How to Create Realistic, Vector Bubbles
Tutorial Details
- Program: Adobe Illustrator CS3
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Estimated Completion Time: 2 Hours
Download Source Files
Final Product What You'll Be Creating
His Majesty the Bubble! In this tutorial we will learn how to create realistic colorful bubbles. We’ll cover numerous techniques and build this illustrations step by step. Set aside a couple hours for this one!
Every few weeks, we revisit some of our reader's favorite posts from throughout the history of the site. This tutorial was first published in March of 2010.
Step 1
Open up a new document. Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a rectangle. Set the fill to a solid dark blue color, without a stroke. Rename the layer to “BG” and lock it. It’s more convenient to start the artwork by creating the background, otherwise transparent bubbles will not be visible on a white background. We will adjust background colors in the following steps.
Step 2
Create a new layer and name it “Bubbles.” Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a black circle.
Step 3
Create a gray shape using the Pen Tool (P) as shown below. Copy and paste in front the black circle. Now select the copy of the black circle and gray shape, then click Intersect from the pathfinder palette. Now click Expand. The current colors of the elements do not play the role for now, but we’ll adjust them in the following steps.
Step 4
Use the Pen Tool (P) to create the shape of light glare on the bubble. Work carefully over the beauty of the lines, the final result depends on your efforts here.
Step 5
Create a new shape and make an intersection as shown in Step 3. For better convenience fill the shapes with different colors, leave some of them only with a stroke and do not fill them.
Add new elements of the bubble. In the process of work you can also switch fill modes from the solid fill to the stroke fill; it will help us not to get lost in the number of objects lying on top of each other.
Step 6
At first create bigger elements; the sequence of sub layers can be changed during the process of working.
Try to keep your lines look perfect, while outlining the shape of a sphere. Study carefully how to create the elements in the shape of an umbrella. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a circle. Take the Scissors Tool (C) and cut a circle into two pieces.
Remove the upper segment of the circle. Now join together the points of the cross-section using the Pen Tool (P). Add five anchor points to the even part of the segment. Move down some anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A), as shown below.
Convert the bottom anchor points from corner to smooth.
Step 7
So, we have fourteen objects, all objects with strokes of different colors are shown on the picture below.
Step 8
Get down to working on the objects. Make the sub layer with a black circle invisible by clicking the eye icon in the Layers palette, and lock it. We will need this circle to create the smaller elements of the bubble. Select the first element and fill it with the linear black to white gradient. Change the Blend Mode and Opacity from the Transparency palette as shown below.
Use the same technique working with the other elements of the bubble.
Step 9
We will use the Gradient Mesh to work with the other elements of the bubble. While working with a large number of elements that are superimposed on each other, you should always lock some of the sub layers. It would be even better if all the neighboring sub layers were locked, except for the one being edited. Note that to select the object you only have to click the Target in the appropriate sub layer from the Layers palette.
Fill the shape with a solid black color, take the Mesh Tool (U) and add one point to the bottom side of the shape. Change the color to white for this point. Change the Blend Mode and Opacity for the edited object and apply the settings shown below. The object may be edited only when they are selected entirely; use the Selection Tool (V) for it.
All the objects containing the Mesh Gradient are shown below. The Blending Mode for the objects are all set to Screen, while the opacities are different.
Step 10
Let’s get down to the smaller details. The technique of creating these additional shapes is all the same. There are fifteen of them, you do not have to copy me, just defer to your own artistic taste when adding detail to the bubble. Pay attention to where the light is coming form to add more detail.
Step 11
The soap-bubble is ready. Delete the sub layer with the black circle; we do not need it any more. Group all the elements of the bubble.
Step 12
Copy, paste, scale, and place the bubbles as shown in the picture below.
Step 13
Create the star-like glares on the bubble. Create a new layer and name it “Stars.” Create a triangle using the Pen Tool (P) and fill it with a black to white linear gradient. Now set the Blend Mode and Opacity from the Transparency palette as shown.
Step 14
Keep the shape selected, go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform, and apply the settings as shown. Now go to Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 15
Select a star and go to Object > Transform > Rotate… 45 degrees and hit Copy.
Step 16
Keep it selected, press Command + Shift and scale the object using the Selection Tool (V). Group all elements of the star.
Step 17
Copy, paste, scale and place the stars as shown below. Some of the stars have to be rotated, so that they could look more realistically. It’s time to get down to the background.
Take the Mesh Tool (U) and create the Mesh Gradient as shown below. Paint the central points in different hues of blue color. The linear gradient may be used, but the Mesh gradient reproduces better background adjustability. Try to avoid light colors, because bubbles can get lost.
Step 18
Now create color spots. Create a new layer above the “BG” layer and name it “Spot.” Take the Pen Tool (P) and create a new shape, then fill it with a linear gradient as shown.
Step 19
Keeping the selection, go to Effect > Blur > Radial Blur, and apply the settings shown.
Step 20
Keeping the selection, change the Blending Mode to Color Dodge with 50% Opacity.
Step 21
Create some light spots using the same technique.
Conclusion
The final image is down below. Have fun creating your own bubbles. If you want to master this tutorial you’ll need to experiment with color, spots, and shapes. Good luck!
