March, 2008
This tutorial covers how to make a simple cartoon style background or backdrop.
We start out with a basic 800 x 600 pixel layout. Then I open the Cool and Warm swatches palette.
Using the Ellipse tool I create the sun.
And now I apply the Roughen filter to the sun with the settings shown below.
With the Spiral tool, create a spiral with a stroke weight of 10. Then under Object go to Path and choose Outline Stroke.
Then apply Zig Zag to the spiral.
Use the Pen tool and create the shape below. Pick a light fill color from the Cool palette then change it's transparency to Saturation.
Create another spiral holding down the Shift and Control keys and manipulating the mouse to achieve something similar to what is shown below. Make the stroke weight 20 and then use the Outline Stroke feature.
Apply Tweak to it. Then reduce the size and move it to the right.
Create a couple of circles near the right-hand bottom area of the picture. Lock this layer and create a new one.
Create a rectangle that covers everything.
Select the Knife tool and cut out a scene similar to the one below with a tree in the middle.
Select the Pencil tool and create a shape that represents the open part of the branch of the tree. Select both the main body of the tree and land shape and the penciled area. Select Pathfinder and choose Subtract from shape area.
Continue with the Pencil tool and the Pathfinder option to create more detail in the layer.
Create a third layer and use the Pen tool to draw the shape.
Finally, change that third layer opacity to 13%. We have created a background or backdrop for a variety of uses.
Download the original source files from this tutorial in Zip format Here
Copyright (c) 2008, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved