This is a fun way to turn a photograph into an interesting vector portrait. Get sophisticated results with just a few easy steps, then modify it using a wide range of Illustrator's live effects. Let's get started!
Final Image Preview
Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month.
Step 1
Create a new document 400 pixels square. It can be RGB or CMYK.
Place a photo into the document. For this illustration, I'm using a tightly-cropped square portrait. Uncheck the Link button, in the Place dialog, so the photo will be embedded. If you forget this step, simply go to the Links panel and embed the image.
Step 2
Make sure the photo is 400 pixels by 400 pixels. If necessary, you can resize it in the Control Panel. The beauty of this technique is that you can start with a less-than-perfect photo and get a nice result.
Step 3
With the image selected, go to Object > Create Object Mosaic.
Step 4
Enter one tenth the size of the full image in the Number Of Tiles section. Since the image is 400 pixels by 400 pixels, the number of tiles will be 40 and 40. Check Delete Raster in the Options section.
Step 5
The resulting mosaic will look like the image below.
Step 6
Ungroup the mosaic. You should be able to select individual squares. Now go to Effect > Convert to Shape and choose Ellipse...
Step 7
In the Shape Options dialog, enter 10 pixels for the Width and Height (400 pixels by 400 pixels, divided by 40 rows and columns). That's it, you're done!
Step 8
For a finishing touch, I like to place a black square behind the mosaic. Choose the Rectangle Tool (M), and click once on the artboard. Enter 400 pixels by 400 pixels for the size, fill it with black, and send it behind the mosaic. The final image is below, but for some variations carry on with this tutorial.
Variations
1. Effects
You can apply additional effects to the circles, such as Roughen, Tweak and Scribble. You can even apply a 3D effect (but be prepared to wait a while for it to render)!
Apply different effects and use the Appearance panel to turn them on and off and experiment with different combinations.
2. Offset Path
For additional texture, first expand the ellipses by going to Object > Expand Appearance. Next, with the objects still selected, go to Object > Offset Path. Enter a negative value (I used -2 pixels).
With the smaller circles still selected, change the blending mode to Overlay. Try applying a Roughen effect to the offset circles, which will look like daubs of paint on top of the original circles. Again, experiment and have fun!
Conclusion
Have fun applying these techniques with your own images!
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Niek June 5th
Nice but this could be done alot easyer.
( )Michael Thompson June 5th
Well why don’t you validate your statements with examples. This tutorial is only really three steps (though broken as five) — not counting the post-mosaic effects — so there’s room in the comments here for your one or two-step solution.
( )Benjamin Reid June 5th
I might use this in my next avatar, thanks.
@Niek – It seems pretty straight forward to me, how easier could it be?
( )Benjamin Reid June 5th
*much easier
( )Milan June 5th
Useful, may change may avatar, forgot to use Illustrator…
( )BUREAUBAS June 5th
still waiting how “alot easyer” it could be.
cheryl great job!
( )andy June 5th
Nice quick tutorial
( )Diego SA June 5th
Different, and it’s easier now you’re teaching us! The part about a better effect for the circles is awesome! Thanks!
( )Nana Yaw June 5th
Wow being looking for how to do this technik long time.
( )Good work.
kevin June 5th
wow amazing technique, I ‘ll have to try this on a pic of myself
( )hiflyer June 6th
Doesn’t work with Illustrator CS2, right?
( )Callum Chapman June 6th
Some nice little tips!
( )Jack F June 6th
Awesome tutorial, thanks! So simple.
( )Jonathan June 6th
I need to get CS4! Thanks for the tut.
( )Niek June 6th
To everyone who wants to do it much easier:
Well just start out with making a small circle/star/rectangle whatever you want.
Put it in the left corner of your image, and copy one to the right as well.
Make sure both are on 1 line.
Select both and go to : object –> blend –> blend options –> specified steps.
Enter a number something like 20 or 25 (important!) the number you type here will show up in circles/stars/rectangles later. Next go to object –> blend –> make. You will now have 25 circles in a row. copy the line down so you have 2. Notice these should be lined out exactly. copy the 2 so you got 4 lines (lik 100 circles now) and keep doing this till the image is full. Now select all lines and expend them (obect –> expand) Select all of them and group them. (Object –> group) group them, line them up over the photo, select both the circles and the photo, go to the transparency panel and press the right corner popout button, and then go to “make transparancy mask.”
this should do the trick.
( )Cheryl June 6th
This method results in a file that is part raster. Mine is 100% vector.
( )Niek June 7th
i know but the result is the same.
Jonathan June 7th
Hence Vectortuts+, not Rastertuts+
Good tut.
