Leatherwork Tips
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Adobe Illustrator is a versatile program that can be used for a variety of design projects. Getting started creating custom templates is easy!
1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. The dimensions of your document will depend on the size of the piece you're planning to make. For this example, we'll use 8.5" x 11".
2. Next, you'll need to sketch out your design on paper. Once you have a design you're happy with, scan it into your computer or take a picture of it with your phone.
3. Now it's time to start tracing your design in Adobe Illustrator. Start by creating a new layer in your document. This will be our " sketch layer." Drag your scanned image onto this layer, resize it as needed, and lock the layer so you don't accidentally move it around while you're working.
4. On a new layer beneath the sketch layer, begin tracing your design with the pen tool. As you trace, you can add details and embellishments to your design if you'd like. Once you're finished tracing, delete the sketch layer and rename this layer " final design."
5. The last step is to add color to your pattern. You can do this by selecting the entire pattern with the Selection Tool and then choosing a color from the Swatches panel (located on the right-hand side of the screen).
6. And that's it! You've now created a custom leather pattern using Adobe Illustrator. We hope this tutorial was helpful and that you'll give leather working a try!
Leather working is a fun and rewarding hobby that anyone can enjoy. With a little practice and patience, anyone can create beautiful leather goods using nothing more than some scrap leather and a few tools. If you're interested in learning more about leather working, be sure to check out some of our other blog posts for beginners!