Astute Graphics

Inspiring vector designers with awesome artwork, tantilizing tutorials, WOW-worthy webinars + more!

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Sebastian full-flight in this week's Pop-up Webinar demo'ing Phantasm Duotones. Black is flavour of the month/year... (at Astute Graphics offices)

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Huge thanks to the massive uptake following our survey email! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/astutegraphics We are reading each one and will act on recommendations :) (at Astute Graphics offices)

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Very excited by this review of AG plugins by Theresa McLellan Jackson​ in Signs of the Times magazine! 'Astute Graphics’ Suite of Illustrator Plug-ins' - our growing suite is officially too big for one review - exciting times! 

Thanks for the review Theresa :) Read more: http://www.signweb.com/content/astute-graphics-suite-illustrator-plug-ins-0#.VN2-48bEL8t

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'The Magic of Wacom Tablets' - if you didn’t manage to catch it, Sally Cox hosted a Adobe Connect UG, feat. Carlos Garro on Illustrator, Sebastian Bleak on Astute Graphics & Jesus Ramirez on Lr and Ps – what a night!

View recording here: https://experts.adobeconnect.com/_a204547676/p224yzyp082/…

Read more: http://www.astutegraphics.com/catch-missed-adobe-connect-u…/

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It's February... Which means it's time for another Product of the Month! This month is none other than Phantasm! We're giving you heaps of learning material FREE so you can get to grips with this awesome Illustrator plug-in.

Check out our blog to find out more: http://www.astutegraphics.com/brighten-up-february-with-phantasm/

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Join us for our Pop-Up Webinar - The Grass is Greener with Phantasm! Thursday, 5 Feb, 8am PDT, 11am EST, 4pm GMT, 5pm Mainland Europe

Sebastian will demonstrate how to use Phantasm, February’s Product of the Month, to create a grassy vector texture within Illustrator using the Transform & Distort effects and Phantasm Halftone.

Read more and register: http://www.astutegraphics.com/grass-greener-phantasm-illustrator/

For the tutorial on our blog: http://www.astutegraphics.com/quick-tip-how-to-create-a-grass-background-using-the-phantasm-cs-and-adobe-illustrator/

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Michael Doret

Los Angeles based artist Michael Doret runs a small design and font foundry studio in Hollywood, California. With a flair for lettering, illustration and graphic design, he has built up an impressive portfolio of clients, providing design solutions that include logos, album covers and signage for companies such as The NBA, Major League Baseball, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, TIME Magazine and Warner Bros.

Check out these articles about Michael's workflow and the tools which assist him in creating such graphically-pleasing artwork: http://www.astutegraphics.com/blog/?s=michael+doret  

Artwork copyright Michael Doret www.michaeldoret.com

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Daryl Boothe

Jamaica-born artist Daryl Boothe shows his interesting style and talks about his workflow in interview: http://www.astutegraphics.com/artwork-daryl-boothe/

He uses a variety of tools to create his illustrations - a Sketch book, pencil, inking pen and a Wacom Cintiq. He uses Adobe illustrator, along with the addition of a plug-in or two;

"I started using Phantasm in 2011 after I noticed that Illustrator was limited to certain color features that were present in photoshop. Phantasm helps a lot with the final enhancements of my work, I mainly use the hue and color manipulation features that the plugin offers. The plugin helps me to achieve a dynamic and unique presentation."

Daryl now lives in New York as a professional Illustrator and he specialises in Illustration and Apparel design.

*Images Copyright of Daryl Boothe*

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Great piece of patriotic artwork using Adobe Illustrator and InkScribe, a plug-in from Astute Graphics which has been described as 'the Pen Tool on steroids'! 

By Sean Ferguson (who, come to think of it, is American...), this piece is named Britannia 60 and was created in celebration on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee back in 2012. 

Find out more about this artwork and the artist behind it: http://www.astutegraphics.com/blog/?s=britannia

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Another example of inspiring animation by Gordon McAlpin, copyright Chase Sequence Co. It's a great example of an artist using Phantasm in Adobe Illustrator, a color control plug-in by Astute Graphics.

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Perfectly symmetrical artwork using MirrorMe in Adobe Illustrator. Create beautiful designs like this one by Iaroslav Lazunov and save time by mirroring your artwork.

Find out more about MirrorMe Ai plugin here: http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/mirrorme/

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More artwork by Todd Lauzon, an amazing Canadian animator. His distinctive style is very popular, with clean designs and fun characters. In Todd's workflow, he uses Adobe Illustrator paired with Astute Graphics plug-ins. 

These designs are using MirrorMe, a plugin which does what it says - mirrors artwork, saving you time, work and repetition! Choose from a single line of symmetry or use multiple and create some truly unique patterns.

More info: http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/mirrorme/

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These 'Super' animations are by Todd Lauzon! Created using Adobe Illustrator, along with DynamicSketch, a plug-in for Ai which makes drawing as easy as pen on paper (especially when used with a Wacom device). Allows for a more natural, fluid experience.

Try it FREE here: http://www.astutegraphics.com/free-trial/

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Rose pattern created by Iaroslav Lazunov. This textured effect was formed using Adobe Illustrator, along with plug-in Phantasm. 

Phantasm is Illustrator's answer to gaining Photoshop-like color controls. Includes all the essential adjustments such as Brightness, Contrast, Curves, Levels and Exposure. You can also quickly create a perfectly scalable halftone effect based on any underlying artwork. 

There's plenty you can do with Phantasm. Check out the options here: http://www.astutegraphics.com/category/phantasmcs/

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Last few days to SAVE on Product of the Month, Rasterino!

Don't miss out, get £10 (approx. $15 / €13) OFF now. offer expired Jan 31, 2015 http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/rasterino/

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Learn how to truly crop in Adobe Illustrator with these tutorials: http://www.astutegraphics.com/category/rasterino/

Not only this but you can learn to trim, re-link selections and quickly set resolutions of embedded images too! 

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Say hi/hola to Mr Carlos Garro himself, featuring in his very own artwork. This is a great example of line art in Adobe Illustrator and how you can use Astute Graphics plug-ins to get creative and mix it up! 

Check out this article, where Carlos explains how he achieved this and his workflow: http://www.astutegraphics.com/featured-artist-example-artwork-ws2-carlos-garro/

Also, you can download this artwork for FREE: http://www.astutegraphics.com/free-trial/