Master Inner Glow for vector shading

This image is created using only vectors, gradients and Illustrator's Inner Glow effect.

I initially started using this technique - using only vectors and Illustrator Effects - so I would be able to scale the images to any size. This is very useful when you are making illustrations for something to be used in a broad range of sizes. I have used images made with this technique for everything from web banners to large-scale window decorations.

For some reason, people seem to be afraid of using the Illustrator Effects, but I find it essential when making heavily shaded illustrations to be used in many sizes. Primarily I use the Inner Glow effect to make odd-shaped gradients, which is essential to this style and harder to do otherwise without using Gradient Mesh or taking it into Photoshop. I really enjoy the slick shading the effects make€¦

Latest Videos From Creative Bloq

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

TOPICS

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Ecommerce Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Editor, Digital Art and 3D Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson, Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The ImagineFX magazine team also pitch in, ensuring that content from leading digital art publication ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq.

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter