10 Tips for Using Illustrator Brushes in Typography

Published on 31 July 2023 10 min read

Choose the right brush for your type
Adjust brush settings for optimal results
Use brushes to add depth and dimension
Apply brush strokes to create textures
Create custom brushes for unique effects
Play with opacity and blending modes
Use brushes for lettering and calligraphy
Combine brushes with patterns and shapes
Create gradients with brushes
Experiment and practice regularly

Typography in Adobe Illustrator comes alive when you add a brush stroke to it. With a variety of brushes at your disposal, you can transform plain text into a work of art. But knowing how to use a brush in illustrator for typography design can be tricky at first. That's why we've put together 10 simple tips to guide you through it. Let's start with picking the right brush for your type.

Choose the right brush for your type

The first step in using a brush in illustrator for typography design is choosing the right brush. Illustrator offers a wide variety of brushes, and each one can give your text a unique style and texture. But not all brushes work well with every type of font.

For example, if you're working with a slim, sleek font, you might want to use a brush that adds a subtle texture to your type, like the Charcoal brush. On the other hand, if you're working with a bold, chunky font, a brush with a more dramatic effect, like the Bristle Brush, might be a better fit.

Here's a simple breakdown of when to use what:

Charcoal Brush: Great for adding a subtle texture to slim, sleek fonts.
Bristle Brush: Works well with bold, chunky fonts to create a dramatic effect.
Calligraphic Brush: Perfect for giving your text a hand-drawn look, especially when you're doing lettering or calligraphy.
Scatter Brush: Ideal for creating a random, organic texture that can bring a casual, playful feel to your text.

Remember—you don't have to stick to one brush for your entire design. Feel free to mix and match to create a typography design that's uniquely yours. And if you can't find a brush that fits your vision, you can always create your own. But we'll get to that in a bit.

Now that you know how to choose the right brush, let's move on to adjusting the brush settings for optimal results.

Adjust brush settings for optimal results

Once you've picked the perfect brush for your type, it's time to fine-tune your brush settings. This is where you can really tailor how your brush interacts with your text. You see, Illustrator gives you control over a variety of brush settings, allowing you to create that ideal look and feel for your typography design.

One key setting you'll want to pay attention to is the Brush Size option. You can adjust this to change how thick or thin your brush stroke appears on your text. Want a bold, dramatic look? Increase the brush size. Looking for a more subtle effect? Decrease the brush size. It's as simple as that.

Then there's the Brush Opacity setting. This can dramatically change the way your brush stroke appears, making it more transparent or more solid. A lower opacity can create a gentle, airy effect, while a higher opacity can give your text a solid, bold look.

Let's break it down:

Brush Size: Adjust this to control the thickness of your brush stroke. Larger size for a bold look, smaller size for a subtle effect.
Brush Opacity: Use this to control the transparency of your brush stroke. Lower opacity for a gentle, airy look, higher opacity for a solid, bold effect.

But that's not all. Illustrator also lets you fine-tune the shape of your brush stroke, the spacing between brush marks, and even the rotation of your brush. The possibilities are truly endless. So, don't be afraid to experiment with different settings until you achieve the look you're aiming for.

Now that you know how to adjust brush settings in Illustrator, let's explore how to use brushes to add depth and dimension to your typography design.

Use brushes to add depth and dimension

Typography isn't just about words on a page, it's about creating a visual story. And one of the best ways to add depth and dimension to your text is by using brushes in Illustrator. So, how can you use brushes to bring your typography to life? Let's find out.

Firstly, consider using brush strokes to create shadows behind your text. This can give your words a 3D effect, making them look like they're popping off the page. Imagine a comic book style title, standing tall and proud. That’s the power of using brushes for depth and dimension.

Next, you can also use brush strokes to create highlights on your text. This can add an extra layer of depth, making your text look shiny and reflective. It's like adding a spotlight to your words, drawing attention and adding an element of surprise.

Let's see what we've got:

Shadows: Use brush strokes to create shadows behind your text for a 3D effect.
Highlights: Use brush strokes to add shiny highlights to your text, making them stand out.

