April, 2007
In this tutorial we'll make a background containing birds and confetti. Tutorial Includes project files.
To begin, create a rectangle the size of the background. In this case it would 800 x 600. Then make a new gradient just like the one below.
With the gradient tool, apply the new gradient. This will only work if you already have something in the fill.
Lock the previous layer and create a new one. Make a number of squares. Recolor them different colors.
Select them and then group them.
Open Free Distort.
Distort the confetti to give them some depth.
Select individual confetti and rotate them.
Add the confetti to the Symbols palette and don't forget to name them.
Draw a bird. Use the Subtract shape area button under Pathfinder to make the hole for the eye and wing.
Create a gradient and apply to the bird.
Reduce the size of the bird and then drag onto the Symbols palette and name it.
Double-click on the Symbol Sprayer Tool and change the Density to 5.
Now spray two or three times.
Select the Symbol Shifter Tool and move the confetti around. Then use the Symbol Scruncher and Symbol Sizer Tools to make more changes.
Use the Symbol Spinner Tool to rotate the confetti in different directions. You can also use the Symbol Stainer to make changes to the colors of the confetti.
Now use the Symbol Screener to make the outer confetti more transparent.
Reduce the Opacity of the layer to 50%. Create a new layer for the birds. Drag and drop the bird from the Symbols palette then make copies and change their sizes and positions. Reduce the Opacity of that layer to 50%. You can now use this for a background.
Download the original source files from this tutorial in Zip format Here
Copyright (c) 2007, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved
