Final Image Preview

Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month.

Introduction

Last fall I had the opportunity to design and produce an interactive CD-ROM for children. The idea was to make an educational product, something like an English language dictionary with pictures and games.

I turned to my favorite genre – sci-fi, and I played with the idea of having alien visitors coming to Earth and wanting the user’s help in learning the English language. For a backdrop, I wanted to make a spaceship interior where the action was going to take place.

I really like those Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian style of cartoons and I decided to go for a similar look. In the following tutorial, I’m going to show you how I created this type of backdrop in Illustrator in under one hour. I knew I wanted to keep it simple and figured that only basic shapes like ellipses and rectangles would do the trick. Let’s get started!

Step 1

I wanted to have a big TV set, but weird looking. I made the screen with the Pen Tool, them some dials underneath and at the bottom I added something like a strange computer interface.

Next, I outlined the TV set with a simple rectangle and used the Direct Selection Tool to drag the corners. I specifically did not want all straight lines.

It looked fine, but I decided to simulate some 3D, so I made two more rectangles and skewed them accordingly to give the TV set a basic feel of perspective. Perspective in cartoons is not always accurate, so I knew I wouldn’t have a problem with that.

Step 2

Next, I wanted to do a giant control board for the spaceship. Again, I used the Pen Tool to make a shape for the top surface of the board. I cut the left corner so that the board fit next to the TV set. I needed some rectangles to do the front and side of the board and some for the lower parts.

Step 3

So far, so good! Time to put some controls on the board. With my favorite Pen Tool, I made a quick rectangle, drew a grid. Again to maintain the weird mood, I avoided straight lines.

On top of the grid, I made some squished ellipses and I even made a arrow like line inside one. Next, I drew some weird shapes, following the edges of the board and again some instruments with arrows and I even put a curved line, like a heartbeat line.

When dealing with sci-fi designs, I always think of ways to incorporate Star Trek or Star Wars elements, so this was the perfect place. I made a round display, resembling those old Star Trek TOS desk monitors and added a small dish on top just for fun. At this point I wasn’t too concerned about intersecting shapes and elements, since I was going to color them all later and set them to back or front.

Step 4

Now I wanted to put a window somewhere in the scene. I wanted to have the ability to show where the action is taking place at a given time (or game) and to be able to show different backgrounds outside the window.

I figured the perfect place for a window is over the control board. I created an ellipse, then offset it to the left and I used the Pathfinder panel to intersect the shapes. The result gave me the inner part of the window. I repeated the process by creating another, larger ellipse. This time I offset it to the right. The result was a perfect 3D looking window.

Step 5

I needed something taller next to my control board to balance my composition and decided to go for a tall, retro computer. I made a rectangle for the front and another one, skewed, on the left to keep it consistent with the other elements’ perspective.

I added a small antenna and some details to it. I positioned the whole thing next to the control board and ignored again the overlapping that occurred. Next I created some controls, instruments, and arrows inside the tall computer.

Step 6

From the start, I wanted to make some of those overlapping hull panels with screws you see on spaceships. This was going to add some complexity and volume to the interior.

The window was just hanging there, so I figured I need something to connect it to. I made a shape with the Pen Tool, them drew some small filled circles. I made another shape on top, but this time left it without screws.

I like the effect and decided to do more panels. I made one on top of the TV set and skewed it a little. Next, I made similar shapes around the tall computer. I liked it so far and decided this was going to be the completed scene.

I knew the project was going to have some kind of interface that was going to control the dictionary and the learning games and I didn’t want the interface to cover the interior too much.

Final Step

Once the scene’s outlines were complete, I moved to the coloring. I picked desaturated blue palette for the project. I colored the front shapes with a lighter color. The bottom and side shapes that formed the perspective, I colored with darker blue, then colored the screens and faces of instruments in a very light blue. I made a big rectangle for the hull and put it at the back.

I made a smaller one for the floor and my interior, colored it, and I was finished. I encourage you to try and create your own settings and backdrops using simple and basic shapes. I enjoyed creating this interior and writing a tutorial about it. I hope you enjoyed it as well!

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Introduction

I am a freelance independent cartoonist specializing in vector based retro cartoons and character designs for magazines, skateboard deck designs, and packaging designs. I have a somewhat complicated process because I don’t use strokes or brushes on most of my shapes. I prefer to have shapes sit on top of other shapes so that I can easily vary the line weights.

Final Image Preview

Below is the final image we will be working towards. Want access to the full Vector Source files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Vector Plus for just 9$ a month. You can view the large version here.

Sketch

I start by scanning in the hand drawn sketch. I scan my images at 300 dpi and use levels to clean up the images. I usually sketch with Sanford Terra Cotta col-erase color pencils and tighten up the sketch with blue lead mechanical pencils.

Step 1

I start by importing the scanned image into a 7" by 8" CYMK Illustrator file. I color in CYMK because all my images are designed to be printed.

Step 2

I set the layer with the drawing to Template in the Layer Options palette. I then dim the image somewhere between 30 to 45%.

Step 3

After zooming in I Use the Pen Tool to trace a silhouette of each element of the figure. I set the Pen Tool to No Fill and a stroke of .25 pt. I usually work from background to foreground with my elements.

Step 4

Here I have traced the outline of the figures main body.

Step 5

Next I duplicate the shape and draw a slightly smaller shape inside the larger shape. The larger shape will act as an outline to the smaller shape. I think most artist use strokes, but I don’t like uniform lines around my shapes. I like them to have varied line weights.

Step 6

Since the left arm is in front of the rest of the body, I put it on its own layer.

Step 7

Next I use the Ellipse Tool to redraw the basketball. After making concentric circles, I use the Pen Tool to make the T shape of the basketball. I then increase the stroke to 4 pt. Then I used Expand under the Object menu to change the lines to shapes.

Step 8

The head and sweat band are also on their own layers, with the sweat band on top of the "head" layer. Areas of black like the hair and beard are made up of one shape not two.

Step 9

Next I trace the facial features.

Step 10

While tracing the uniform I use the "Haettenschweiler" font to duplicate the numbers.

Step 11

Here I added and traced the LeBron James logo.

Step 12

With the tracing complete, I switch the objects from Stroke to Fill. The white filled shapes are sitting on top of the black filled shapes. The black shapes act as outlines for the white shapes.

Step 13

Next I open up the Pantone palette and choose the base colors for the objects. I replace the white color in the object with the base colors.

Step 14

I replace most of my black lines with a dark shade of the base color. Here I used a darker version of the orange in the basketball.

Step 15

With the base coloring complete I next use gradients to add highlights to the objects.

Step 16

Here I have created a smaller circle within the basketball. I create a gradient with a lighter version of the base color blending to the base color. I organize my colors in color groups based on the objects like skin, clothing and in this case a basketball.

Step 17

Here I used a light yellow orange to add some reflected light to the basketball.

Step 18

I use the Pen Tool to create highlight shapes. As with the basketball, I blend a lighter color into the base color.

Step 19

I have found that the key to getting color to blend nicely in the gradients is to covert your colors from Spot colors to Process colors in the Swatch Options.

Step 20

I use the lighter color to add highlights where I think light would hit first.

Step 21

The image is almost complete. I add a couple of hard shadows to make some features pop. The shadows are darker than the base color, but lighter than outline color.

Step 22

Finally, I make a copy of all the layers onto one new layer behind all the other layers. I merge all the elements into one big silhouette. This is one of the few items I stroke to add a black outline around the entire image.

Final Image

The final image is below. You can view the large version here.

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