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Who is a Illustrator?
An illustrator is a professional who creates cartoons or pictures using either a computer or a sketchbook. A career as an illustrator requires working for various publications such as newspapers, magazines, and digital media companies. Besides political commentary, an illustrator also specialises in other fields such as installation guides and comic strips.
Today, cartoons are used to represent various current events and social emotions. They are also used to represent the world's revolutionaries. A career as an illustrator is the best option from the perspective of the present world with appropriate humour and style. In this article, we will discuss how to become an illustrator in India, illustrator roles and responsibilities or illustrator job description, illustrator skills, and illustrator career path.
Illustrator in a Nutshell
An illustrator is a person who creates pictures or cartoons. He or she works in various industries, such as publishing houses, gaming studios, and magazines. Some of them also work as freelance or accept commissioned work. A career as an illustrator requires creating drawings for various printed materials, commercial products and digital media. There are a lot of Illustrators career options available for the candidates.
Quick Facts for Illustrator
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Industry
Design
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Average Salary in India
₹53971.5
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Suitable for
Male, Female
The Illustrator jobs are ideal for people who are passionate about cartooning and want to pursue a career in this field. Both men and women can work in this field. In addition to being able to draw, the candidate also needs to have the necessary attitude and skills to succeed in this field.
Table of Contents for Illustrator
What is the role of Illustrator?
Are you wondering how to become an illustrator in India or illustrator roles and responsibilities? The role of an illustrator in the creation of images is significant. He or she can also design and develop visual effects for various types of media such as motion pictures, commercials, and online advertisements. An illustrator works under the supervision of the director and is responsible for creating the necessary animations for the client.
Develop processes
Before starting a project, illustrators must first take into consideration the various physical aspects of their work. They are also responsible for developing effective methodologies and processes in order to achieve their goals.
Study
Illustrator roles and responsibilities include thoroughly studying the project he or she is working on. This involves analysing the various aspects of the project, such as its scope, limitations, and efficiency. He or she is also responsible for ensuring that the project is completed on time and with the necessary safety and environmental conditions.
Consultation
Besides being able to create images, the role of an illustrator also needs to meet various other professionals in order to meet the requirements of their projects. For instance, if a political illustrator is working on a project, he or she might need to consult multiple scientists.
Types of a Illustrator
This career provides a wide variety of Illustrator career options. In this section, we have discussed some of the types of an Illustrator or careers related to Illustrator.
Web Designer: Designer is a design professional responsible for the website or web page's layout and design. He or she creates new websites, webpages and visual design elements such as text, photos, graphics, animations, videos and others. The web designer job description includes understanding the client's requirements, registering the web domain, coding and making changes.
Fashion Designer: A fashion Designer is a professional who is responsible for designing and creating clothing items and accessories, such as jewellery and handbags using automated computer-aided design (AutoCAD) or computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software. He or she researches, draws, makes colour selections and will be updated on the trends.
Graphic Designer: Graphic Designer is a professional who is responsible for designing products, displays, posters, hoardings, logos, and marketing materials. He or she develops the overall layout for advertisements, magazines, brochures, and corporate reports. The role of a Graphic Designer is to create products, collaborate, build from scratch, review designs and create visual elements.
Multimedia Animator: Multimedia Animator is a professional who is responsible for creating videos and designing storyboards to be used in multimedia projects. He or she makes two- and three-dimensional pictures, special effects and graphics for use in computer games, television programs, videos, commercials and movies. Read the entire article to learn about how to become an Illustrator in India and illustrator career path.
What is the workplace/work environment of Illustrator like?
A career as an Illustrator needs to work in a studio or an office that is equipped with a variety of equipment. He or she can also choose to work from home or in a variety of flexible working hours. A career as an Illustrator is typically associated with the entertainment industry and can be very modern in its approach to office space.
Does Illustrator require travelling?
Not Likely
Unlike other artists, illustrators do not need to travel to their work locations. They can simply complete their tasks from their studios or offices. During the initial planning stage, an illustrator usually meets with their client to discuss their ideas for the work layout. This flexibility allows them to work from home or in a variety of flexible hours.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time, Work From Home
Besides working full-time, illustrators are also required to attend to their own schedules. For instance, they can work up to 12 hours per day on a given project. There are some exceptions for freelance and part-time illustrators. Their work hours can vary depending on the organisation. According to a study, there are more part-time illustrators than full-time employees.
Employment Nature
The animation industry generally accommodates both permanent and contractual jobs. Full-time positions are typically the preference of most illustrators.
Work Place
Office, Work From Home
A career as an Illustrator works mostly independently. He or she can also be part of a team that produces work for professional animation companies. Most illustrator collaborates with their colleagues on projects and communicates with clients all around the world. Some freelance illustrators also work from home.
