Introduction to Vector Today

Vector Today attempts to create a full copy editorial on the state of vector art on deviantART and abroad.

This article is different from most news features because the content is reviewed and discussed in some detail, trying to analyze the complexities of the vector art form, instead of just listing deviations.

If you're unclear as to what a vector is or you want to know how to make them, check out these resources:
Introduction to Vectors
Vector Tutorials


Today's issue: Distinct Styles & Community Ties

Distinct Styles
There are a lot of different styles in vector art. Just browse the vector gallery and you'll find out quickly that every artist does their own thing, even if some things look similar to others at first glance. So, with that said, let's take a look at some of these artists and their art.



In this piece, the busy background definitely stands out. Composed of simple shapes, the overall result of it is a complex pattern that draws in the eyes. When I saw the thumbnail while I was browsing, I instantly thought of *j3concepts who often makes similar styled vectors. However, ~DEPF ran with the style and produced this funky mashup of different themes. Everything from the objects themselves to the neutral color tone, the word for this is "cool".



I love cars. Especially, I love American muscle cars (and German sports cars, I won't lie). In this Camaro SS vector, the style of the car is really put into focus. The artist uses a classic, cartoony method which highlights the form and presence of the Camaro, while also looking clean doing it. From the subtle details to the gradient touches, the vector puts a unique spin on a classic American icon.



Using gradient meshes is hard -- perfecting the lighting conditions and the 3D elements of an object can take some time. Typically, students in schools are instructed to vector cans or electronics because of their simple gradient styles. However, this artist has chosen an arguably difficult subject: nature. Every small detail has been painstakingly illustrated to total a strikingly accurate depiction.



Another difficult subject to do well are animals. Fur is a surprisingly difficult thing to produce, and even harder to make it look believable. In a stylized way, the artist has overcome that by using a mixture of flowing lines, natural colors, and layered opacities; it serves to make the fur have some depth and to make it stand out as an interpretation of actual hairs.



Of course, there's another approach to animals! In a completely different style, this piece showcases simplicity. Keeping things simple isn't always a bad; this style works on the symbolic level, featuring well known animals and focusing on their distinctive traits. Made with only four colors, it has a great degree of depth in its simple construction.



In a departure from the usual portrait style, this piece features a lot of thick details. Everything from the outer stroke to the makeup of the eyes make this piece very strong and noticeable. The black strokes contrast extremely well with the light skin color and shading; as well, the emphasis the strong red makes here is huge. Overall, this piece stands out from the normal vector portrait in the gallery.


Community Ties
As you may or may not know, the vector community on deviantART is huge. Artists from all over the world contribute to the always changing styles we see. As part of the community, my new role as the cooperative vector gallery director with ^Ikue will hopefully lead to a lot of good things.

As well, groups like *vbu and *vectorites serve to help and support the community with news, features, and contests, among other things.

But, I want to open this idea up. What do you guys know about vectors? What would you do if you were the gallery director? Would you have my contests, more editorials? Would focus on Daily Deviations, or on cleaning up the gallery? Should we be more strict, or should we get more relaxed? After all, the vector gallery is your gallery, and both ^Ikue and I want to improve it and get it the recognition and support it deserves. One thing is for sure though, the vector community on deviantART is in for a treat!

Help the vector community!
Report all mis-categorizations you see in the vector gallery. Even if you're not completely sure, go ahead and flag it and we'll check it out and make a decision. The more time we have free from miscats, the more time we have to do other community features!
Send ^lemontea and ^Ikue notes for Daily Deviations (check out our journals for more information). We love seeing vectors, so show us the best ones you come across.
If you like the idea of this article, feel free to note me suggestions or full copy and I'll include it. Do you have a ProTip? Or a question? Or a rant? Or know someone who should be featured and interviewed? This is just the kind of thing the vector community needs to hear!
Get involved with the community! You can join groups like *vbu or *vectorites and read articles like this. Some other great vector articles include:
Vectors of the Week
Unknown Vectors of the Week
Vectography
Make vectors! The more art you make, the more the word gets out. Unleash your creativity. Who knows, you may even end up in this article.


Vector Today Interview - `object2bdestroyd
How did you find about vector art? Who were some of your inspirations?
I found out about vector artwork in highschool, a graphic design class was offered, I learned adobe illustrator and have been using it ever since. As far as inspirations, I like the Dadists, people who question what makes art good. Sure there are lots of people who can render things realy well, but a camera can do that better, technique isn't what makes art, it's the artist.

What would you say is unique about your own style and what is your favourite piece?
Unique? I don't know. Maybe Im just really simple. Maybe its my sense of humor. I don't know. I never really made it a goal to be unique, I figured that would just happen on its own. Favorite piece would probably be the leet crab, as other people seem to like it and do amusing things with it. I like it when my ideas influence other people.

How would you say your ideas have influenced others? Any examples?
Well, I know `dxd made a pixel crab, and that was prett nifty. But I dont know if that really counts. I am not one of those powerhouse artists that has a bajillion pageviews, so I woldnt say I really have a reach, but I know when I was a gallery director and even before I fostered the vector community and it grew a bit. I dont know if *vbu is still around [Ed. Note: it is!], but I think I helped a bunch of people there.

Where do you see the vector art form going in the future?
It helps me work in the commercial world. I use vector art everyday in designs for business cards, brocures, maps, other forms and things of that nature. It's not the most creative, but I enjoy it all the same.

Thanks again to `object2bdestroyd!


Vector Protip: Importing and Exporting
Vectors can be confusing with all of the different programs. What is the best format to use for transferring between programs? Well, if you just have Adobe products, the AI file format is probably the best. It should be noted if you make your vector in Photoshop, the PSD will open in Illustrator if you need it to. However, you cannot open an AI format and keep the vector data in Photoshop, so be careful. Overall, however, the EPS format is a reliable way to transfer between tons of different vector programs, so try that if you need to send out a vector file but aren't sure what program it'll be used on.


Editor's Note
Hopefully, when viewing each of these pieces, you can see the differences in styles and even adapt what you like to your own work. If you're not a vector artist, maybe you can become one!

I hope you've enjoyed this. If you have any feedback about the article itself, or want to discuss anything vector related, don't hesitate to do so! There's more to come soon...


Back Issues
Issue #5 - Portraits, Cars, & More
Issue #4 - Tutorials
Issue #3 - Portraits
Issue #2 - Consumer Electronics
Issue #1 - Silhouette Landscapes