How to Create Smoky Brushes and Type In Illustrator CS4

I've always been fascinated by smoke, and have experimented a lot with it. So in this tutorial, I explain how to create realistic smoke, make it into a brush and use it for type. Let's light up our vector cigarettes and get started smokin'!

Author: Mathias M. Stav

I'm Mathias, the greatest freelancer in Norway (maybe not yet, but I'm on my way there). I love to make faces and visible personalities for brands and companies, and how I can evoke and generate feelings in a person with images, colors, illustrations and typography.

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.

Tutorial Details

Program: Illustrator Version: CS4 (but it should also work in earlier versions)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Completion Time: 30 min

Step 1

Create a new document (Command + N) for print in A3 (297mm by 420mm).

Step 2

Make a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool (M) that covers the whole artboard and make it black. While the rectangle is selected go to Object > Lock > Selection (Command + 2), which will lock the object so that you can't select it.

Take your Pen Tool (P) and make a vertical stroke (click to make a start point, then click somewhere over or under the start point while holding Shift to make a vertical stroke). Make the stroke white and the fill blank. Set the weight of the stroke to 0,05mm.

If your units are set to something else, like points or inches, make sure that you type in "mm" behind 0,05, or hit Command + K. Choose units and display performance from the drop-down menu and change the units to millimeters.

Step 3

While your stroke is selected grab the Selection Tool (V), then hit enter and type in 0,05mm for horizontal and 0 for vertical. Click copy and hold Command + D (Object > Transform > Transform Again) for around 20sec, which will perform the Tranform Again command multiple times.

Step 4

While all of your strokes are selected, set the blend mode to Screen and Opacity to 8. Then group it (Command + G).

Step 5

Take your Pen Tool (P) and draw a shape that looks something like that shown below.

Step 6

Now for the magical step! Make sure that the shape you just made is on the top and click it, then hit Command + Shift + Right Bracket key (Object > Arrange > Bring to Front). Select the path and the strokes and go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make With Top Object (Command + Alt + C). Check that the Blend Fidelity is set to 100 (Object > Envelope Distort > Envelope Options, there you should set the Fidelity to 100).

Now that's pretty cool, but if you take a closer look, you will see that the strokes are pretty clear. If you do not intend to make a stroke out of this you can fix it by clicking Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and type in 7.0px, but since we are going to make a stroke out of it, we'll do that later (shapes you want to turn into strokes can't have effects like this one added).

Step 7

Now drag your smoke into the brushes panel. If you can't see it then hit F5. Check the New Art Brush and hit OK.

Step 8

Name your brush whatever you want to, set the Direction to Up, and Method to Tints and Shades, then hit OK.

Step 9

Now you have your brush, but do you have something to use it for? If yes, remember to chose Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and type in 0.7px when you have assembled your brush. If no, continue reading.

Take you Pencil Tool (N) and draw some letters, one letter at a time. Group them, add the stroke and set the stroke weight to 0,5pt.

Step 10

Copy your smoky letters (Command + C) and paste them behind (Command + B). Set the stroke weight to 3 pt. Now go to Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur... and type in 7 px.

Yes, this is a Photoshop effect, so it will rasterize, but if you hit Command + K and check the Scale Strokes and Effects, then you'll be fine when you want to scale it.

Final Image

I hope you learned something new, and that it will come in use sometime, if it does, I would love to see what you make out of it.

Subscribe to the Vectortuts+ RSS Feed to stay up to date with the latest vector tutorials and articles.

Keep reading with more great tutorials and articles!

Enjoy this Post?

We'd love your vote!

Plus Members

Source Files, Bonus Tutorials and
More for $9 a month for all TUTS+
sites in one subscription.

