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Creating a Simple Vector Tree
In this Illustrator tutorial, I will show you how to make a simple vector tree. Mainly, using shapes and the pathfinder with some gradients you have a fully scalable tree in 8 simple steps.
1. Lets get started. First off, lets open up Illustrator and create a new document. Select the Eclipse Tool (m) and hold the SHIFT key and draw a circle. Fill it in with colours. You should have something that looks like this:
2. Add some more to the circle to give it the shape of the tree. Hold the ALT key, and move each shape around to give it the shape of the tree.
HINT: Holding the ALT key creates a new shape each time you click and move it.
3. Now that we have the basic shape of the tree, we want to make each of those shapes in to one, and this can be done by using the Pathfinder. Under “Shape Modes” click the first one “Add to shape.” This will create one big shape. Once completed “Expand” in the Pathfinder palette.
4. Now that we have the tree as one shape we want to shrink it a bit to create the front layer of the tree, we can do this by simply pressing “CTRL+C/CMD+C” (copy) and then pasting in front using “CTRL+F/CMD+F”. Choose the top layer and using the Transform Tool and making it slightly smaller like the image below. Fill it with a gradient. Refer to the image below and colour codes are in RGB and angle is “-142.6″.
5. Choose the “Rectangle Tool” (m) and make the base of the tree similar to what is shown in the image, after it is drawn go to “Object -> Arrange -> Send to Back” or the shortcut “SHIFT+CMD+[” will send the base to the back.
6. Add some colour to the base of the tree. Refer to the image below for RGB values.
7. The next thing we need is a shadow to give the tree a little perspective. Make an even circle by holding the “Shift” key. Navigate to “Effect -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur” and use “3.0″ as the amount to put on the shape. Shrink it down by selecting the “Selection Tool” (v) to something like the image below.
8. Once you have shrunk the shadow down in to relative size to the tree, use the same method to send it to the back – “SHIFT+CMD+[”. Decrease the opacity to “70%”. Your final product should look like the one below!
You can also add some more small features to it and get a result like below.
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