Ink Stamp Illustrator Graphic Styles

In this pack you will find 20 different Illustrator Ink Stamp effects (graphic styles) as well a basic tracing action for you to expand the end results. As these graphic styles makes use of some raster effects already available in your Illustrator instalation, a basic tracing action is provided so you can easily make a vector graphic with these amazing ink stamp styles.

Perfect to give a rough effect, you can easily apply these styles on logos, badges, headlines and all kind of graphics you can think of. The styles are only provided as Black & White due the effect nature, but with the provided tracing action you can use any color you wish once you expand your artwork.

How to install (graphic styles)

1. Open Illustrator and create a new file.
2. Go to Window > Graphic Styles. In the Graphic Styles Panel click on the top right icon and from the dropdown menu select: Open Graphic Style Library > Other Library.
3. Locate the "Ink Stamp Graphic Styles Library.ai" file inside the Graphic Styles Library folder included in your download and click on Load.

How to install (action)

1. Open Illustrator and create a new file.
2. Go to Window > Actions. In the Actions Panel click on the top right icon and from the dropdown menu select: Load Actions.
3. Locate the "Expand Ink Stamp.aia" file inside the Action folder included in your download and click on Load.

How to use (graphic styles)

1. Select your type or vector artwork.
2. Click on any of the 20 Ink Stamp Graphic Styles located in the Ink Stamp Graphic Styles Panel.

How to use (action)

1. Select the element you want to trace.
2. In the Actions Panel click on the 'Expand Ink Stamp' action folder.
3. Hit the PLAY button located in the Actions Panel and wait for the action to finish.

How to manually trace your artwork

1. Select the element you want to trace.
2. Go to Object > Rasterize.
3. In the Rasterize window set the color mode to CMYK at 300 dpi, choose the anti-aliasing method your prefer (type or graphic) and click OK.
4. Trace your graphic image using your own options in the Image Trace Panel.

Note: The provided action is only intended to be used as a quick expansion method of your artwork. If you want a more precise path trace it is better to proceed as you usually do with your graphics. Also, you can check the expansion method described in the 'How to Vectorize a Vintage Illustration' post (steps 9 to 16).