Join Now

User Comments

( ADD YOURS )

Tursha October 26th

True Awesomeness!
Thanks for sharing
( Reply )
flora October 26th

very short and very nice
Thank you Mathias
( Reply )
LIGHTNING October 26th

Thank you for this great tutorial, Mathias!
I’ll post back with a result later.
( Reply )
Arkrep October 26th

Nice tut.. really easy to do and great effect ..
just one question but what function is Command + Alt + C. doing ?
( Reply )
1. Mathias Stav October 26th
  
  Sorry, seams like I forgot to explain. It’s the same as Object> Envelope Distort > Make with top object
  ( Reply )
  1. Sean Hodge October 30th
    
    I’ve applied this correction to the tutorial. Thx.
Kenneth October 26th

Great tutorial, but in the Norwegian keyboard there are no } key, so I can’t get the Command + Shift + } to work. Which command is this?
( Reply )
1. Christina October 26th
  
  There aren’t on Danish keyboards either. I think that shortcuts should allways be the second option and never the only one in a tutorial, as a there is a lot of different keyboards, and some people may actually make their own shortcuts (oh no! )
  ( Reply )
  1. Sean Hodge October 30th
    
    Christina, good point that shortcuts should be something optional added to instructions. I’ve corrected this tutorial using that approach. Thx.
kieran October 26th

wo, nice and short!!! I like
( Reply )
milkberry October 26th

that’s actually very cool!
thank you mathias!
and good luck with conquering norway (^_^)y
( Reply )
Bryan G. C. October 26th

Wow, that’s really impressing!
I actually thought that was photo-based vector or something complex like this, but… it’s really so simple?
Love it! :3
( Reply )
ungemeinfein October 26th

this rocks! thx.
( Reply )
binocle October 26th

Best effect I have seen for a long time, congratulations and thanks for sharing ^__
( Reply )
Nico Gubler October 26th

Could someone please explain what “Command + Shift + }” does. In the german version of Illustrator CS4 this shortcut doesn’t exist.
TIA for your Feedback
( Reply )
1. Geschwurbel October 26th
  
  Same problem for me…
  ( Reply )
2. Vitor October 26th
  
  I would like to know too. Also, it helps by letting us know what we are doing instead of just repeating steps.
  ( Reply )
3. Clint October 26th
  
  “Command + Shift + }” would move layer to front. you can do that by going to “arrange” then “bring to front”
  ( Reply )
  1. Sean Hodge October 30th
    
    I fixed this by adding the correct Menu steps (Object > Arrange > Bring to Front) and changing the shortcut (Command + Shift + Right Bracket key). Thx.
zolamae October 26th

I’m stuck on step six, what shortcuts would be used on a PC?
( Reply )
Nikola Adzic October 26th

I think that shortcut `Command + Shift + }` is command on Mac, not PC. Sign `}` is actually the sign `]` (the same keyboard button), or You can go to Object > Arrange > Bring to Front (Shift+Ctrl+]).
( Reply )
1. akida October 30th
  
  Understand!
  ( Reply )
sree October 26th

waw…. beautiful
( Reply )
NR4TR October 26th

try to use Ctrl instead of Command
( Reply )
1. Nico Gubler October 26th
  
  THX but Ctrl isn’t the key to this Problem. In other language versions are set different default shortcuts.
  ( Reply )
Nikola Adzic October 26th

In step 6, You have to select at least two objects and then go to Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Top Object (Alt + Ctrl + C).
( Reply )
Cheryl October 26th

Command-Shift-} is the same as Command-Shift-] , which is the shortcut for Object> Arrange> Bring to Front. Command-Option-C (Ctrl-Alt-C on Windows) is the shortcut for Object> Envelope Distort> Make With Top Object.
I agree with others that the actual menu items should be noted first, and the keyboard shortcuts after that.
Nice effect, though, and I’ll definitely play around with it
( Reply )
1. Vitor October 26th
  
  Thank you very much!
  I agree with you. As I said before, it’s better because we know what we are doing instead of just repeating steps.
  ( Reply )
2. qw78 October 26th
  
  Thanks for your tips, I had the same problems that others one
  ( Reply )
  1. Cinzia October 26th
    
    Thanks. The problem is that all people follow this site live in different country, so have different keyboards. i.e. I don’t have {} keys on mine. Please, when you write your gorgeous tutorials use long description, as Cheryl made.
3. Sean Hodge October 30th
  