ViniMan June 8th
Lol, that’s totally not the same effect. In your case you have just a mask above a picture. In this tutorial every single dot has just one color. Silly.
Anyways, fun looking effect. (:
( )Josh June 6th
How is that “easyer” than:
1. Import image
2. Mosaic image
3. Convert to elipse
?!
Plus if I understand your method correctly you could make yours a lot “easyer” in itself. lol@keep doing this till the image is full.
( )Amatatomba June 7th
It isn’t, which is why he isn’t the one whose tutorial is on here. The original is extremely simple, while the “easier” method is actually not easier at all, and as it has been said, results in a part raster file.
( )Niek June 7th
it certainly is easier, but most of you people are to lazy to try it i guess.
( )Amatatomba June 8th
Aren’t you the one complaining that this simple tutorial could be easier? That would make you lazy. I tried that method and in my opinion, it wasn’t easier and the results weren’t as good. So while you might prefer your method, most people will not and are fine with the method presented here.
josh June 9th
Um. Your tut is rubbish. lol@doubling number of dots to get to the correct number.
Not that I like the tut from this post much more (make dots.. uh) but you have no idea and are spouting off about it.
Good times
akkis June 7th
This is very nice effect. Thank you
( )Clitter June 8th
Thanks for the tut. and people that always have to have something negative to say are douches, the person takes time out of their life to make tutorials and stuff for people, and you go and say there’s easier ways to do it is just you being an ass. of course there’s diff ways to do everything, if everyone did everyone the same then we wouldn’t have the awesome graphics and artists out there we do. my point is if you like the tutorial say thanks, if you dont then there’s no need to even comments unless you see something inaccurate. im sure someone will have something to say about my post but oh well f.off lol.
( )Ashok June 13th
I am agree with you Clitter. One should be positive for those who takes pain to increase our knowledge.
( )Mark Mayers June 8th
Great techniques Cheryl,
I did something similair a while back with this tutorial for Digital Arts magazine, although I used a little bit of Photoshop too:
http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/index.cfm?featureID=1817
Cheers
( )Mark
Cheryl June 9th
That’s a cool tut, Mark!
( )sonichtml June 8th
Wow! Really Cool~~~
( )danfish June 9th
regardless of ease, why would a part raster file ever be preferable than a complete vector of the same image, which will always result in a crisper finish and be infinitely scalable?
( )Cheryl June 9th
And this is VECTOR Tuts, after all …
( )Tobe June 9th
Nice effect. Does anyone know a way to produce the same (vector) effect in CS3?
( )Mambler June 9th
I’m looking for a way as well.
( )Cheryl June 14th
Sorry! I didn’t mention that the Object Mosaic in CS3 is under the Filter> Create. Everything else is the same.
( )margaret June 16th
hmm.. I did a t-shirt design with very similar techniques a couple years ago.
( )http://www.zazzle.com/flowerburst_tshirt-235863934087366057
rivka June 22nd
Hello,
Thanx for this tutorial. I’m a illustrator virgin so maybe this question is very silly.
But if you have the mosaic selected and you go to stylize>round corners 10px. You get the exact same effect because of the size of the mosaic tile in 400×400 px image size?
( )Nilson Saavedra July 3rd
i have Illustrator CS3, and in the object botton, doesnt appear, the create mosaic object option, it should be between the create gradient mesh and the slice option, but i dont find it, can anyone help me pls,very good tut by the way
( )Nilson Saavedra July 3rd
lol, i read the answer already , is in the filter, create, mosaic object, thx cheryl, really messed up in that, evryone makes mistake thought
( )d1ve2blu3 July 5th
hai,,,nice tut.
I just got the AI CS3, first i thought mine was broken but it seems the menu is different from cs4. my bad
( )cutyland August 1st
wow, kereen !!!!
( )YY August 17th
Seemed there’re no “create object Mosaic” in the object tools of AI CS3…so sad!
( )Cheryl August 17th
It’s just in a different location. Look under the Filter menu. Filter>Create>Object Mosaic. Cheers:)
( )M September 14th
On CS3 i wasnt able to make the mosaic an ellipse, after following the steps, nothing happened..maybe i’ve done something wrong?
( )Jackson October 9th
rofls @ previous convos with NIEK! (it’s a name you just have to say loud)
Thanks for taking the time out to make this! If anyone is lazy, it’s me- for not making tutorials!
( )alaaelbadry October 20th
amazing tut
)))))))))
( )Richard Garnett November 1st
VectorRaster is a pretty cool program you can download for about $15 which is very similar to this but you can vary widths, grads shapes transparencies etc and have more freedom on the outcome… but all in all this is a very good tutorial to get the effect as a vector rather than raster and it doesnt cost anything!
( )