How would one go about making a picture like this

[dugweb]

it's some vector art. I would say I am familier with Illustrator, but the only technique I can think of to accomplish this would be using the pen tool and outlining each individual layer of shading. Is there a better way, or is it really that monotonous of work?

Here's the pic

 

[BigPoppa]

Artist's comments: "done in photoshop with pen tool with ref from sxc.hu"

 

[Schadenfreude]

Looks like the picture on the bottom was done using livetrace (only available on CS/CS2) - you can go to object>live trace>tracing options. With the "preview" button enabled, look at the upper left corner on the dialogue box, look at the scrollbar there - it shold say [default] pick "photo high fidelity" instead.

Presto Change-o.

edit: whoops, if that's what the artist commented, I guess it is so. I would've taken my lazy-man's idea, though.

edit2: just did a quick mock-up:

Original

vs.

Vectorized

I guess I'm just too lazy to do ity by hand.

 

[dugweb]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Artist's comments: "done in photoshop with pen tool with ref from sxc.hu"

heh, now I feel dumb... of course it was filed under 'vector art'

here's another one (also done in photoshop apperently) Seems kind of pointless to use the pen too so much and not have it be vector art.

ah well, I guess the pen tool is the way to do it.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Skill

 

[Injury]

Alba

Michelle Branch

Yes, I know there are imperfections but I'm too lazy to change them.