Full title: Adobe for Fashion: Illustrator CS6 – The Ultimate Guide to Drawing Flats, by Robin Schneider. ISBN 978-1-300-57758-4.
This fortnight’s book review is a relatively short one, because this book is really a self-paced course. I’ll include links at the end of the post so you can take your next steps.
I’ve included this book for technical drawing because it breaks down all the processes and steps needed to produce flat images in Adobe Illustrator. It’s written for CS6, which was the last non-cloud edition of the software. However, it’s still very useful if you have access to Creative Cloud.
Robin Schneider has self-published this book, so it is only available via Amazon or AbeBooks.
You can also support Robin directly by following her on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn Learning, which is where her courses are hosted. The cover refers to Lynda.com, which was acquired by LinkedIn a number of years ago.
Why you should buy this book | Adobe for Fashion: Illustrator
The answer to this question really depends on how you like to learn. It also depends on how you intend to apply those oh-so-important observational drawing skills. Robin is a teacher, so she’s made sure to cover all bases and learning styles. If you like to have something printed beside you as you work on the computer, or read before you do, then this book is the one. It is very specific about the tools and commands you need to use with Adobe Illustrator. Consequently, there’s very little chance of you getting lost!
To that end, here’s a sample of how the tutorials are presented:
There’s more depth compared to Technical Drawing for Fashion. This makes sense, because Adobe for Fashion: Illustrator is a far more technical book. It assumes that you already know exactly HOW you want the finished artwork to look; you just need to know how to use the software. It won’t help you to find your unique, individual style. But – it will help you to make your flat drawings as impactful as possible.
What you get is how to add plenty of imagination and character. So if you’d like to use Adobe Illustrator for both technical drawing and fashion illustration, you can.
I also love the little tips that Schneider drops in, which can only come from an experienced user of Illustrator! She really knows her way around and it shows. This is another favourite feature of the book – she’s walked the path, and lights the way beautifully for the rest of us.
Building swatch libraries in Adobe Illustrator
Another one of my favourite things in this book is how to build up the swatch library. Some of you may know that you can design digital patterns and use Illustrator for surface pattern design, but Schneider shows you how to import existing patterns.
This is wonderful because you have the ability to photograph your fabric, knit, or crochet swatches, import them into Illustrator, and then use them as a fill for your blank drawing. There’s great potential to use this for design development! You can recolour the design, play around with the scale, and manipulate it however you like. You don’t have to reknit everything – and you can see all your ideas side by side. AND – you can share them with your colleagues because they’re in digital format.
Another fine touch is Schneider’s attention to detail, such as warping fills to show how pattern and fabric crease along with the body’s natural movements. This is very helpful if you plan to be a fashion illustrator and want to incorporate poses.
Final words about Adobe for Fashion: Illustrator
If you already own or have access to Adobe Illustrator and really want it to earn its keep, I recommend starting with this book. Subscriptions can add up, so if you can see yourself using Creative Cloud or are considering adapting your drawing preferences to work exclusively on the computer, this book is brilliant. It’s a super start to using Adobe Illustrator for two kinds of fashion drawing – technical and illustrative.
There are other books and courses available for surface pattern design. If you’re interested, I’ll do a roundup post of these further down the line.
Where to find Robin Schneider
- Robin Schneider’s staff page at Otis College of Art and Design
- Buy a copy of the book on Amazon or AbeBooks
- Robin Schneider’s YouTube channel, which also has lots of tutorials
- Illustrator for Fashion Design: Drawing Flats – course on LinkedIn Learning
- Illustrator for Fashion Design: Advanced Drawing Flats – the sequel to the above, also on LinkedIn Learning
- Robin Schneider on Instagram
Last, but not least…
Finally, thank you for reading, and a big thank you to Katie and Connie for their ongoing support via Ko-Fi! If you’d like to support my blog regularly or contribute to the tip jar, click the pink button on the bottom left. And if you found this book review on Adobe Fashion: Illustrator helpful or inspiring, please share it with others so they can benefit too. Thank you 🙂
Not quite ready for Adobe for Fashion, but like this book review and want to improve your basic drawing skills? I have a short course for you!
Visual Communication: Pencil control and the greyscale | Knitwear Design Initiation taster course
Knitwear Design Initiation | Visual Communication taster course
A 1-hour introductory drawing course or refresher for those who haven’t used their art materials for a long time.
It’s accessible to anyone who wants to make a start on or improve their drawing skills, but the techniques covered prepare you for the nuance of illustrating soft textures of knits.
This class on pencil control and the greyscale was designed especially for drawing out your latent sensitivity and artistry. The marks you make on the paper will range from the wispiest grey to the earthiest charcoal. This vocabulary will also improve your observational skills because you’ll have the means to draw what you see.
The Visual Communication taster is the first step away from the frustration of not being able to draw from life, or the disappointment of your drawings not looking the way you want them to. In just over an hour, you’ll never look at pencil and paper the same way again!