Ever since the methods of creating artwork have been shifted from traditional forms to digital tools, it has become quite a hurdle for artists to get a grasp on these new tools and software programs. However, it all depends upon the software or tool you are using. Software programs by Adobe such as Photoshop and Illustrator might be expensive choices for some but with the tools they have to offer, there is nothing better to rely upon.
Here are some of the most common mistakes illustrators and designers make when using a digital tool. We have even stated the ways you can avoid and fix those mistakes as well.
Selection of canvas type and size
Once you have chosen your preferred software, the next step certainly is to open a new canvas for making your digital artwork. It does sound easy but it can lead to issues is the wrong canvas size has been selected. At times, you select a very small canvas size and it messes with the pixels and the overall resolution of your file.
Since now, you know digital art depends upon pixels, try to select a size that results in a quality resolution format. The number of pixels can even increase to infinite times but then the file size is going to increase and some online platforms might not support it.
Lightening the contrast
The resolution set on your desktop or laptop screen should be of high quality since it could then ruin your selection of contrast for the illustration you are making. The contrast changes depending on the brightness you have set for the screen. It can always vary so be sure to test out the contrast changes on every possible screen quality before completing the illustration itself.
The concept of contrast also varies from the angles of viewing your picture. That is why lightened or low contrast is never encouraged instead it just always be strong so it fits to all the relevant and possible resolutions or brightness levels your viewers have set for themselves.
White color as a neutral background
Some people tend to overlook this step but the selection of the right background plays an essential role in the final outcome of an illustration. You might think that selecting a white background could be neutral but it has its own drawbacks. You are mistaken to think that neutral colors exist since the only true neutral is a transparent background, not even white.
Therefore, if you begin with a color and then the illustration is used on some other background type or color then it is going to look very different. When you choose black, you will notice how the background itself is going to dominate the original illustration. Therefore, there is no such thing as a neutral color but a transparent canvas is what you should choose initially.
Customizing complex brush strokes and types
The techniques of painting and sketching traditionally are a lot different as compared to using a tool such as Adobe Illustrator. The main difference is in the brush strokes since in a traditional illustration, you are somewhat limited to the brush type but in a digital painting, you can customize the brush types, its sizes, and strokes as you please,
The only issue is that it is great you have been given the authority for customization but never customize the brushes to a complicated extent. While you can save the brushes, you make from scratch but if you use the brushes so often, you will be confused about their use in different illustration styles.
Using colorful combinations in the color palette
Some colors have become too generic and overused. If you want to test out something unique, you would need to experiment on something new. However, some artists do not understand the meaning of uniqueness and tend to add too many colors in their illustration, which completely spoils it.
The right way is to set a relevant and minimalistic color palette for your illustration. First test the colors you believe is going to complement your illustration and then test them on a rough draft of line art first. Once you believe the color combinations are both unique and minimal, only then proceed further.
Conclusion
These mistakes tend to be overlooked often since they are so trivial but can lead to some serious issues especially in the illustration quality. However, these can be fixed only if you have enough practice upon illustration design. The more you practice, the more intricately you will deal with small changes and details in an illustration. First, understand how you visualize the illustration and only then pen it down into a digital format. This notion is not far off to hone, only if you have the skill and dedication for it.
