Different Styles,

Techniques And Types

Of Illustrations
 There is a primary difference between designer and illustrator.
While a designer organizes pictures, typography and other visual
elements in logical manner for creating appeal of a particular
topic that seeks attention, an illustrator works on one element
which is developed exclusively by him and supports an idea by
showcasing its functionality. An illustration is drawn, painted or
printed art form that offers explanation, clarification or visual
portrayal of an idea or decorates the text for enhancing its
commercial appeal.
 Realistic illustration surfaced well before advent of photography and

was used in books, newspapers etc. for creative expression. Types of

illustration techniques Illustrations can be categorized into traditional

and modern styles. Illustration creation has undergone change over

time with availability of better expressive medium. Paints and paper

have given way to digital canvases of popular illustrative software like

3D Studio Max and Photoshop.

Woodcutting
The manuscripts from ancient period that
have survived today bear testimony to this archaic technique. It gained
in popularity in middle ages after printing press invention. One master
cutting carved on wooden block using sharp chisels or carving tools
made it possible to mass produce books carrying enchanting
illustrations. Color contrast and texture was depicted through darker
and lighter shades and large strokes.
Metal Etching
Steel, copper or zinc is mantled with acid resistant wax
which is etched through needle in areas where the
illustrator wants shape to surface in the bare, finished
metal. Acid bath of metal leads to sinking of artistic lines in the exposed plate.
After cleaning the plate, inking is done freshly and then metallic surface is wiped
off allowing the ink to settle on the etchings. A printing press subjects the plate to
intense pressure along with paper sheet wherein the ink and texture are imprinted
on the sheet. Different metal etching techniques when used with proper ideas can
pave way for different appearances with subtle lines, hatchings, water-coloring etc.
Pencil Illustration
Using richness of charcoal, sharp lining
or soft shadows can be created with accuracy. There are three ways to
refine the image i.e. monochrome in which lines are clean and richly
weighted, colored wherein soft and smooth shades are drawn, and rough
for introducing dynamism in illustration.
Charcoal Illustration
Though not highly accurate, this is used for
illustration of sketches and short stories wherein an array of
textures can be blended with different shadows and objects.
Fingering, tissue wiping, and smudging is generally used for creation
of smooth shades. Compression of charcoal powder with gum binder
allows sharper lines to appear. 
Lithography
Offset lithography has superseded
the technique of oily, fatty or waxy images posted over
limestone plate. You can achieve a set level of softness and
cause the colors to appear washed out.
Water Color
pigments are used for creation
of nuances through varies transparency sheets by altering
the amount of water added to color. Depth, space, and
softness characterize the illustrations. Colors can be
splashed one above other with ease.
Gouache Illustration
The gouache paint resembles water color
but is opaque in consistency. You can use it
for accomplishing richer, thicker and heavier shades compared to
water colors. In animations, cel is opaquely colored and then
water-color painting is used in the backdrop. Water evaporation
happens rapidly resulting in drying of painted layer faster.
Acrylic Illustration
Acrylics are preferred by beginning
painters due to the relative easiness
with which acrylic can be used.
Effects commensurate with oils and
watercolors can be accomplished. After drying, the illustration
exhibits resistance to water and can be painted on any surface type.
The versatility of acrylics can be utilized for pulling off
fluorescence, metallic or other dynamic effects.  
Collage Illustration
Assembling of various forms
made up of varying materials into a coherent whole leads to
formation of collage. Enthralling 3D effects with depth can
be pulled off by using varying shades on layers.
Pen and Ink Illustration
Heavy contrast can be achieved
with inky illustration. Tinted ink is used on
light surface and then the hues are made
darker for striking contrast. Expression of ideas through vibrant
illustrations is easy and fine lines can be effortlessly created.
Differently weighted dots and strokes maintained at varying distance
among them allow addition of more value.
Freehand Digital
Illustration Services
Artistic expression in digital era has changed with
availability of sophisticated design tools and software. Conventional
brushes, pens and different drawing mechanisms are mimicked
perfectly by modern software for producing impeccable effects. In
freehand, smoothness of light and transitioning of shadows allow
 Quality has to be preserved before blowing up as the images are in

raster format. With vector imaging, there is flexibility of scaling the

image to any shape without compromising on quality. Vector format

is suitable for online design although transition effects are not

commendable. There are several 2D and 3D software used by service

providers professionals indulged in the same.

Vector Graphics /

Illustration
Illustration made are well-defined, clearer and can be enlarged or

zoomed to a certain extent without blurring, better than the freehand

List of Illustration Styles
Style can stand for a particular design genre, or individual way of artistic
expression.

Concept Art
In concept art, illustrations pertaining to fantasy games, animations, one-pagers
etc. fall. Disney studio used the term first and later it was progressively used in
automotive industry.
The artist creates several drawings based on

his own perception, idea, or interpretation of

the given theme or context from which the

client can choose from any of these results

that suits his interest;

Commonly used in gaming illustrations,

fantasy, and animation.

Comics and Graphic

Novels
Comics use i mages for expression of creative ideas in

combination with texts and other visually appealing materials.

mage panels are placed side by side for producing striking effect.

Textual cues like captions, balloons with speech of characters embedded

Books and Publications
Illustration for books can be created in
versatile manner and is contingent on the way the author visualizes the
book’s subjects and its interaction with other elements. The focus is on
making readers commit their attention on the book, so the journey starts
with the cover of the book which carries a visual hint to what lies inside.
Advertisement Illustration

Here, the illustrations are deployed for

grabbing your eyeballs and conveying an indelible impression to

you. You would be spontaneously reminded about a particular brand

when the image crosses your mind. Audiences can better relate with
Packaging Illustration
Mostly used for differentiating a product from its competitors

and contemporaries, this kind of graphic illustration styles

provide for personalized, elegant and customized appearance

  Branding / Logo
Illustration
Particular skill sets are used for creating
specific imaging styles. A logo is the perfect
example wherein the readability of the text
is not compromised despite the smaller size of the logo.
The illustrations are customarily simple yet linger in the memory for being
Fashion Illustration
The artist creates drawings of clothes or apparel, gowns, and other
fashionable accessories for commercial use.
Editorial Cartoon /
Illustration
The artist creates drawings that visually supports
the idea or theme of the newspaper ’s editorial,
usually about specific societal issues or concerns
 JOB SHEET ACTIVITY
• Direction: Select at least 6 different styles of
illustration and do your own example of it.