Chalk.

Gnomer

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone could give me a few tips on how to create chalk lines like these: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=61047574

I've been trying for a while now and failing rather badly..

Thanks

JohnPapiomitis

If you do some google searching, youll find free chalk brushes you can download and use commercially.

RP

Depends on the app you are using. You can do this either with a brush plugin or a pattern fill (maybe called a texture fill depending on what you are using). With the patern fill you would just make a rectangular shape, or custom via pen tool (to the width and length you need), choose a fill like a weave or plaster, change the opacity and/or feather the edges and either use a colorful fill or change the hue. A solid color fill may work better here as it will fill any of the patern/fill image leftovers. You may need to drop the alpha on image gradually so it blends in with its background, otherwise the contrast between the two could be less than desirable.

I did this site last year. The chalk board has both a brush with a chalk texture and images with a texture fill that I had to pimp out to get the desired effect. Go under the Programs section to see some of the other pages with this effect. Might give you some ideas.
http://rpcns.org/

Clouds

I would simply go to my local art / stationery shop and buy a couple of large sheets of black paper and some chalk.

Draw what you need and scan it into your computer.

Gnomer

Thanks guys

Drak

You've got it with illustrator by default...

Gnomer

@drak Tried it and it wasn't very good.

Drak

Depending how you use it...Ever tried it and it was really effective^^

Gnomer

@drak Oh okay, i'm really new to illustrator so need to look at some tutorials, Thanks