Weblash.net » graphic design http://weblash.net Graphic Design & Web Development for Small Businesses Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:03:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Very Cool Collection of Retro Russian Propaganda Posters http://weblash.net/413/very-cool-collection-of-retro-russian-propaganda-posters/ http://weblash.net/413/very-cool-collection-of-retro-russian-propaganda-posters/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:17:40 +0000 WeblashAdmin http://weblash.net/413/very-cool-collection-of-retro-russian-propaganda-posters/

I love this stuff. Inspirational on many levels.

http://www.dzinepress.com/2009/10/100-amazing-retro-russian-poster-designs/

]]> http://weblash.net/413/very-cool-collection-of-retro-russian-propaganda-posters/feed/ 0 Smoke Effect Using Adobe Illustrator http://weblash.net/258/smoke-effect-in-illustrator/ http://weblash.net/258/smoke-effect-in-illustrator/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:53:14 +0000 WeblashAdmin http://weblash.net/258/smoke-effect-in-illustrator/ I don’t know if there are other articles about creating smoke in Illustrator, or even if this is the best method, but I really like the outcome of my technique and wanted to share it.

  1. Create a blend using two Bézier curves. Use specified steps and set the number to 40 (you’ll probably need to play with this some before you get the effect you want):

    image

  2. Now, take one of the paths and put a gaussian blur on it (use about a radius of 6 pixels). Do the same with the other path, only change the radius on the blur to about 3 pixels:

    image

  3. OK, now modify the shape of the paths so that they overlap, crossing over each other. It should start to look more and more like smoke:

    image

  4. Apply blending and opacity settings to the paths like overlay, screen, multiply, etc. Play time.
  5. Copy/paste the blend and adjust the Bézier curves on that blend.
    image
  6. Cool, huh? Now, play with the color on each of the curves too.

    image

There you have it. I discovered it by accident, and I haven’t played with the technique too much. There’s probably an Illustrator plug-in or brush out there that does the same thing, so you can decide for yourselves if this is of any value.

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