‎Illustrator on the iPad works intuitively with your Apple Pencil so you can create stunning graphics anywhere you happen to be. And, as a 1.0 release, this is just the beginning. Design with precision, as naturally as you would with pen and paper. Create lines, shapes, type, gradients, and effects. Illustrator is all around you. Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard vector graphics software that’s used by millions of designers and artists to create everything from gorgeous web and mobile graphics to logos, icons, book illustrations, product packaging, and billboards. Adobe Illustrator CC is a trial vector design software download filed under graphics editors and made available by Adobe for Windows. The review for Adobe Illustrator CC has not been completed yet, but it was tested by an editor here on a PC. Versatile vector graphics editing and layout software for designers. There are many ways to create vector graphics through illustrator, one way is to start with the type tool. 1Click on the Type Tool and type a word, such as “Vectors” like the accompanied illustration or even your name would do. 2Choose also five colors you would like to use for this tutorial. If you want to follow the colors used, here. Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based application for artists, illustrators, and graphic design professionals. It offers features such as layer integration, curve drawing, and font and color selection tools.

Want to explore the numerous and varied roles that exist within the wider illustration industry? Look no further than our breakdown of illustration jobs below, in which we unpack what the work entails, why you might love (or hate) it, how to get into the role, and ultimately, what you can expect as an average salary.

It should be noted that salary figures provided below, as with any creative industry, are ballpark figures only. The difficulty rating listed doesn’t denote how hard the illustration job is, but rather how tricky it is to break into paying work for that field.

Comic Book Illustrator

One of the most highly coveted jobs on this list, and as a result, one of the most competitive fields to break into. This is particularly true when it comes to finding salaried positions for print work, though many have found success attracting commission work and raising other revenue through their own webcomics (as well as self-publishing.)

Comic Book Illustrator Career Path: As above. Attracting an audience via a web comic is a good place to start, though even that is a highly saturated market to break into these days. There is no prior experience needed for that, but if you’re looking to get hired full-time by the big boys, illustration school is mandatory.

Pros: Believe everything you’ve heard: there’s an extreme amount of enjoyment to be had with comic book illustration.

Jasp on mac. Cons: Did we mention it’s a competitive market?

Difficulty:9/10

Web Designer Salary: For print comic books, commission rates vary on a per-page basis from $100 to $1000 depending on experience.

Courtroom Illustrator

From one of the most sought-after jobs on the list to one of the quirkiest, being a courtroom sketch artist requires an extreme amount of skill. Not only do media outlets demand as much accuracy and realism as possible, but a lot of that has to come from memory alone.

Courtroom Illustrator Career Path: Due to the nature of bureaucracy in the field of law, qualifications from an illustration school are usually required (and will teach you the necessary skills of speed drawing and figure composition/shading.)

Pros: It’ll push your skills to the limit, and if you catch a bit of luck, you’ll get ringside seats to some very high-profile cases.

Cons: Chances are you’ll be too intensely focused on your work to derive any excitement of the case itself, and more often than not the proceedings will be as dull as dishwater.

Difficulty:7/10

Courtroom Illustrator Salary: Very few salaried positions exist, as work is sporadic. No figures on earnings exist either. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists average yearly earnings of $42,000, but that includes all fine art illustrators.

Forensic Artists

From the courtroom to the scene of the crime itself, criminal sketch artists also require an extreme amount of skill and discipline but of a different kind; working one-on-one with an (often emotionally frayed) victim to produce an accurate facial sketch with nothing more than a hazy description from which to go off.

Forensic Artist Career Path: The majority of criminal sketch artists already hold positions in law enforcement, and you’ll at least need an endorsement by a law enforcement agency. There are specific workshops that provide training in this area, and you’ll probably want to join and/or seek tuition from the International Association for Identification. Psychological qualifications are also a bonus.

Pros: There’s a sense of job satisfaction in actively playing a part in solving crimes.

Cons: It can be harrowing at times.

Difficulty:8/10

Forensic Artist Salary: As of 2013, the average salary for forensic artists was reported to be $44,000 by Indeed.com.

Film Storyboarding

Very few movies and commercials these days – even those of a tiny budget – are created without the use of a storyboard to plan out all the shots before production begins. For that, the team needs a storyboard illustrator.

Storyboard Illustrator Career Path: Paying work is generally garnered through a strong portfolio, so it can take some time to work up from volunteered work. Certain jobs also require not just good illustration skills, but also proficiency in 3D modeling software.

Hikvision camera plugin for mac. Pros: No two projects are ever the same.

Cons: Can be a highly pressurized environment to work in, with demands from numerous team members coming in from all angles.

Difficulty: 7/10

Storyboard Illustrator Salary: Those working in film can expect an average salary of $84,610, while those in advertising and marketing can expect $65,760 (though both are hugely dependent on location.)

Medical Illustrator

A career that dates back to the 16th century (and earlier), medical illustrators have a huge responsibility: to accurately depict body parts and aspects of their operation in order to aid medical professionals as well as marketing agencies, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and personal injury lawyers.

Medical Illustrator Career Path: There are numerous paths to becoming a medical illustrator, most of which requiring an extensive amount of scientific and/or medical training and a B.Sc degree in a related field (as well as illustration proficiency, of course.) The field is governed by the Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators.

Pros: In a word: money. Minitool partition wizard has crashed.

Cons: Not a good illustration job if you’re looking to exercise creativity, or are squeamish.

