Create Unique Watercolor Brushes in Illustrator and Photoshop

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creating a Custom Watercolor Brush in Photoshop
3. Starting in Photoshop
4. Choosing an Image or Creating Your Own
5. Creating the Watercolor Stroke
6. Adding Colors to the Watercolor Stroke
7. Using Legacy Brushes in Photoshop
8. Merging and Copying the Layers
9. Moving to Illustrator
10. Pasting the Watercolor Stroke in Illustrator
11. Rasterizing and Image Tracing
12. Ungrouping and Removing the Background
13. Adjusting the Size and Placement of the Watercolor Stroke
14. Creating the Art Brush in Illustrator
15. Choosing the Colorization Method
16. Applying the Art Brush to the Watercolor Stroke
17. Experimenting with Different Colorization Methods
18. Conclusion

🖌️ Creating Custom Watercolor Illustrator Brushes

Watercolor brushes can add a unique and artistic touch to your illustrations, designs, or digital artwork. In this Tutorial, I will guide you through the process of creating your own custom watercolor brush in Photoshop and Illustrator. Whether you're a brush creator, a digital artist, or just want to have complete control over your brushes, this tutorial is for you.

1. Introduction

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let's understand the importance of custom brushes and how they can elevate your creative projects. Custom watercolor brushes allow you to express your artistic vision and create brushes that are completely unique to your style. By following this tutorial, you'll learn how to turn an image into a watercolor brush and use it in both Photoshop and Illustrator.

2. Creating a Custom Watercolor Brush in Photoshop

Before we start working in Illustrator, we need to create the watercolor stroke image in Photoshop. Don't worry if you don't have Photoshop – you can use any watercolor stroke image from websites like Unsplash or Pixabay. However, if you want a completely custom brush, let's begin in Photoshop.

3. Starting in Photoshop

To create a custom watercolor brush, open Photoshop and start a new document. Set the Dimensions to 1000x1000 pixels with a resolution of 300 and choose CMYK color mode. This will ensure a high-quality brush suitable for printing purposes.

4. Choosing an Image or Creating Your Own

To create a custom watercolor stroke, you can either use an existing watercolor stroke image or create your own. If you choose to create your own, I recommend using a soft brush with varying sizes to mimic the watercolor effect. Experiment with different brush strokes and colors to achieve the desired look.

5. Creating the Watercolor Stroke

Using the brush tool, create a watercolor stroke on a new layer. You can start with a pink color and add accents of yellow and orange to create a vibrant and dynamic stroke. Adjust the opacity and size of the brush to achieve the desired effect. Remember, this is your opportunity to be creative and experiment with different colors and brush settings.

6. Adding Colors to the Watercolor Stroke

To add more depth and variation to the watercolor stroke, use the Legacy Brushes in Photoshop. Access the Legacy Brushes by clicking on the hamburger menu (three lines) and selecting "Legacy Brushes". Try different watercolor brushes from the collection and experiment with their opacity and size. This will add textured details to your stroke.

7. Using Legacy Brushes in Photoshop

Continue adding colors and details to your watercolor stroke using the Legacy Brushes. Play around with different brushes and observe how they interact with the existing stroke. Adjust the opacity of the brushes to create a layered effect. Remember to experiment and have fun with this step.

8. Merging and Copying the Layers

Once you are satisfied with the watercolor stroke, merge the layers by selecting them and pressing Command + E (Mac) or Control + E (PC). This will merge the layers into a single layer. Next, copy the watercolor stroke by selecting it and pressing Command + C (Mac) or Control + C (PC).

9. Moving to Illustrator

Now that we have created the watercolor stroke in Photoshop, it's time to move to Illustrator. Open Illustrator and start a new document with the dimensions and color mode suitable for your project. Paste the watercolor stroke by pressing Command + V (Mac) or Control + V (PC). Resize and reposition the stroke as desired.

10. Pasting the Watercolor Stroke in Illustrator

After pasting the watercolor stroke into Illustrator, zoom in to get a closer look. Select the stroke and go to Object > Rasterize. Make sure "Transparent" is selected and click OK. This will rasterize the stroke and allow us to further edit and manipulate it.

