Expert: Amy - 6/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

Is there a way to create electrical current in illustrator?  I know that look can be done in photoshop but I need it for a logo so it needs to be vector.

ANSWER: Hi Pam,

I guess I don't understand your question.

If you have "electrical current" already drawn in PhotoShop, you can bring it into Illustrator and use the Live Trace feature to trace it.

Or you can draw it from scratch using the pen, pencil, or brush tools.

If it's for a logo, you'll probably want to stay away from any special effects you might have used in PhotoShop (blurs, glows) because you'll have to flatten the logo in order to use it for print.

If there is a more specific question you have about how to draw something, perhaps you could send a jpeg sample?

Thanks!
Amy



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i don't have an electrical current drawn in photoshop.  Is there a way to replicate this type of image in Illustrator, without it looking so illustrated?

I already tried live trace and it the result doesn't look good.

Answer
Hi Pam.

Thanks for clarifying.

In order to create exactly that sort of image in Illustrator, you'd have to use techniques like gradient mesh with outer glow effects applied.

I searched my stock photo resources for a vector image of a plasma ball, to see if it could be done, but found nothing convincing... only very rudimentary drawings, so I am going to guess that creating something like this is more of an "art" than a simple set of steps.

So if you're ready to dig in and create a work of art, here's a tutorial that might help you get an idea of how you can create the background glowy atmosphere with gradient mesh techniques:
http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/Tutorial-for-Colorful-Lighting-Effect-

This one might help you create the 'bolts' of electricity:
http://vector.tutsplus.com/illustration/create-a-glowing-abstract-light-vector-g

But you mentioned you need it to be a vector image for the logo you're making. Once you add effects like blurs and glows, you'd be forced to flatten it in order to have it printed, and you'd be back to a raster image, so consider that...

Good luck! I hope it turns out.
-Amy