Airbrushing creates the appearance of naturally placed highlights on objects.

This tutorial will provide step-by-step instruction of how to create an airbrushing effect as well as provide you with a graphic displaying the result.

When you have completed all the steps the final result should appears as follows:

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Create the ground work for your airbrushing effects by typing some text.

1. Click the Text tool.
2. Create some Artistic text.
3. Apply a heavy script font to the text.

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With your basic text performing the following steps.

1. Create a duplicate of the text.
2. Move the duplicate copy down and to the left a little.
3. Fill the second object with another color.

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Using the Trim command creates the initial appearance of airbrushing.

1. Use the Trim command and trim the bottom text object using the top object.
2. Nudge the trimmed portion down and to the left.

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The fill is used to adjust the color.

1. Click the Interactive Fill tool.
2. Fill the trimmed portion with a radial fountain fill.
3. Separate the individual pieces of the trimmed object with the Break Apart menu command.

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The main component to create an airbrush effect is the highlight.

1. Make a highlight shape in black.
2. Create a duplicate of the highlight shape and color it white, making it smaller than the original shape.
3. Use the Interactive Blend tool from the Interactive tool flyout, blend the two shapes.
4. Remove the outline from both shapes.

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Complete your airbrushing effect by performing this final step.

Place the highlight blends at the top and bottom of any curved areas of the text to give the impression of highlights.

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