Presence in Geographical Area
Urban
There are no prospects for illustrators in rural areas. Most of their jobs are in urban areas, such as New Delhi, Bangalore, and Gurgaon. They can find opportunities in media industries such as news, business communications, and entertainment, which are located in Tier-1 cities.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Depending on the project, illustrators typically work around seven to eight hours per day. They can also work up to 12 hours in a single day.
How to become a Illustrator?
Steps to become a Illustrator
If you are someone who loves drawings, pictures, images, shapes or creating designs and artworks then a career as an Illustrator is the best option for you. If you are someone who loves to tell stories visually by drawing, painting or designing and looking for how to become an Illustrator in India then below we have mentioned the step-by-step details on how to become an Illustrator in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Illustrator?
In this section, we have discussed the illustrator skills that are required for candidates who want to opt for a career as an Illustrator.
Creativity: As an illustrator, one is expected to create original and attractive designs. This job is constantly changing and requires individuals to constantly improve their skills. He or she is also expected to take inspiration from various mundane situations and turn their work into entertaining pieces.
Patience: One of the most critical factors that an artist must consider when it comes to sketching or drawing is patience. This is because mind-block can occur in the process, which can affect the creative process. Having the necessary patience and perseverance can help an artist keep going.
Eye for Detail: One of the most important factors that an illustrator should consider when it comes to creating an animation is the eye for detail. This is because the whole concept of the project revolves around the visual elements.
Technical Skills: A good illustrator should have the necessary technical skills to create realistic characters. Having good drawing skills is also essential as it allows one to sketch ideas easily on a tablet. He or she should also be aware of the rules when it comes to moving characters. In addition, one should have the necessary knowledge about the various computer generation software used in the industry, such as After Effects, Maya, and Flash.
Drawing Skills: The first step in creating an animation is the development of a storyline and a plan. A good illustrator requires strong skills in drawing to give a visual interpretation of the ideas presented to a client or design team. He or she can also help create a storyline in certain situations.
Colour Theory: People willing to opt for a career as illustrators need to learn the ins and outs of colour theory in order to be successful. This is because every animation requires certain colours. They also need to understand how to use these to convey various emotions and thoughts.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Illustrator?
Internship Availability
There are numerous internship opportunities in the animation industry that provide a wide variety of Illustrator career options through online recruitment portals, one can find multiple openings. These allow individuals to gain hands-on experience and develop their skills. Most of these are provided by colleges that are specialised in illustrators. Scroll down to read how to become an Illustrator in India.
Career Path Progression for Illustrator
Junior Illustrator: The junior Illustrator is an entry-level position and a junior illustrator works under the guidance and supervision of Senior Illustrators. A Junior Illustrator is responsible for formatting images, creating and refining the designs using illustration softwares and preparing design rough drafts.
Senior Illustrator: The Senior Illustrator leads, guides and supervises the team of Junior Illustrators and other members of the team. A Senior Illustrator is responsible for defining time and budget limitations, approving the draft and rough designs or illustrations and brainstorming with the design team for new design ideas.
Illustrator Jobs and Salaries
Junior Illustrator
- Average Salary 58443
Job Description
A Junior Illustrator job description includes preparing rough drafts, improving designs using CAD and using colour, graphics and effects to create illustrations. A Junior Illustrator promotes the business, combines hand drawing and painting with digital media, redefines designs and analyses brief specifications.
Salary Description
The estimated Illustrator salary in India is Rs 58,443 per month in India.
Senior Illustrator
- Average Salary 49500
Job Description
Senior Illustrator job description includes creating new styles, concepts, and patterns and formatting the images using computer-aided design (CAD) software. A Senior Illustrator liaison with editors, authors and designers negotiates contracts and conducts research.
Salary Description
The estimated Senior Illustrator salary in India ranges between Rs 3.0 Lakhs to Rs 12.9 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 6.0 Lakhs.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Illustrator?
There are numerous illustrator job opportunities for those who want to opt for a career as an Illustrator in the animation industry both in the government and private sectors. There are numerous studios operating both in India and abroad that cater to clients. A multimedia professional or illustrator can also work as a freelancer or start his or her own business. Having the necessary entrepreneurial skills and funds can help a person make a living from their work. Besides being able to create cartoons, a career as an Illustrator needs to work in various other fields such as advertising, film and television, and video gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions for Illustrator
Que. What does an illustrator do?
Ans.An illustrator creates illustrations using illustration softwares. He or she defines time and budget limitations, approves the draft and rough designs, brainstorms with the design team for the new design ideas and participates in the design briefs with clients, editors and other related personnel.
Que. How long does it take to become an illustrator?
Ans.It will take four to six years of education and training to become an illustrator.
Que. Do illustrators get paid well?
Ans.The estimated Illustrator salary in India is Rs 58,443 per month in India.
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