Smart Object. 

Conclusion

Step and repeat are wonderful when you wish to save time and have artwork involving a lot of pattern repetition. This can also be used in more complex designs if you are an expert at this. Use our guide to get the hang of it, and you will also get there.