And remember, Illustrator brushes aren't limited to just solid colors. You can use gradient brushes to create more complex shading effects, adding even more depth and dimension to your typography. We'll cover this in more detail in the section on creating gradients with brushes.

But for now, let's move on to another exciting way to use brushes in Illustrator for typography design—creating textures.

Apply brush strokes to create textures

Now that we've seen how brushes can add depth and dimension to our typography, let's explore another fascinating aspect—using brushes to create texture. Textures are a great way to make your design unique and interesting. They can give your typography an organic, handmade feel or a sleek and polished look, depending on your choice of brush.

Brush strokes can be used to create a variety of textures—from gritty and grungy to soft and smooth. For instance, try using a chalk brush to give your text a rough, hand-drawn look. Or, use a watercolor brush to give your text a soft and dreamy feel. It's all about finding the right brush for the right texture.

Here are a few examples:

Chalk brush: Use this to give your text a rough, hand-drawn look.
Watercolor brush: Use this to give your text a soft, dreamy feel.

Remember, the goal is not just to make your text look pretty, but to enhance your overall design and make it more engaging. So, don't be afraid to experiment with different brushes and textures.

And if you can't find the perfect brush for your design, don't worry. You can always create your own custom brush. But we'll get to that in a later section. For now, let's move on to our next tip on how to use brushes in Illustrator for typography design—playing with opacity and blending modes.

Create Custom Brushes for Unique Effects

Now, let's talk about custom brushes. One of the coolest things about Illustrator is that it gives you the ability to create your own brushes. This can open up a whole new world of unique and creative effects for your typography design. So, how do you create a custom brush in Illustrator?

First, you need to create a shape that will serve as the basis for your brush. This could be a simple line or a complex pattern—it's all up to you. Once you have your shape, select it and go to the Brushes panel. Click on the "New Brush" button, and voila! You've just created your own custom brush.

Here's a quick step-by-step guide:

Draw a shape that will serve as the base for your brush.
Select the shape.
Go to the Brushes panel.
Click on the "New Brush" button.
Adjust the settings as needed.

Creating custom brushes can take some time to master, but once you get the hang of it, you'll see that the possibilities are endless. You can create brushes that mimic the look of ink, chalk, paint, and more. The key is to experiment and have fun with it.

So, why not give it a try? Creating custom brushes could be the key to making your typography design truly stand out. Remember, the only limit is your own imagination. Now go ahead and create some magic with your custom brushes!

Play with Opacity and Blending Modes

While using brushes in Illustrator for typography design, an important skill to master is manipulating the opacity and blending modes. This can make the difference between a plain, flat design and a dynamic, visually interesting one.

Opacity refers to how transparent or opaque an object is. By adjusting the opacity of your brush strokes, you can create a layered effect and add nuance to your typography. A lighter opacity can give your text a delicate, watercolor-like effect, while a higher opacity can make your text bold and attention-grabbing.

Here's how you adjust the opacity:

Select your text or brush stroke.
Go to the Transparency panel.
Adjust the Opacity slider as desired.

Blending modes, on the other hand, determine how your brush strokes interact with the layers beneath them. For instance, the Multiply blending mode creates a darker color by multiplying the base and blend colors, which can give your text a rich, deep effect. The Screen blending mode, meanwhile, does the opposite — it lightens colors, which can give your text a soft, ethereal quality.

Here's how you change the blending mode:

Select your text or brush stroke.
Go to the Transparency panel.
Choose a blending mode from the drop-down menu.

Don't be afraid to play around with different opacity levels and blending modes. The combinations are seemingly endless, and you never know what interesting effects you might stumble upon. Remember, the best way to learn is by doing — so go ahead and start experimenting!

Use Brushes for Lettering and Calligraphy

Typography design in Illustrator isn't just about standard text — it's also a wonderful tool for creating unique lettering and calligraphy. Brushes can be a real game changer in this aspect.

When you're aiming to create handwritten or calligraphic text effects, Illustrator's brush tools can help you mimic the fluid strokes of a calligraphy pen or the distinct marks of a marker. Unlike your regular keyboard fonts, these strokes have a natural, organic feel to them — giving your design a personal touch.

