Vintage Japanese Digital Illustration
A course by Pierre-Marie PostelIllustrator, Graphic Designer, and Art Director
A course by Pierre-Marie Postel, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and Art Director
Make a vintage illustration inspired by the Japanese universe with Photoshop
Take off on a multicolored adventure right to the epicenter of popular Japanese imagery alongside illustrator Paiheme! The country that gave us manga, anime, and kawaii is the perfect playground for anyone who loves compelling graphic universes.
In this course, learn to create an illustration inspired by Japanese culture using hand drawing as well as Photoshop and Procreate. Achieve the aesthetic of a unique screen-printed poster from the '60s that really packs a punch.
What will you learn in this online course?
25 lessons & 19 downloads
Aesthetics of the Japanese theme
2 minutes, 49 seconds
Iconographic research
11 minutes, 21 seconds
A quick overview of the tools to use in Photoshop
3 minutes, 21 seconds
From idea to paper
18 minutes, 25 seconds
Pass the sketch on Photoshop
14 minutes, 10 seconds
Contour line drawing: the central drawing 1
14 minutes, 26 seconds
What's included in this course?
First, get to know your teacher Paiheme. Learn about his journey to becoming an illustrator and his favorite pieces of art, such as the designs of Tadanori Yokoo and Suehiro Maruo.
Next, delve deep into Japanese visual culture, so much so that words like ""mangakas"" and ""Wabi-Sabi"" are no longer a mystery to you, and research graphics to help you find inspiration.
Now it's time to get drawing! Begin with a quick sketch on paper giving your creativity free rein before uploading it to Photoshop to tidy it up, ink the design, and add textual elements.
Then focus on fonts and background imagery. Define the dominant colors of your illustration, colorize it, and learn the techniques that will give it a vintage feel. Finally, adjust the hue, saturation, and levels.
Go one step further and find out how to create variations of your poster in different colors, print it, publish it online, and even display it by means of a product mock-up.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create an illustrated vintage poster inspired by the Japanese universe, combining hand drawing and digital tools.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at anyone who wants to learn about digital illustration and Japanese culture.
Requirements and materials
For this course, you don't even need to have a good command of the Hiragana alphabet! All you need is some paper, pencils, a graphics tablet, and a computer with Photoshop.
Reviews
- 7 months ago
Great course, very interesting and inspiring. I wish there would be another similar.
- 8 months ago
Good course for inspiration
- 1 year ago
Good course for inspiration
- 2 years ago
The course was super clear, and Paiheme is the best in this style. it's packed with useful tips, and provided a solid method for designing a Japanese-style vintage poster. Definitely a great pick for anyone looking to dive into this aesthetic!
- 2 years ago
Me gustó mucho este curso ya que iva con el estilo que estaba buscando para crear camisetas estampadas
Based in Caen, he loves nothing more than to reappropriate vintage styles with a modern approach. Captivated by cultures, he communicates his passion for Japan and the visual universes that are dear to him with tons of enthusiasm.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
The Japanese theme in illustration
- Aesthetics of the Japanese theme
- Iconographic research
- A quick overview of the tools to use in Photoshop
- U3
Poster creation: drawing
- From idea to paper
- Pass the sketch on Photoshop
- Contour line drawing: the central drawing 1
- Contour line drawing: the central drawing 2
- Contour line drawing: the central drawing 3
- Contour line drawing: the central drawing 4
- Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 1
- Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 2
- Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 3
- Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 4
- Contour line drawing: textual elements and background 5
- U4
Poster creation: color and effects
- Combinations of several sources to create a color palette
- Define the dominant colors and color
- Add textures
- Add imperfections: vintage look
- Final details: colorimetry, saturation and level
- U5
For further
- Explore color variations on our poster 1
- Explore color variations on our poster 2
- Print your poster and publish it on social networks
- Produce mock-up of the product
- FP
Final project
- Vintage Japanese Digital Illustration
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
This course is aimed at intermediate learners who already have some illustration or Photoshop experience. It’s not specifically designed for complete beginners in drawing or graphic design.
Basic Photoshop knowledge and regular drawing practice, even at an amateur level, are recommended. You’ll need a computer with Photoshop installed.
You’ll learn to create a poster inspired by vintage Japanese aesthetics: gathering inspiration, building a moodboard, composing, drawing, color management, adding textures, and applying vintage effects in Photoshop.
The course explains how to use paper textures, manga halftone effects, and Photoshop filters to achieve authentic vintage and stylized looks.
Yes, you’ll learn how to structure your file, create clean line art, organize layers efficiently, and use masks for an optimal workflow.
Yes, you’ll discover how to draw Kabuki masks, incorporate decorative patterns, and apply Japanese cultural references in your illustrations.
The course teaches how to compose posters by combining text, visual blocks, urban motifs, and typography for a genuine Japanese vibe.