VectorHero | Pressure Sensitive Ink Brush Pack for Adobe Illustrator

Realistic Ink Brushes for Illustrator

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
72 Reviews

$19.00 USD

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✓ Commercial license included. Use it in your personal work and your paid work.

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Create Illustrations Like 1950's Commercial Artists

Have you ever wondered how some digital artists are able to create such realistic pen and ink illustrations?

You'd swear their work was created in a wood paneled commercial art office. India ink heavy in the air, piles of paper filled with sketches, and busy artists at sturdy wooden desks using ink brushes, rollerballs and nib pens.

So what's the secret to creating authentic commercial art illustrations?

Here's a hint: inconsistency and human imperfection.

Adobe Illustrator has given us the ability to create precision artwork. The problem is that it cost us the human touch that adds warmth to illustrations.

This can all be boiled down to one key trait. Expression filled ink strokes with varying weights and subtle imperfections. 

  • Create realistic pen and ink illustrations like 1950's commercial artists
  • 20 Pressure Sensitive clean ink brushes (recreated from source material)
  • 20 Pressure Sensitive dirty ink brushes (created from scanned samples)
  • Reference chart with instructions and brushes so you don't have to guess which brush you're using

Software: Adobe Illustrator CS4 and above

Hardware: 2.4ghz processor or higher

Memory: 16gb RAM or higher

Storage: 14.4 MB

Get this pack and more when you buy The Essential Illustrator Bundle.

We've recreated the feel of this era with the VectorHero Pen Pack for Illustrator. Here's how we did it:

  1. Gathered a huge library of commercial art from the 1940's and 50's.
  2. Studied how these pens perform in the real world. We paid close attention to things like how the ink pools when a nib pen first touches the paper. How brush strokes widen as pressure increases and decreases. How the end of strokes terminate.
  3. Carefully recreated these characteristic in vector form. We used real commercial art samples, strokes we created with brush and nib pens and even created ink strokes with the pen tool using historical reference material.

The bottom line is we created the pen set that we've always dreamed of. 

You see, most Adobe Illustrator brush packs are made by scanning pen strokes, auto tracing them and making them into brushes. 

The result is hard to use brushes that give less than stellar results.

Scott Fuller and myself (Dustin Lee) spent over 40 hours compiling material, studying the best examples of commercial illustration work, recreating and refining brushes and then testing them by creating real artwork in the classic style of 1950's illustrations.

The result is a pack of brushes that we love using in our work. We think you'll love them too. 

Grab the VectorHero Illustrator Pen Pack now and start getting realistic ink results the easy way!

Product Specifications

Here's exactly what you'll get when you purchase this pack.

  • 20 Pressure sensitive clean Ink brushes (recreated from source material)
  • 20 Pressure sensitive dirty Ink brushes (created from scanned samples)
  • Beautiful 8.5 x 35 inch reference chart (with brushes)
  • Instructions included in reference chart
  • Versions for CS4, CS5, CS6 and CC

Created from real 1950's source material and real brush and ink pen samples. Work created by Dustin Lee and Scott Fuller. Available exclusively from RetroSupply Co.

Can I use this in paid work?
Yes. Every purchase comes with a commercial license.

Make your own art. Post it on Instagram. Take the client job. Sell the comic, the prints, the shirts. You’re covered.

What counts as commercial work?
Anything you get paid for. That includes client projects, products you sell, and work you teach with.

What if my project takes off?
Then congratulations. Your license covers you until your business passes $10 million in yearly sales. A book that outsells your hopes is still covered. So is a small brand line that finds its audience.

Who can use my copy?
You. Each license covers one artist. Working with a team? Email us and we’ll set up a group license.

What’s off limits?
Reselling or sharing the files, or using them to make your own brush packs, textures or other assets to sell. Everything else you make with them is yours.

Big studio or big campaign?
Companies with more than $10 million in yearly sales need an extended license. That includes client work you do for a company that size. Email us and we’ll set you up fast.

Want the fine print? Read the full license

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Based on 72 reviews
Reviews Summary
Customers say these brushes deliver realistic, natural-looking ink lines and smooth strokes perfect for adding hand-drawn character to vector work. The variety of brush styles—from subtle to bold—gives users flexibility for different illustration needs. Many appreciate how easy they are to use and install, with clear instructions included. Reviewers frequently mention the brushes excel at creating retro and vintage aesthetics. Some note that mastering brush settings through tutorials unlocks their full potential. A few mention minor limitations with corners and line endings. Overall, users find these brushes versatile, well-made, and great value for the price.
72 reviews
  • JB
    Jon B.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Product Standouts Ease of use
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Happy Camper! Excellent Customer Support!

    I happened to be looking for a brush that mimicked the style of a Procreate brush, for Illustrator, hoping to achieve a Cuphead style outline. Reached out to Retro, and they sent me a suggestion, VectorHero, which I purchased, but unfortunately turned out not to give the look I was after. So I reached back out to the RetroSupply staff, and this time sent a couple of screenshots, and they came back with two other suggestions, one of which was VectorSketch. They were wonderful through the whole process, and let me “exchange” my purchase for VectorSketch, because I just wouldn’t be using the original item. And sure enough, the new brushes were perfect, and gave me exactly the look I was after. I’m a very happy customer.

  • ML
    Michael L.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    VectorHero | Ink Pen Illustrator Kit

    I've really enjoyed this brush pack. It's affordable, it's built really well, and just adds so much to your illustration. If you're looking to stylize your vector illustrations or to just push your artwork a little further I highly suggest the VectorHero Ink Brush Pack.

    RC Profile picture for RetroSupply Co.
    RetroSupply Co.

    Hi Michael,

    I'm glad you're enjoying the pack. I remember when I made it I had just went to an antique store in central Washington and was just making tons of sheets of samples of different pens.

    Glad to hear you're getting good use out of them.

    Thank you so much for the review and kind words!

    Dustin

  • LP
    Liz P.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great set of brushes

    I was getting frustrated trying to generate hand rendered text for a design job - the lines I was getting weren't striking the right informal, but still stylish, tone that I needed. Vector Hero to the rescue - a great set of brushes with loads of variation have sorted me out. Many thanks to Retro Supply!

  • DW
    Dameon W.
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Old school pen and ink without the cleaning up

    This brush set by far is my favorite to date. If I'm doing anything close to illustrative or cartoon-like, I'm using these brushes to give it that "push". You cannot go wrong with this pack. Just freakin' get it, and thank me later. Great job, Dustin!

  • MR
    Mark R.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    VectorHero is PerFect!

    I recently purchased this, and it's sweet! When I can't or won't scan in my illustrations to get that natural feel, this brush pack will come in handy. Having the same capability in Illustrator as I do in PSD or MANGA STUDIO for my sweet vectors is perfect. I've already edited some older pieces with this pack. Thanks Dusty!