  Good points and we have this corrected now. Thx.
  ( Reply )
amelia October 26th

why is using mm so important? Also, how many copies of the line are you making? I feel like I may be missing something because my results aren’t at all like yours. Thanks for sharing this cool effect.
( Reply )
1. Clàudia December 15th
  
  I have the same problem, I can’t understand the 20sec-medition :S
  Moreover, how do you use the Pen Tool to draw the shape? Could you specify the process, please?
  I’m an early beginner and I miss some steps
  Thanks!
  ( Reply )
alessio October 26th

can’t seem to work in AI CS3… or is it just me?
thx
( Reply )
dENTA October 26th

Whats the non-shortcut way of accessing “Command + Shift + }” ? dont have that US keyboard…
( Reply )
dynames October 26th

i think the “Command + Shift + }” is on menu :Object>Arrange>BRing to Front
and the shortcut is command + shift + ]
zolamae on pc replace the command and put control
( Reply )
Mathias Stav October 26th

Thanks for all of your coments. This is my first tutorial I’ve ever written, so I’m sorry for the few things missing.
Big thanx to Clint, NR4TI and Cheryl for helping people out
I’ll remember to write what all of the commands does next time, promise
If you want to have a look at al the awsome shortcuts you can have a look here.
( Reply )
designfollow October 26th

beautiful tutorial.
( Reply )
Illytips October 26th

Coolest & most unique Illustrator tutorial I have seen in a long time. Great job!
( Reply )
clippingimages October 26th

WoW , Awesome tutorial. Very easy and well defined . Thanks for sharing this nice post.
( Reply )
victor hetor October 26th

awesome tutorial, this rock. Esta perrisimo.
( Reply )
Mau October 26th

intersting! thanks from Mau
( Reply )
Collin Brady October 26th

Wow this is great man, simplicity is key sometimes
( Reply )
moyses October 26th

I’m sorry friend I am driving Illustrator CS2 MAC and controls could not do this more explicit hope bay
( Reply )
Henry Bennett October 26th

That’s a very clever effect! I can’t seem to get mine to look quite as good as your example for some reason but it still looks awesome.
Only request for future tutorials like this is for some steps to be explained, as to why doing this creates that effect and so on…
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 27th
  
  It might take some time to really understand how and why it works, but isn’t it more fun if you find it out yourself?.
  I’m verry sorry that some steps arent explained good enough, I’ll remember that to the next time.
  By the way, I’d love to see the results of this tutorial!
  ( Reply )
tutorial blog October 27th

thank for share
( Reply )
RUGRLN October 27th

That’s more than wicked… WEll done!!@$$#@
( Reply )
Phil M. October 27th

Absolutely great.
( Reply )
Rookie October 27th

Somehow I cannot make this smoke “effect” work…
My problems:
- How large should the object be in the step 5, compearing it to the group of strokes made in the step 4 ?
- In step 4, when I have duplicated the strokes, as stated above, I give them Screen blending and opacity of 8%. Then I make it a group, and then the groups blend becames normal and opacity 100% -> So is this okay?
- In step 6, when I’m creating the effect with the Envelop distort (Make with the Top Object), and I have both objects selected (steps 4 and 5). The result is just a fine straight line with slight blendings in both top and bottom endings
So what do I do wrong? Please, help is needed baldy
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 27th
  
  Sounds like you might have forgot to bring the shape to the top.
  The group should be normal blend and 100% opacity so thats ok.
  I think I might have forgot to explain that you have to check that the blend fidelity is set to 100 (object>envelope distort>envelope options> there your should see fidelity. set it to 100).
  ( Reply )
  1. margaret October 27th
    
    Nice! Yeah, kinda important step you missed there.
    Anywho, I look forward to seeing more neat tuts like this from you. Just make sure you’re more thorough with your steps in the future!
Quakeulf October 27th

Mad decent! Great tutorial and just what I needed right about now. :’3
( Reply )
Pixelkaiju October 27th

