How To Create a Retro Style Cartoon Character Illustration (+ FREE Halftone Brushes!)

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In today's Illustrator and Photoshop tutorial I'm going to take you through the process of creating a mid-century illustration, complete with distressed print effects. I'll show you how to achieve the visual traits that give the artwork the appearance of a retro matchbook print, such as the use of limited colours, halftone shading, misregistration effects, and the all-important old paper texture that turns the clean and crisp vector illustration into a nostalgic cartoon that is full of character!
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Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator design tutorials from Chris Spooner of Spoon Graphics. Subscribe to learn how to create stunning artwork as I share my tips and tricks in video format.
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[@spoongraphics]

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[@HrushenkoOo]

Hi. How did u do this effect with your brush (7:50), when it's a thin in the start of line and wide in the end?

[@HrushenkoOo]

when i click to unite my characters (9:28) it's no change

[@JGON7]

I had no idea about the Width Tool. That's amazing

[@Daavhimself]

Without a doubt, the best and most informative tutorial I've ever seen.

[@dalajlampa1170]

This is exactly how tutorials of any kind should look like! Cheers m8!

[@brookeg5979]

I've been working in Illustrator for most of my adult life, having learned it back in college when it was a brand new software coming to market. I've taught myself things over the years using various TH-cam tutorials and kind of picking up what I need here and there....I found your tutorial trying to learn how to do this exact effect for a personal project I'm working on and it BLEW MY MIND. I learned 10 things I had only vague knowledge of or didn't know at all in the first 7 minutes. I cannot thank you enough for this amazing video and for the free tools. THANK YOU.

[@oldtimesong]

This is so USEFUL!!!! Thank you for sharing such great content 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@kubin.8]

Even as an advanced user there is still lot to learn from this video! Good job!

[@mounttikigames8797]

I have learned more about illustrator in this tutorial than I have in 10 years of using it.

[@brookeg5979]

Literally came here to make this same comment. Absolutely amazing tutorial.

[@phillyjoe148]

This is an awesome tutorial thanks!

[@krisshaze4644]

Чел, я тебя просто обожаю, спасибо за крутые образцы для иллюстратора❤

[@carolina.lettieri]

thanks man, you saved our life, blessed halftone and you =)

[@mfiorito5550]

Oh my gosh....I have to do this now, but I will have to rewatch this video like 70 times.

[@enebrofrida]

This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for and I learned so much! Maybe you are a bit too quick sometimes, but I LOVE this tut! So useful. Thank you!

[@dquinnster47]

I love that you used a Derek Yaniger pic from his 2013 book, Kiddie Cocktails. It's fantastic for anyone who loves this style.

[@s_u_l_f_u_r]

This tutorial really solved a lot of doubts I had. Thanks a lot!

[@jonboy3802]

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much Sir. You are the man!

[@yustiantobeniricardo7636]

Please made more content like this. Really Helpful !!! God Bless Your work ❤

[@livr323]

I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@aesopmedia7780]

Excellent workshop! I've just started studying design at uni and this is so helpful for my first assignment.

[@_what._.]

Thank you so much!!! I love your work

[@darrenmakescoffee]

I can’t draw or sketch, but after learning this i can basically illustrate anything i want 🙏🏻 thanks alot

[@spoongraphics]

📺 WATCH THIS NEXT: How to Draw a Retro Mascot Character Design in Illustrator - th-cam.com/video/KTh925hn6Yk/w-d-xo.html

[@ash7324]

Excellently explained. So many of these tutorials are just basically a video of someone better than you drawing and saying "git gud lol" but this is so well explained I feel like I could make this happen. Subbed.

[@celestecelestial90]

With obnoxious loud music playing. 😂

[@Luciano_mp]

Man, you're very good, congratulations, you do a great job. Thank you.

[@kabitnitjng7966]

Super thank you .. don't skip adds 💪

[@gerardoweimann7921]

Amazing tutorial dude, liked and subbed 👏

[@3Mas1Letras]

I loved it!!!!!!! Gotta try!!!

[@kena2829]

Love the the Retro styles. Thanks for the tips and trick. ...And most of all the Inspiration. I've been wanting to add this style to my work. Keep'm coming! Thanks!😉

[@taylorb9474]

Awesome tutorial Chris, thank you so much!

[@atkeinsenerez8614]

Very informative. Thank you so much!

[@SoftwareManiacLSM]

Whew. neat all except the next to last step where all of a sudden you created the gaps. Didn't work for me but I certainly learned about the brush pattern and blob painting which I will use forever. Thanks.

[@Frame_6]

Love your tutorials, so informative, thank you!

[@mrtheblacksheep5172]

Perfect tutorial

[@illyalukyanov4771]

Brrrrr this tutorial is too much infinite thanks ❤️

[@timventura]

Great tutorial as always. Lots of little incidental bits in there that add to my tool box. Thanks for your generosity!!!

