For this tutorial you can go ahead and copy/paste the character sprite I made of my lovely pixelated wife Lora. Lets start by creating a new document and template image for our pixel art. Estimated Completion Time: 20-40 minutes.

Topics covered: Live Paint, Pathfinder functionality, Extrude and Bevel,layers.Program: Adobe Illustrator CS6 ( Grid tool available from CS4 onward, 3D available in all Illustrator CS versions).Lets get to it and create some vector nectar! Tutorial Details Below we have the results of the techniques used in this tutorial. I realized, that three legged dog still has some tricks up its sleeves when a little creativity and unconventional software use is combined. I was pleasantly surprised one day while applying Illustrator’s Extrude command to pixel art. Consequently the 3D in Illustrator has turned into that thing I like to fool around with, but never use for actual design jobs. I’m totally fine with that! I love Illustrator for its clean vector graphics. Okay……okay….I’m the first to admit that Illustrator’s 3D effects are kind of like an old dog that knows 3 tricks, and that dog has three legs. But the result is a juxtaposition so rockin it kicks you straight in your nostalgic keister! We are combining one of the most primitive and limited graphic techniques edited on a pixel level, with the modern sleek aesthetic of 3D effects. Yes, you read that title correctly! I understand this tutorial title kind of seems like an oxy-moron.

3d tool illustrator