So I have Photoshop (finally) and I've decided to try my hand at vectoring (well, vexeling, but you catch my drift...). And I know a lot of you have some really NICE vector images, so I'd like some tips.

(Yes, I've been through the big book of resources, please don't send me back there!)

Is it easier to click points with the pen tool, one after the other, or try and match the curves by dragging?

Skin/eyes/hair/other features first?

How do you get really good skin tones? Mine end up looking either too bright or too tacky or whatnot.

AND how long does a vector usually take you? I need to learn patience, methinks!!

Thanks so much, you guys Hopefully I'll have one to post in the Pictures forum within this lifetime.

[OH. And please don't beat me up if I posted this in the wrong forum]

The pen tool is really easy to use. Click to start, then click and drag to make a curve that follows the picture, then Alt-click on the point you just finished, and then click somewhere else and drag, etc. Alt-click helps your curves to follow each other.

I always do eyes first, then eyebrows, then face/skin, then hair/clothes.

To choose skin colors takes practice, just sample colors and see what you get. If the person's skin looks more pinkish, then choose a pinkish-peach, and if the person's skin looks more orangey yellow, then choose that type of color.

If I sat through and completed an entire vector in one sitting (which I never do cause I get lazy), then it would be like 3ish hours, depending on the picture. The most I've spent on a vector is like..24 hours on and off?

Good luck with your vectors =)

Another question. In doing eyes, do you find it easier to go all out on one eye and then the other? Or do the same thing on each eye, doing both sort of at the same time?

Is it easier to click points with the pen tool, one after the other, or try and match the curves by dragging?
Well, the whole point of the pen tool is to be able to make smooth curves. So if you're using the pen tool, you should match by dragging. If you want to click points, then use the polygonal lasso tool because that's easier. You can then go to Select -> Modify -> Smooth to make the lines more curved and smooth.

Skin/eyes/hair/other features first?
For me, I always start with skin on the whole body. Then it depends on my mood. Sometimes I do the hair, then the clothes, and then the facial features. But most of the time I do facial features last.

How do you get really good skin tones? Mine end up looking either too bright or too tacky or whatnot.
There used to be a really good skin palette on maliciously.net, but that site's been down for a while. So now I usually grayscale the image and use shades of gray. Afterwards I colourize accordingly. This way you can make sure all the shades of one part are in the same colour family.

AND how long does a vector usually take you? I need to learn patience, methinks!!
Oh, I don't know. I've done one in a sitting before...that took around 4-5 hours. It really depends on what kind of image you're vectoring, if it's really detailed, that's going to take you some time. I find that when I vector in one sitting, it looks much better than if I do it off and on.

I have some more pointers...when you're working on the skin, start from the lightest shade to the darkest shade in order, because if you start off with the bottom, dark layer, it'll cover up your image and you won't be able to vector those layers without changing the opacity of the bottom layer. If that made sense...

Also, posterize your image before vectoring. It'll make it so much easier for you, because it's easier to pick out the different shades when posterized.

Hope I helped.

All out on one eye and then the other.
Are you sure you checked the BBOR thoroughly? There's good tutorials that can answer all your questions..

colors are very important, make sure it all coordinate.