Modern Illustration vs. Traditional Illustration
There is no denying that technology has
changed the world and changed the way we conduct our personal and professional
lives. Digital technology and computers have changed the way we communicate,
live and work. Just like other businesses, the illustration industry has also
undergone radical changes in the past decade due to technological advances.
Illustrators have had to rethink traditional practices, reinvent themselves and
employ new working methodologies in order to stay relevant in the contemporary
illustration industry.
Traditional Illustration
Methods
Traditional methods of
illustrations require a lot of investment in terms of time and efforts.
Mastering these skills takes years and maintenance of traditional illustration
tools like paints, pens, colors and pigments is an expensive proposition.
Moreover, the maximum output using traditional methods is three illustrations per
day, far less than that achieved using digital illustration tools. Although
mechanical versions of some traditional tools like airbrushes have been
introduced, these have neither sped up the illustration process nor provided
high definition and precision of modern illustration tools. Not surprisingly,
modernization of the illustration industry ensured that the days of traditional
illustration tools were used but rarely.
Modern Illustration Methods
The advent of personal computers and the
increased functionality of illustration software like Adobe saw the dawn of a
new era in the age-old industry. “Illustrator 88” was the first version of
Adobe launched in 1988. Until that time most of the illustration projects were
“out-house” work. Thereafter, every designing firm in the US and the UK shifted
their illustration work from outside the office to inside. Meanwhile, the
artists and illustrators started moving out of offices and working from home
because of the flexibility and mobility afforded by the new technology. Soon,
becoming a freelance
illustrator became the order of the day. As long as the
illustration work was professional and produced to the deadline, this new
arrangement worked well for everyone.
However, the days of traditional illustrations
are far from over. After falling out of favor for long, traditional
images made the traditional way are staging a comeback. Many illustrators are
utilizing both digital media and traditional tools to create images which have
garnered much appreciation as a unique art-form. As of now, there seems to be
space for both schools of illustration within
and outside the industry.