Design Process
WORK ON INFINITY
Feb
SKETCH
The artwork was created by Anatoly, a talented artist from Germany specializing in painting and tattoos. With over 30 years of experience in the tattoo industry, Anatoly is considered one of the leading artists in Frankfurt.
When Anatoly gave us the sketch of the butterfly with skull wings, he explained that the message behind the piece lies in the tension between life and death, love, and passion. However, he hinted at another idea hidden within the artwork a mysterious message left open for interpretation by anyone who views it.
From Sketch to Vector
First, we transferred the sketch to Adobe Illustrator to convert it from a drawing to a vector.
In this process, we used the Pen Tool because it is the most convenient tool for working and allows us to trace the lines with maximum precision while preserving the details of the artwork.
At this stage, the artist only needed to outline half of the drawing due to its symmetry.
Next, we connect all the lines to different shapes and name them—for example, teeth, eyes, etc. This is done to allow each shape to have a different color. To merge the lines, we typically use the Shape Builder Tool, which makes it easier to create separate areas. After connecting all the shapes and coloring them, we also adjust the line thickness to better emphasize the details.
In the next step, we group all the parts together, copy and paste them, and place the duplicate opposite the original like a mirror. At this stage, we use the Reflect Tool, which allows us to flip the drawing and create the other half of the butterfly. Then, we merge both halves, choose the final colors, make minor adjustments, and complete the vectorization of the butterfly!
Final Design & Adjustments
After finalizing the illustration design, we adapt it for different garments – a T-shirt and a jacket. Since the T-shirt comes in both black and white, we adjust the colors accordingly, which is a simple modification after all the work we’ve done. At this stage, we add an engaging text that complements the design and enhances its concept. We chose a quote from the poet William Shakespeare, which adds depth and reinforces the visual message, and we gave the entire piece a title that ties everything together.