[@TheRossCam]

This is amazing! Always love your videos

[@ThuyPham-mk7nt]

very useful. leanred a lot

[@nicholaslindquist2644]

Your stuff is so inspiring- thank you!

[@dimitridehouck9506]

Thanks for all your sharing. Amazing stuff like always.

[@13madvillain]

Spong gfx should be a millionaire... GOAT

[@mightyhammerhead]

Fantastic!

[@uushk6631]

thank you! it's very helpful and clear :)

[@nayuta4108]

this is sooooo good

[@PUNKREBO]

It looks pretty good, I will use this for my own illustrations and drawings

[@danielbrent1188]

Outstanding tutorial!

[@snehaeyepopear5588]

love it !

[@gaelynharvey1048]

so simple yet so strong!

[@blaineconners2987]

One of your best tuts! Thanks

[@ZergBuddy]

Incredible!

[@jennyhuang587]

thank you so much, it helps so much !

[@girlingame518]

thank you for the free stuff ^^

[@cmck1970]

Thanks, I learned something!

[@bailopinto]

I love this style, I'm trying to replicate this in my projects ;)

[@bailopinto]

Oh, the kid drinking illustration from the begining of the vídeo isn't from 50s, it's made by Derek Yaniger

[@SocialMediaDale]

Another great tutorial Chris

[@92032029]

I really love it !!

[@JahidHasan-kx5on]

Thank you! great content!

[@pablinksksks]

best tutorial Ai ever

[@bkdesignr]

always great stuff man, thanks!

[@audreyovisual]

Fantastic! This has so many great tips. Thanks again!

[@TDTforever73]

Very nice Chris thanks!

[@تبصرة]

Thank you !

[@flurl.l5977]

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@brendangoodenough173]

Lovely, Chris..

[@WoahItsKimber]

Oh I am gonna have to try this one!

[@kasper5374]

best turotial i've found

[@marcelodomingues7327]

The best vídeo.🎉❤

[@polunochNY]

amazing

[@akashadearg-due1435]

Awesome

[@baberockabye]

you make draw easy, thanks

[@nouratsuki8805]

Thank you for sharing..

[@girlingame518]

awesome

[@ecroskey]

You are amazing.

[@centripljuga613]

thank you

[@RelaxingMusic-mp8lq]

10 for the Astro boy

[@inkyu_]

0:22 Equius Zahhak cameo, Homestuck is everywhere (lusus milk image)

[@wikuhabibarrasyid4141]

thanks...

[@yopibram]

Thank You....

[@boblemon7273]

Very nice. Can we do it with Inkscape ?

[@deathless7628]

I'm really searching for this old texture is the colors for an edit

[@jorenreis1220]

The hand looks pretty good in a curve after doing a pentool. There must be a technique in it. How do you do it?

[@fremendesign]

can we change the colour of the halftone pattern?

[@TheRedWizzzard]

when i apply live paint, it messes up my line widths. how an i prevent this? excellent video btw!

[@zaklinagapinska3971]

Hey everyone, do you know if there is any way to use width tool in photoshop only?

[@flipflopanimations]

how do i change the halftone color

[@sirachattasa5801]

How to export pls?

[@gastongaston168]

THANKS YOU SPOON .... CRACK

[@ambiencedesign8235]

best

[@nava9109]

After the width tool --> I expand the appearance --> Then I merge the lines together ... However, when I merge it, all the lines I used the width tool had no more filling. So it was black and white! No idea why this is happening?!

[@kennethtan5034]

My layer mask does not work ....

[@ilzekatkevica8107]

Great video, thank`s! Learned a lot new features about tools in AI :)) I have a question - when you created file in PS - resolution was 72 px, why? Will it be OK, if I decide to print artwork for billboard (for example)?
p.s. sorry my english..:D

[@dexretrogamerzoid630]

When I use the live paint tool, it resets all thee brush sizes

[@Project2013B]

Why roughen?

[@mr.k905]

Great video! ...I have a question: Why are there those "phantom" thin lines inside the black outlines after converting to PS? Is there a way around this? Thanks!

[@jaelsonsantos8560]

Show, perfeito.

[@fioravanti675]

He Reminds me of atom ant

[@el_chavez]

I want to make this on inkscape...Anyone recommend any tutorials or youtubers?

[@conradaleshire8506]

You need to go back and pathfinder, unite all the black so you're not seeing the cut lines in the black.

[@gerardoweimann7921]

TH-camrs should allways leave a wallet address

[@fye_design]

Is this style mid century ? Does any one know any artists from 1960 names from this style

[@HrushenkoOo]

Hi. How did u do this effect with your brush (7:50), when it's a thin in the start of line and wide in the end?