Top 10 Sites for Illustrator Tutorials

Photoshop gets most of the attention when it comes to tutorials and blog posts, but Illustrator is also an excellent tool for designers. If you’re interested in brushing up your skills, here are my top ten (taking both quality and quantity of tutorials into consideration).

1. VECTORTUTS

VECTORTUTS is still a very new blog, but it’s already a leader in Illustrator tutorials. You’re probably familiar with other sites from the Eden family, including PSDTUTS and NETTUTS, and VECTORTUTS provides the same high quality in its tutorials.

Tutorials of interest:

2. Vectips

Vectips is the home of Ryan Putnam, who also writes tutorials for VECTORTUTS. Unlike some of the other sites on this list, Vectips focuses exclusively on Illustrator.

Tutorials of interest:

3. Veerle’s Blog

Veerle covers a variety of topics related to graphic design on her blog, including some Illustrator tutorials. The quality of her tutorials is excellent and she teaches practical techniques that you’ll be able to use in your own work.

Tutorials of interest:

4. Blog.SpoonGraphics

Graphic Designer Chris Spooner publishes tutorials and articles at Blog.SpoonGraphics, including some awesome Illustrator tutorials.

Tutorials of interest:

How to Create a Vector Safari Compass in Illustrator
Trendy Geometric Line Design Tutorial (includes use of Photoshop as well)
Create a Colorful Wavy Abstract Ribbon

5. GoMediaZine

GoMediaZine is a site that somehow I’m not very familiar with, but I quickly subscribed after browsing through the archives. The site is much more than just a tutorial blog, so the quantity of Illustrator tutorials isn’t as high as some of the other sites on this list, but the quality is excellent.

Tutorials of interest:

6. AiVault

AiVault contains a lot of informative posts for Illustrator users, including tutorials on a variety of different effects.

Tutorials of interest:

7. BittBox

BittBox is an excellent design blog that covers a number of different topics. The Illustrator tutorials are not that frequent or it would be higher on this list, but the quality is excellent.

Tutorials of interest:

8. N. Design Studio

N.Design Studio has some of the best tutorials you’ll find. They’re not posted very frequently or this would be near the top of the list.

Tutorials of interest:

9. iStockdiary

iStockdiary has a nice combination of quality and quantity of Illustrator tutorials. The site also includes some premium tutorials for purchase.

Tutorials of interest:

10. BioRUST

BioRUST has a good number of Illustrator tutorials in their archives. Their tutorials are not on as advanced a level as some others on this list.

Tutorials of interest:

Originally Published July 22nd, 2008

25 comments from readers

1 Emo Jul 23, 2008 at 12:42 am

I want to get myself into Illustrator so need all the tutorial sites I can get..hehe. Great list!
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3 Speartoons Jul 23, 2008 at 10:07 am

Thank you for this post. I’ve been looking for something just like this. There are so many cool things Illustrator can do. I also second having Vectortuts as number one on the list.
4 Chris Spooner Jul 23, 2008 at 10:10 am

Many thanks for the mention!
5 Rodrigo Jul 23, 2008 at 11:14 am

You forgot http://www.illustrationclass.com/ one of the best illustrator site in my opinion.
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7 Karen Zara Jul 23, 2008 at 10:54 pm

Steven, I want to congratulate you for reaching del.icio.us’ front page once again with this great post. This is the type of article that makes me want to take some good design-related courses. Someday I will do it… someday…

Oh, and thank you for using the “for:” feature to send me the link. People in my network rarely remember to use this, although everybody knows I’m ever hungry for new links.
8 Vandelay Design Jul 23, 2008 at 11:30 pm

Chris,
You’re welcome. Thanks for the great tutorials and for stopping by to comment.

Karen,
Thank you. I rarely use that feature at del.icio.us but this post was sitting at about 110 bookmarks so I thought I’d try to help it get to the front page. I shared the link with about 5 or 6 friends, I guess it worked.
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10 liam Jul 24, 2008 at 7:16 am

Nice resources, thanks for sharing.
11 Jacob Gube Jul 24, 2008 at 8:51 am

Congratulations on the launch, I’ve been waiting for this ever since we had talked about it!
12 JB Jul 24, 2008 at 10:29 am

Awesome list of sites — thanks a bunch for sharing them!
13 United Voices Jul 24, 2008 at 11:48 am

I liked most of the illustrator tutorials, but Vectips was quite special for me.
14 Lipsense Jul 24, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Hey thats great. I’ve been looking for something just like this. There are so many cool things Illustrator can do. I also second having Vectortuts as number one on the list.
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18 Stadia Studio Jul 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Very helpful, thank you!
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great post, thanks for sharing.
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25 Bart Aug 4, 2008 at 2:48 pm

I totaly agree with you’re top 10 list. I like gomediazine and vectips the most.