Nice tutorial! Learned some new techniques! Always good!
( Reply )
Quakeulf October 27th

Ok, here’s the trick:
DO NOT CLOSE THE PATH YOU MAKE IN STEP 5!
I repeat:
DO NOT CLOSE THE PATH YOU MAKE IN STEP 5!
That will give you the result you are looking for. :3
( Reply )
1. Quakeulf October 27th
  
  Oh nevermind, it didn’t work either.
  ( Reply )
steve October 27th

Rad tutorial! Very helpful…
( Reply )
marcelo October 27th

It’s not saving as a Brush “contains an element that cannot be used in art brush”
What’s that??
( Reply )
joe October 27th

Since when can you enter comas with as part of a number?
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav November 1st
  
  Have you never used commas when writing numbers?
  ( Reply )
  1. margaret November 3rd
    
    they don’t use commas in the states and haven’t in canada for years. I think it’s just a European thing.
neto_05 October 28th

hi i’m having the same problem as “marcelo” , i can’t seem to save as new srt brush, every thin g befor awsome
( Reply )
maxim October 28th

Nice tutorial.
But how can I avoid fills inside unclosed shapes.
( Reply )
CheS October 28th

Hey Thanks man thats very nice but what is “Command + Shift + }” on german keyboards??
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 28th
  
  Command + Shift + } = arrange>bring to front
  ( Reply )
Shan Arakkal October 28th

Awesome… i love u……
( Reply )
Oliver October 28th

Great tutorial and a brilliant effect. I will definitely try this tutorial out when I get some spare time. These brushes would add some great effects to my website designs. Thanks for sharing.
( Reply )
tolly October 29th

hey having problem with creating a brush doesnt accept as contains some elements what can i do? but the tut is perfect
( Reply )
michelle October 29th

Thank you so much!!! I wish I could work with you personally…and professionally…I have so many baby steps to make first. This is all so new to me…Basically I work in pastel, watercolor, acrylic…I can not wait to make some rectangle smoke for my rectangle witch…wicked fun!!!
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 29th
  
  Wow thnx. I’d love to see what you make out of it. Lynda.com is a great place to start your baby steps and learn the basics (other than vectortuts of course )
  ( Reply )
B October 29th

cool effect. terrible write up.
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 29th
  
  What other than what I allready have been told in earlier comments do you think I should do better? It’s allways good to get some constructive criticism.
  ( Reply )
Ra October 29th

this did not work at all for me and I followed it exactly. But the brushes told me there was an elemnet that I could not use in a brush.
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav October 29th
  
  Read step 6 carefully! You probably added the guassian blur when I told you not to. Tell me if it still doesnt work.
  ( Reply )
Adam October 29th

I can’t seem to get step 6 to render out correctly, and i also have the same problem as everyone else with creating the brush. i.e. elements can’t be use in a brush. To bad i could use a effect like this.
( Reply )
1. Mathias M. Stav November 1st
  
  If you read the comment above yours it might solve your problem.
  ( Reply )
John Samuel October 30th

Thanks for the interesting tutorial
( Reply )
Waasys October 31st

Simple and creative!
( Reply )
Richard Garnett November 1st

Cool Tut the only problem I am having is when I create the New Art Brush the Key Color in the display box is Black, on yours its White, and for some reason it does not allow me to change it to white.. there for when I do the smoke effect on a different color to Black it has a black fill inside.. help would be greatly appreciated.. As for people that are struggling with step six YOU DO NOT ADD a gaussian blur…
( Reply )
Milly November 1st

Thank you! This is great! I’m loving it!
( Reply )
Raymund November 1st

I’ve got a problem… I’m stuck with step 4, when I press ctr+d, the vertical line just moves it doesnt create duplicates… what’s happening? need help really badly! >.<
( Reply )
1. Beaker November 2nd
  
  be sure to hit “copy” in the step before ctr+d
  ( Reply )
  1. E November 10th
    
    Hey. I seem to be stuck at that point to. I have hit copy but transform again doesn’t give me any duplicates. What should I do??
Jonathan Patterson November 3rd

