Vector 101 - Eyes by Antoinette

Requirements for this tutorial:

Adobe Photoshop; A photo of high quality of your choice; tip: women are easier (more details)

Familiarize yourself with the above terminology, I will use it throughout the tutorial.

Lets begin!

1. Open your document. (This should be your background layer)

2. Hit the "create new layer button"

3. Use the "eye dropper" tool to select the eye ball part of the eye. *note* The actual color that will be selected, regardless of the photo you are using, will not be true white. It is your decision to change the color to #FFFFFF (white) or, to stick with the natural color from the picture. I prefer white, it's your decision.

4. Select "pen tool" (make sure you are using pen tool, not free form pen tool!)

Check list: Pen tool, Style:NONE, Color:White (or your choice), Auto Add/Delete box checked.

5. With your new layer selected, your color chosen, choose the "Zoom tool" or the magnifying glass, and fill your canvas with the eyes. (you want them big so you can see them)

6. Re-select the pen tool. (it was deselected when you chose the zoom tool)

- Find the left edge of the eyeball. click the mouse.

- A dot (small square) has been created.

-Moved right, trace the eyeball, clicking as you go. The boxes will connect forming a literal "connect the dots"

-Once you have traveled around the eyeball, re-click the first box you created. This will "close the path".

-You have created a vector representation of the eyeball.

*But I've only done ONE eye!*

Relax :) There are two ways to do this, personal preference will decide!

Choice A:

With the new eyeball layer selected, find the + plus sign on your keyboard. OR Hit the Add to Shape Area button, which is located on the top of the screen inside the "pen tool selections". Its the selection with two boxes on top of each other, and is located directly to the right of the single box. It SHOULD be the second selection. Once you are adding on to the new layer, you can now start creating the second eyeball. The color will be the same, and its all on one layer. Benefit of this method: The eyeball is a single layer. (good for consistency and organization) A full vector can be up to 75+ layers.

Choice B:

Instead of "adding on" to the same layer, create a new layer, and create the second eyeball. Make sure the color is the same. If you choose this method, name the layers. Example. EyeBall 1, Eyeball 2 or, if you want to get fancy, Eyeball Left, Eyeball Right.

7. Now that you have created the eyeball(s) hide the layer. (little eyeball next to the layer selections in the layer box) You should only see the background now.

8. Create a new layer. *make sure it is above the background AND the eyeball layer) You are literally building the eye. Layer upon Layer.

9. Select a new color using the eyedropper. Drop the eyedropper over the eye color.

10. Select the pen tool.

11. Repeat the same steps as with the eyeball, dropping the box and tracing the color part of the eye. (you are forming a circle) Remember to click the first box again, closing the path. You should have a circle shaped vector, representing the color part of the eye.

- Remember to either add on to the layer, or create a new layer to create the second color of the eye. (just as you did with the eyeballs)

- Allow the layers to be visible again, and this is what you should have. (only applicable to your own image)

12. Repeat the exact same steps (creating a new layer, selecting a new color, tracing the section you are on, closing the path)

I suggest you build the eye in this order:

Eyeball

Eye color

Pupil

Eye highlight

Skin

Lower lid

Upper lid

Eyelashes

*special tip* Take a look at the two photos below. One is better then the other, why?

Answer: The difference is the highlight(s) right next to the pupil. When a photo is taken, there must be light for the image to reflect. A "glare" or "highlight" on the eye is always created. ALWAYS vector the highlight. It gives the piece life.

Well, that's about it. Keep building layer by layer, and you will have eyes! Get fancy with the eye color, do multiple layers representing the different colors.

Final eyes on original background.

Go back to the background layer, create a new layer directly above it. Choose a color for skin and outline the face, now you can see what your vector looks like!

If you have completed this successfully, use the same skills to vector the other parts of the face. Lips, Nose, Eyebrow, Hair, Body, Clothes.

Below is a completed vector with nose, makeup, highlights & shadows.

If you would like to see the 100% completed vector, you can find it here.