Edi Explains: Top Ten Ways to Customize Stock Illustrations
Posted by Edi Parkinson on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
Whether you’re designing a website or a print ad campaign, using stock illustrations can be a great help in getting the look you want. But if you can access that stock illustration, so can other designers. Always, always, always change something in the illustration so you don't end up wearing the same dress as someone else at the party! Here are some of the things I do.
The original.
1... Remove the background
2... Change the background colour
3... Merge a few other illustrations together to create a "new" one.
4... No brainer but effective, change colours (hint: match up with your colour scheme)
5... Use your mirror or reflect tool and flip the whole image or just parts
6... Move items around, delete items, duplicate items
7... Fill objects with patterns instead of a solid colour
8... Add a photo or image
9... Rework completely by redrawing in another illustration style
10... Change the stroke attributes (thickness, style, weights, brushes, etc.)
Bonus: This process is a great way to experiment with some of the features you may not always use in your paint or drawing package and learn a few tricks at the same time.
What I realized from a follower in my last post is, you can apply these tips to any creative project whether it is for work or play! So to carry that theme, any "stock" item can be tweaked to make it your own and unique regardless of whether it is stock illustration, stock photography or even a stock knitting pattern or beading kit! As one of our clients, an online beading company (MyBeadBarrel.com) says, "Bead outside the box"!
Go ahead try it!