In today’s tutorial, we’re going
to put on our mechanic’s hat and take a look at the process of creating a
car repair shop illustration, using the most basic of tools that Illustrator
has to offer.
That being said,
take a quick sip of that freshly brewed coffee and let’s get started!
Oh, and don’t forget you can always expand the project by checking out
GraphicRiver, where you can find tons of car-themed illustrations ready to be
clicked on.
1. How
to Set Up a New Project File
Since I’m assuming you already have
Illustrator up and running in the background, bring it up and let’s set up a New Document (File > New or Control-N)
for our project using the following settings:
- Number
of Artboards: 1 - Width:
1200
px - Height:
600
px - Units:
Pixels
And from the Advanced tab:
- Color
Mode: RGB - Raster
Effects: Screen (72ppi) - Preview Mode: Default
2. How
to Set Up a Custom Grid
Now, I know we’re not working on icons
today, but since we’re going to be creating the illustration using a
pixel-perfect workflow, we’ll want to set up a nice little grid so that we can
have full control over our shapes.
Step 1
Go to the Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid submenu, and adjust
the following settings:
- Gridline
every: 1 px - Subdivisions: 1
Quick
tip: you can learn more about grids by reading this
in-depth piece on how Illustrator’s Grid System works.
Step 2
Once we’ve set up our custom grid, all we
need to do in order to make sure our shapes look crisp is enable the Snap to Grid option found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter Pixel Preview mode.
Now, if you’re new to
the whole “pixel-perfect workflow”, I strongly recommend you go through my how
to create pixel-perfect artwork tutorial, which will help you widen your
technical skills in no time.
3. How
to Set Up the Layers
Once we’ve finished setting up our project
file, it would be a good idea to structure our document using a few layers, since this way we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one
section of the illustration at a time.
That being said, bring up the Layers panel, and create a total of three
layers, which we will rename as follows:
- layer 1: background
- layer 2: garage
- layer 3: car
Quick tip: I’ve colored all of my layers using the same green
value, since it’s the easiest one to view when used to highlight your selected
shapes (whether they’re closed or open paths).
4. How to Create
the Background
We’re going to
kick off the project by creating the little sunset background, so make sure
you’re on the right layer (that would be the first one), and then lock all the
other layers and let’s get started.
Step 1
Grab the Pen Tool (P) and use
it to create the foreground line by drawing a 600 px wide 16 px thick Stroke line, which we will color using
#382E2E and then center align to the underlying Artboard at a distance of 106
px from its bottom edge.
Step 2
With the foreground in place, start working on the circular background
by creating a 488 x 488 px circle,
which we will color using #EFBB6A and then center align to the Artboard’s bottom edge.
Step 3
Create a slightly smaller 328
x 328 px circle (#DDA25B), which we will position on top of the previous
one, aligning it to its center. Once you have both shapes in place, select and
group them together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 4
Since we want the bottom sections of both circles to be hidden, we’ll
have to mask them using a 600 x 380 px rectangle
(highlighted with red) which we will center align to our foreground line,
positioning it over its top half. Once we have the rectangle in place, simply
select both it and the grouped circles and then right click > Make Clipping Mask.
Step 5
Finish off the background by simply selecting the circles that we’ve
just masked and then sending them to the back of the foreground line by right clicking > Arrange > Send to
Back. Once you’re done, quickly select all of the background’s composing
shapes and group them together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
5. How to Create
the Garage
Since we’re done
working on the background, you can lock its layer and move on up to the next
one (that would be the second one), where we will take our time and build the
little garage.
Step 1
Create the front section of the building, using a 272 x 200 px rectangle, which we will color using #E5DCDC and then
position onto the upper half of the foreground line, at a distance of 196 px from the Artboard’s left edge.
Step 2
Give the shape that we’ve just created an outline using the Stroke method, by creating a copy of it
(Control-C) which we will paste in
front (Control-F) and then adjust by
first changing its color to #382E2E and then flipping its Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X). Set the resulting shape’s Weight to 16 px, and then select and group (Control-G) both it and the underlying rectangle together.