To use brushes for lettering and calligraphy, follow these steps:

Pick the Brush Tool from the toolbar.
Select a calligraphy brush from the Brushes panel. Illustrator has a selection of pre-installed calligraphy brushes for you to choose from.
Start drawing your letters on the canvas. Don't worry about perfecting it on the first go — the beauty of digital calligraphy is that you can always revise and tweak!

Another useful hint is to alter the stroke weight and brush settings as you go along. This will give your letters varying thicknesses and textures, adding to the hand-drawn effect.

There's really no limit to what you can create with brushes in Illustrator. Whether you're designing a logo, a poster, or even a tattoo design, using brushes for lettering and calligraphy can add that special touch to your typography design. So why not give it a try?

Combine Brushes with Patterns and Shapes

One of the most exciting parts of using brushes in Illustrator for typography design is the ability to combine them with patterns and shapes. This can add a whole new level of complexity and interest to your design, making your typography stand out.

Imagine, for example, a text where each letter is filled with a different pattern, or where the strokes of the letters blend seamlessly with geometric shapes. Sounds exciting, right?

Here is how to combine brushes with patterns and shapes in Illustrator:

Select the text that you want to edit.
Choose a brush from the Brushes panel. This will be the brush you use to apply the pattern or shape.
Go to the Swatches panel and choose a pattern that you like.
With the text still selected, click on the pattern in the Swatches panel.

And there you have it! Your text is now filled with the pattern you chose. You can experiment with different brushes and patterns to find the combination that best suits your design.

Remember, the goal is not to overwhelm your design with too many elements, but rather to enhance your typography and make it more visually appealing. So don't be afraid to play around with different brushes, patterns, and shapes — you never know what amazing combinations you might discover!

Create Gradients with Brushes

Gradients can add a subtle depth and three-dimensionality to your text. This is a great way to make your typography pop and catch the viewer's eye. But did you know that you can create gradients with brushes in Illustrator? Yes, you heard it right!

Creating gradients with brushes might sound complex, but it's actually a pretty straightforward process. Here's how you can do it:

Select the text you want to work on.
Go to the Gradient panel and create a new gradient.
Select the brush you want to use from the Brushes panel.
With the text still selected, apply the gradient to the brush stroke.

Voila! You've just created a gradient with a brush. The gradient will follow the direction of your brush stroke, creating a unique and dynamic effect.

Don't forget to experiment with different colors and opacity levels in your gradient for different effects. You could have a gradient that goes from dark to light, or one that transitions between different colors. The possibilities are endless!

Creating gradients with brushes is just one example of how to use a brush in Illustrator for typography design. With a bit of creativity and experimentation, you can create all sorts of eye-catching effects. So, why not give it a try?

Experiment and Practice Regularly

Now that you've learned a bunch of techniques on how to use a brush in Illustrator for typography design, it's time to put them into practice. And the best way to do that? Experiment and practice regularly!

Remember, every artist had to start somewhere. The more you use Illustrator brushes, the more comfortable you'll become with the tool. It might seem daunting at first, but keep at it, and soon it'll feel like second nature.

Try different brushes: Illustrator has a vast array of brushes for you to explore. Each one can give your typography a different feel.
Change up the settings: Don't forget that you can adjust the settings of each brush. This can drastically change the outcome, so don't be afraid to play around.
Practice different lettering styles: From bold and blocky to thin and delicate, try using brushes with different styles of lettering. You'll be amazed at the variety you can achieve.

Most importantly, don't be afraid to make mistakes. They're an essential part of the learning process. Each one is an opportunity to learn and improve your skills.

So, what are you waiting for? Start experimenting and practicing with Illustrator brushes today. You're on your way to creating incredible typography designs!

If you enjoyed learning about Illustrator brushes in typography and want to expand your knowledge on working with Illustrator, check out Grace Helmer's workshop, 'How to Work with Clients: Illustrator Edition.' This workshop will provide you with valuable tips and tricks on how to efficiently work with clients using Illustrator, ultimately enhancing your creative projects and client relationships.