11. Rasterizing and Image Tracing

In order to convert the rasterized stroke into a scalable vector, we need to use the Image Trace feature in Illustrator. Go to Window > Image Trace to open the Image Trace panel. In the Presets, choose "High Fidelity Photo" to retain the details of the stroke. Then, click on Expand to convert the Raster image into editable vector paths.

12. Ungrouping and Removing the Background

After expanding the image trace, the watercolor stroke may be grouped with other elements. To separate the stroke, select it and go to Object > Ungroup. Click off the selected elements to deselect and then click once on the background to select it. Press Delete to remove the background.

13. Adjusting the Size and Placement of the Watercolor Stroke

With the stroke and background separated, you can now adjust the size and position of the watercolor stroke. Use the Selection Tool (keyboard shortcut: V) to move and resize the stroke as desired. Experiment with different compositions and arrangements to find the perfect placement.

14. Creating the Art Brush in Illustrator

Now comes the exciting part – turning the watercolor stroke into a custom brush in Illustrator. With the watercolor stroke selected, open the Brush panel by going to Window > Brushes. Drag and drop the stroke into the Brushes panel to create a new brush. In the New Brush options, choose "Art Brush" and click OK.

15. Choosing the Colorization Method

In the Art Brush options, you have the choice to define how the brush will interact with different colors. For this tutorial, we'll explore two colorization methods: "Stretch to Fit Stroke Length" and "Tints and Shades".

16. Applying the Art Brush to the Watercolor Stroke

With the Art Brush created, you can now apply it to the watercolor stroke. Use the Brush Tool (keyboard shortcut: B) to select the Art Brush and start drawing with it. The brush will apply the colors and textures from the original watercolor stroke. Experiment with different brush sizes and strokes to create visually appealing effects.

17. Experimenting with Different Colorization Methods

To further explore the colorization options, create additional Art Brushes with the "Stretch to Fit Stroke Length", "Tints", and "Shades" colorization methods. Use different colors and strokes to see how the brush interacts and create unique textures and effects.

18. Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully created custom watercolor brushes in Photoshop and Illustrator. These brushes allow you to add a personal touch to your artwork and designs. Feel free to experiment with different images, colors, and brush settings to create a wide range of watercolor effects. Keep practicing and refining your skills, and soon you'll be able to create stunning watercolor illustrations.

Resources:

• Unsplash
• Pixabay

Highlights

• Learn how to create custom watercolor brushes in Photoshop and Illustrator
• Choose between using pre-existing watercolor stroke images or creating your own
• Experiment with different colors, opacities, and brush settings to achieve desired effects
• Utilize the Legacy Brushes in Photoshop to add textured details to your watercolor stroke
• Resize, reposition, and manipulate the watercolor stroke in Illustrator
• Convert the rasterized stroke into scalable vector paths using Image Trace
• Ungroup the elements and remove the background to isolate the watercolor stroke
• Create an Art Brush in Illustrator to apply the watercolor stroke to other shapes and paths
• Explore different colorization methods to achieve diverse and unique results
• Experiment with composition, arrangement, and brush strokes to create visually appealing effects

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use any image as a watercolor stroke for this tutorial? A: Yes, you can either use pre-existing watercolor stroke images or create your own using Photoshop.

Q: Are the Legacy Brushes only available in older versions of Photoshop? A: No, you can access the Legacy Brushes in newer versions of Photoshop by clicking on the hamburger menu and selecting "Legacy Brushes".

Q: Can I use the custom watercolor brushes in commercial projects? A: Yes, you have complete ownership and control over the custom watercolor brushes you create, so you can use them in any commercial projects.

Q: Is it possible to create different types of brushes using this method? A: Yes, you can apply the same process to create other types of brushes, such as charcoal brushes or pencil brushes, by starting with different stroke images.

Q: Do I need advanced skills in Photoshop and Illustrator to follow this tutorial? A: Basic knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator is recommended, but this tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to help beginners create custom watercolor brushes.