3 Ways to Add Texture in Illustrator (Tips Included)

Tutorial: How to Add Texture in Illustrator

Introduction: In this tutorial, we will learn three different ways to add texture in Illustrator, as demonstrated by Cosmin Serban in his video. Adding texture to illustrations can enhance the visual appeal and give your designs a unique look. Let's dive into the step-by-step instructions for each method.

Method 1: Using the Texture Effect Panel

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create the shape or illustration you want to add texture to.
2. Go to the "Effect" menu at the top and choose "Texture," then select "Grain."
3. In the Texture panel that opens, adjust the settings to your preference to achieve the desired texture effect.
4. To blend the texture with the shape, go to the "Transparency" tab and choose from blending modes like Overlay, Multiply, or Screen for different effects.
5. Experiment with adjusting the opacity of the shape to fine-tune the texture effect until you are satisfied with the result.

Method 2: Using an Image for Texture Overlay

1. Find a suitable texture image online or create one yourself.
2. Copy the texture image, then paste it into your Illustrator document.
3. Select the image and go to the top bar to access the tracing options. Choose "Black and White Logo" to convert the image into vector elements.
4. Adjust the threshold scale to capture the desired level of detail from the image and convert it into vector shapes.
5. Use the Magic Wand tool to select and delete the white areas, leaving only the dark shapes for the texture overlay.
6. Resize and position the textured elements on top of your illustration, then sample a color from the illustration to blend the texture seamlessly.

Method 3: Creating a Custom Scatter Brush for Texture

1. Create small shapes or bits in a circular arrangement on the canvas.
2. Select the shapes and open the Brushes panel from the "Window" menu.
3. Click on "Create New Brush" and choose the "Scatter" option.
4. Customize the brush settings, such as size, scatter, rotation, and spacing, to create a textured brush.
5. Use the brush tool to make strokes on the illustration with a dark outline color and empty fill.
6. Adjust the transparency of the brush strokes to Multiply to blend the texture with the illustration.

Conclusion: Adding texture to your illustrations in Illustrator can elevate the visual impact of your designs. Experiment with these three methods to create unique textures and enhance your artwork. Feel free to combine different techniques for more complex textures and share your preferences in the comments. Happy designing!