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By Iaroslav Lazunov
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Beautiful result with simple careful steps, brilliant ^__
Great tutorial!
step 6 looks like the chromo logo to me :)
just wondering, does the blue filter rasterize the illustration?
You can use the Blend Tool that avoid rasterization
Nice job.
Love! Thank you!
Sweet! One of the best tutorials I’ve seen :) thank you
wow, great and pretty
nice tutorial for beginners with the vector tools…very useful…thanks for the tut.
That is fantastic. Simple and effective.
I would call them more ‘stylized’ than ‘realistic,’ But they’re GORGEOUS, regardless.
I can’t wait to get a few moments to give it a try!
Best tutorial on here in a long time! very clean and professional. More tutorials from Iaroslav Lazunov please!
Nice Tutorial~ Although a lot of work for a single bubble lol IM JUST KIDDING lol jeez
A lot of work for something I would never use… Bubbles
Great tutorial with a fantastic.
I take my hat off to you sir.
wonderful and useful tips thank you very much, expecting more from you.
Great job, love your tuts
man…wicked! =D
Wow!!!
Iaroslav, this is something amazing! =) I love your fantasy and creativity!
Wow! *picks up his jaw from the ground*
Throes of creation.
Awesome.. Amazingly well written tutorial..
Thank you for this awesome tutorial!
Since I’m a newbie, I just find out that this tutorial isn’t working in CMYK mode, because the gradients are not gradients when they are in screen mode :) So I wasted 1,5 hours
I work only in CMYK mode. Explain your comment please.
Well, maybe I made something wrong, but when I tried it in CMYK mode, the gradients shown in step 8 to 10 were not working in ‘Screen’ color mode. I mean, there were no gradients, it was only one color (like it was full white with 33% opacity…)
Result: Forget the blend modes on CMYK mode. ;D
Do you fill a black and white linear gradient?
Same thing happed in my document. In CMYK it turns the gradient flat once I click on “screen”. When I change the document color mode to RGB it instantly turns the screen to a gradient. Hmmm. This is in CS4.
If you are working in CMYK mode try to do next:
1. change the color of black circle to white
2. group the elements of the bubble
3. select both and go to Transparency – Make Opacity Mask
Though a year has past since you posted this comment, it came very handy today (: Thank u v e r y much!
Very very very nice. Thank you sooo much!
Great result. I like the intensity of the background as well.
Absolutly lovely! Fantastic result and easy to do! Great! :)
Nice result and good explanation. I’m not really sure about the mesh part everything else is clear. Now if EPS supported blurs instead of rasterizing them…
You can use the Blend Tool that avoid rasterization.
Awesome tutorial, very well explained.
I agree! Very well explained! =]
@Iaroslav – WOW! Nice effect.
I’am add to favorites. Best regards!
Cool effect. Very well done.
cool, complete tutorial
getting stuck at step 5 >> adding the third shape and intersecting it with the black circle
Illustrator says “the filter produced no results. Please select two overlapping paths.”
but I have selected two overlapping paths!
IMHO: this is not a beginners tutorial
why are there so few Basic Illustrator tuts (only 5 and 4 of them video’s)
the gap between basix and tuts+ is to big for me
my compliments to the people who are able to do this
Do you have a problem at step 3? Very strange. It uses the same technique. Select shapes by using the Selection Tool (V) or use for selection layers box. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. I always answer you.
yes that is what puzzles me, the first two shapes intersect well and then I try the same technique again and Illustrator says ” the filter produced no results. Please select two overlapping paths”
should all the shapes have their own layers?
thanks for trying to help me
See my tutorial http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/create-a-valentines-day-illustration-for-your-sweetie/ step 23-24. Carefully read images, layers palette.
How do you get the opacity working with the mesh tools…the black part don’t get transparent in screen mode…It was working for normal gradients…not sure how to do it
Sorry, those whom I misled. You must use the RGB model. File > Document Color Mode > RGB Color.
It’s really nice job……everything fine but If you mentioned exact color….that would be fine for us……thank you so much for you effect…….
NICE WORK!
awesome work. Love the attention to detail. Thanks for sharing.
very good skill ! awesome tutorial!
Thank you all for your good comments
This is great, and it’s versatil too. It might seem like a lot of steps, however, you can save this on your symbol library and then you can ready-made bubbles for any occasion.
looks quite simple but actually quite in depth
Very long time, but the lesson is worth it.
I have followed the instructions but from the start Step 8 does not equal results.
Apply RGB-color model, or see Screencast http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/how-to-create-realistic-vector-bubbles-screencast/
Love the tutorial, but even in RGB, once the mesh is applied, it’s impossible to change blend mode or opacity
Select mesh – object by using SELECTION TOOL (V), then change blend mode or opacity.
nice nice….. i like so much this tutorials….www.behance.net/creato here mi vectors…. cheerz
Nice job, I like it. Lot of thanks
After mesh tool it is really big trouble.
Hello! :-)
How do I become Premium members so I can download?
Here’s a link to our premium sign-up area – http://tutsplus.com/amember/signup.php :)
hey guys, i wonder how to create the effect for the small round object that glows? Please share. Thanks
真漂亮
sir, can we use transpreancy in a single colour into gradient.