Brilliant!
( Reply )
Thanmayee November 4th

simple & beautiful.
( Reply )
ginemginem November 4th

I’m having trouble with step 3: after it I don’t get results from step 4. My issue is with the “click copy” part – I don’t know what that exactly means. When I hold ctrl+D, all it does is move the line to the right without duplicating it.
Please help!
( Reply )
1. ginemginem November 4th
  
  Well I bodged out a solution by holding ctrl and rotating between C V and D, it’s not really elegant, but it gets the job done.
  ( Reply )
2. Robot November 18th
  
  Im also having the same problem. Im using “ctrl + C” to copy, then hitting “ctrl = D” and all I get is lines moving to the right, no copies. Is there a “click copy” function that I’m supposed to use? Please help the newbie!
  ( Reply )
  1. Robot November 18th
    
    Oh never mind, Im blind… I see “click copy” now.
sarms November 7th

Thanks for the great tut, took some tinkering but I figured it out.
I used CS3 and it worked great
( Reply )
magickiss November 10th

hi, does your example Work with CS3 ? i can’t make a new brush (step 7).
Please help me this problem
you can send me the answer “m.magickiss@gmail.com”
i’m waiting your answer.
( Reply )
joe November 10th

u so great!
( Reply )
Rob November 11th

Does this work with CS3? I can’t get step 6 to work at all.
( Reply )
Fabian November 15th

Is there any problem doing this with CS3?
I tried it but somehow in step 6 something hoes wrong.
Any tips?
Greetings from Cologne
( Reply )
Keidan November 17th

I’m using CS4 but somehow in step 6 I get really thick mess. Have retried doing all steps according to tutorial but result didn’t change. Could use some advice…
( Reply )
Bluemag November 17th

Very nice tut, and great effect !!
( Reply )
Robot November 20th

In step 5…
How many points did it take to make the “shape”?
Is the shape a closed path?
Do I need a stroke on the shape?
( Reply )
Lily November 23rd

I think this is VERY profound and I really like it a lot. I happen to be searching for a cool way to do smoke in Illustrator for almost half a year but couldn’t really find anything that I was pleased with.
Although, I do think that simply adding gaussian blur to make the stripes less visible is not the best way to do it. It also removes the ’sharpness’ of the smoke itself. Smoke has to have some sharp corners in it in order to look realistic.
And I’m not that big a fan of rasterizing work in Illustrator.
( Reply )
Thao November 30th

awesome, seriously awesome
( Reply )
Tobias November 30th

Good work Mathias!
One thing, I´m using CS3, and I can´t get it to work.
BUT, when I draw a line in the begining instead of using the pen tool. Then it´s working!
So I guess that´s what you other guys hafto do as well if it doesn´t work on your CS3.
( Reply )
Eddy December 5th

Clever.. Mat. Great Tut, really..
could you give us u’re face tracing Tut??
( Reply )
Ganesh December 5th

This tutorial made us a great designer
( Reply )
weno December 11th

awsome tutorial! i’ve never tried using these combinations of effects (envelope, layer effects, etc)
( Reply )
Future Webs December 13th

Really useful technique to know, thanks
( Reply )
x December 17th

Holy smoke!
Nice tut…
( Reply )
Miso79 December 22nd

I love this! I figured out how to apply bright colors (think orange, red and yellow) to actually make more of a flame appearance. Only problem is, when using color, it cannot be put on a black background. Likewise, when using black as the smoke color, it cannot be applied on a colored background – only white. I don’t understand why it does this, but I worked around it and achieved a fantastic look! Thanks for the tutorial!
( Reply )
smoker January 1st

doesn’t look like smoke at all
( Reply )
Soud Muhammad January 2nd

This is very cool…thank you soooooooo much, this tut really is the only one on the internet as far as I’ve searched with stunning output. I really needed it for a print design recently. I’m speechless. It’s like I found water in the desert
( Reply )
donki January 6th

once is 0.7px twice is 7px blur.. just in case of confusion
( Reply )