Draw a Vector Puppy, Part 3: Lighting and Shading
Part 3 is the final part of the beginner series. It takes the flat puppy from Part 2 and adds lighting and shading so it looks three-dimensional. If you are following along, have your flat version ready.
Step 1: Define the light
Before shading anything, decide where the light comes from. Mark which areas will be bright, which will fall into shadow and where the cast shadow sits. Looking at reference photos helps you see how light wraps around a form. Everything after this follows that decision.
Step 2: Add lights and shadows
Work over the flat shapes, adding lighter tones on the areas facing the light and darker tones where the form turns away, based on the light you defined. Keep the shading consistent across every part of the puppy so it reads as one object under one light.
Step 3: Texture with Roughen
To break the smooth vector edges and add a little life, select the shapes and apply Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Adjust the size and detail so the edges become gently wavy, and reuse the same setting on other parts so they match.
Conclusion
Across the three parts you have gone from the Illustrator interface to a fully shaded character. The key ideas carry to any subject: build from simple shapes, keep anchor points clean, define the light before shading, and use Roughen for a softer, hand-made finish.
Links from the video
- Join the members-only content: https://bit.ly/3fEEvD4
- Members-only videos: https://bit.ly/3fJieDV
- Step-by-step tutorials playlist: http://bit.ly/31EXG6G