Difficulty:10/10

Medical Illustrator Salary: It depends hugely on whether you’re working on a freelance or salaried basis, the field of medicine you’re in, what level of seniority you hold, and by whom you are employed. This wide range is impressive, however; between $61,000 at the low end, and up to $250,000 at the top of the scale.

Fashion Illustrator

Working in one of the most cut-throat industries in the world, fashion illustrators typically work in either a design or advertising setting to bring sartorial ideas to life.

Fashion Illustrator Career Path: As with film storyboarding, a fashion illustrator’s portfolio is everything when it comes to gaining work in the field. It is often necessary to relocate to a large city in order to find a regular stream of paying work.

Pros: If you have a passion for haute couture, there’s no finer job. There’s also a lot of opportunity for travel and attending high profile events.

Cons: Again, it’s a very cut-throat industry.

Difficulty:7/10

Fashion Illustrator Salary: Around $50,000 on average, give or take.

Fine Art Illustrators

This is the top of the creative pile within the field of illustration. Fine artists create work with the intent to sell them for their aesthetic value, making it a job that is highly depending on accolade, talent, and the current state of the market.

Fine Art Illustrator Career Path: Some fine artists go through rigorous training at illustration school in order to hone their skills to the level necessarily to enter the marketplace. Others, albeit a smaller proportion, get there with natural talent and a little luck.

Pros: Unlimited room to unleash your creativity as you see fit.

Cons: It’s a long way to the top.

Difficulty:9/10

Fine Art Illustrator Salary: It’s one of those jobs in which the vast majority earn very little while, the top few percentiles earn over $100,000 a year. The result is a skewed average that is reported to be $42,000.

Want to continue exploring jobs in visual arts? Head on over to our graphic design jobs & salaries breakdown page to discover more!

Strong illustrations are arguably the best way to make your book stand out. Whether you’re considering an illustrated book cover or a full set of drawings for a picture book, a professional book illustrator can provide gorgeous, eye-catching artwork to instantly set your title apart from the crowd! Already know what you want? Start browsing illustrators’ galleries today.

Look no further, here are the professionals who can help

I'm a cartographer (map designer), book designer, and print production manager with over 25 years experience, specializing in non-fiction.

I am a cover designer with 15 years' experience working on children's and YA books for renowned publishers. I am a book nerd.

Published illustrator with 5+ years of experience, specializing in children's books and fantasy covers with a focus on light and color!

I am an award-winning freelance Book Designer with 18 years experience in the Publishing industry. I'm also an illustrator and artist.

Hey there! My name is Dustin Hansen and I'm author/illustrator looking for work. I've published books with DC, MacMillian, and more.

How to find an illustrator for your book

On the other hand, if you’ve just started looking for a book illustrator, don’t worry — here are four simple steps to find the perfect artist and set yourself up for a successful collaboration.1. Know what type of illustrations you want. Do you only want an illustrated cover, or are you looking for interior illustrations as well? If it’s the latter, how many and how detailed would you like them to be? By establishing a clear idea of the project’s scope, you’ll have a much easier time finding the right person to tackle it.2. Narrow your search by genre and/or style. If you want an illustrated cover for a book that falls into a distinct genre (thriller, romance, etc.), look for a book illustrator who’s worked in that genre before. They’ll be able to strike the right balance between what readers expect to see and the unique design elements that will characterize your book.If you’ve written a children’s picture book, you may not be able to slot it into a genre, per se. But you can still seek out a book illustrator whose style matches the tone/atmosphere of your work! For example, if you’ve penned a rambunctious adventure story, you might go for a bold, splashy style — whereas for a quiet, contemplative tale, gentle watercolors might be best.3. Look for illustrators in your price range. Once you have a shortlist of illustrators who have worked in your genre and whose styles you adore, you’re ready to think about cost. On Reedsy, you can request quotes from up to five professionals at a time and compare. Be honest about your budget, but don’t rule anyone out just because they “look expensive”; it’s always worth requesting a quote to find out.4. Hire your dream illustrator, but keep communicating! You may have found an amazing book illustrator who ticks all your boxes, but your work here is not yet done. Particularly for long-term projects like picture books, you’ll definitely want to stay in touch and ask for updates. Most illustrators are happy to share their progress, so you’ll be able to offer feedback to ensure their creative vision remains aligned with yours.And if your creative vision is still hazy, take a look at these breathtaking illustrations to get a sense of what’s possible!

How much does it cost to hire an illustrator?

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A professionally illustrated book cover will cost, on average, between $500-$1,500. A fully illustrated book, as you’d expect, is much more expensive — more like $2,000-$10,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the artwork.For example, if you just want small illustrations to appear every so often in your novel (think Mary GrandPré’s chapter sketches in the Harry Potter books), you can expect a price toward the lower end of that range. But for a picture book with 30 full-page color illustrations, you’ll obviously be looking at a higher figure.Pricing also varies based on the illustrator’s experience: a relative newcomer will typically be less expensive than a longtime veteran of the industry. If you have a limited budget for your illustrations, you might consider seeking out an illustrator who’s still early in their career, and therefore less likely to send you a high quote.

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How we select our illustrators

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At Reedsy, we accept only the top 3% of freelancer applications, and we’re especially rigorous with book illustrators! To become an illustrator on our marketplace, a professional must have 5+ years of experience and produced art for at least five published books or high-level publications. Once approved, each Reedsy illustrator must maintain an updated gallery of their work, and their collaborations are subject to Reedsy reviews for quality assurance and author satisfaction. Learn more about how we select our professionals here.