Adding Depth & Wow Factor to Illustrations
Adding Depth & Wow Factor to Illustrations - Adobe MAX 2024 - Session with Michael Fugoso
Session with Adobe Evangelist, Michael Fugoso (Instagram: @fugstrator)
Session Overview: Techniques for creating impactful illustrations by using shadow, depth, and augmented reality.
Speaker: Michael Fugoso, renowned for his layered illustration style and design expertise.
Key Techniques for Depth and Realism
Single Light Source: Michael’s method starts with one light source to achieve consistent, realistic shadows.
Shadow Techniques:
Opacity: 35-40%
Gaussian Blur: Creates softer, blended edges.
Layering: Adds a secondary shadow layer with more blur for depth, stacking them to enhance dimension.
Balancing Artist & Designer Roles
Artist vs. Designer: Michael emphasizes the importance of balancing creativity with design practicality:
Artist Mindset: Freedom to explore, but avoid becoming too insular.
Designer Mindset: Keep the work engaging without losing artistic identity.
Advanced Techniques & Tools
Gradient Fills: Uses gradients to add color variation and enhance dimension.
Augmented Reality: Inspiration from Adobe Aero for bringing illustrations into AR. Check out his Instagram for examples.
8 x 8 Inch Canvas: Michael typically works in an 8 x 8-inch format in Illustrator to keep his designs organized and manageable.