Step 3
Start working on the garage entrance by creating a 168 x 72 px rectangle (#755757) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E) which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the
front section’s bottom edge.
Step 4
Give the entrance some depth by adding its side section using a 24 x 72 px rectangle (#998181) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
align to the larger section’s left edge.
Step 5
Create the actual door using a 168
x 32 px rectangle (#65ABCE) with a 16
px thick outline (#382E2E), to the center of which we will add a 168 px wide 8 px thick Stroke line
(#382E2E). Group (Control-G) all
three shapes together, and then position them on top of the entrance’s front
section.
Step 6
Create the little motor operating the door, using a 32 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E),
on top of which we will add a smaller 16
x 8 px one (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then left align to the garage door.
Step 7
Start working on the garage’s shelf by creating its left leg using a 74 px tall 8 px thick Stroke line
(#382E2E), which we will center align to the entrance’s front section,
positioning it at a distance of 26 px from
its right edge.
Step 8
Create the leg’s bottom section using a 16 x 16 px square (#382E2E), which we will center align to its
bottom edge.
Step 9
Draw the actual shelves using two 38 px wide 8 px thick Stroke lines (#382E2E), which we will
vertically stack at a distance of 16 px from
one another, grouping (Control-G)
and then positioning them between the leg and the entrance’s right edge.
Step 10
Add a 14
x 8 px rectangle (#382E2E) on each shelf, and then select and group
all its composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut. Also, since we’re pretty much done
with the garage’s entrance, you can select all its composing sections and group
(Control-G) those as well.
Step 11
Create the building’s street number sign using
a 20 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E),
which we will position on the right side of the entrance, aligning it to the
door outline’s bottom edge.
Step 12
Create the little road blocker using a 32 px tall 8 px thick Stroke line
(#382E2E) on top of which we will add a 16
x 16 px circle (#382E2E) which we will group (Control-G) and then position on the right side of the garage’s
entrance. Once you’re done, select and group all the shapes that we’ve created
so far using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.
Step 13
Create the garage’s side section using a 136 x 200 px rectangle (#998181)
with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and
then position on the right side of the building.
Step 14
Add the horizontal detail lines using eleven 136 px wide 8 px thick Stroke lines (#382E2E), which we will
vertically stack at a distance of 16 px from
one another, grouping (Control-G)
and then center aligning them to the building’s side section.
Step 15
Create the little window using a 32
x 40 px rectangle (#5086A3) with a 16
px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the building’s side section,
positioning it on the second horizontal detail line. Once you’re done, select
all of the side section’s composing shapes and group (Control-G) those together as well.
Step 16
Draw the drainpipe using an 8
px thick Stroke line (#382E2E)
which we will then position on the right side of the building, at a distance
of just 4 px from it.
Step 17
Connect the pipe to the building using two 16 x 8 px rectangles (#382E2E) which we will vertically stack at a
distance of 136 px from one another,
and then position between the pipe and the larger garage itself. Once you’re
done, select and group all three shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 18
Move a few pixels up, and start working on the air conditioner unit by
creating its side section using a 56 x
32 px rectangle (#6B6868) with a 16
px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the building’s side section, at a
distance of 24 px from its right
edge.
Step 19
Create the front section using a 24
x 32 px rectangle (#969393) with a 16
px thick outline (#382E2E) which we will group (Control-G) and then position on the left side of the shapes from
the previous step.
Step 20
Finish off the air conditioner by adding a
couple of rectangles as seen in the reference image to give it more detail,
selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all its composing shapes together afterwards.
Step 21
Create the garage sign’s front section using a 128 x 48 px rectangle (#65ABCE) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then left-align to the
motor’s left edge, positioning it at a distance of 48 px from it.
Step 22
Next, grab the Pen Tool (P)
and draw in the little wrench using an 8
px thick Stroke line with the
color set to #382E2E.
Step 23
Add the little screws using four 8
x 8 px circles (#382E2E), which we will position onto each of the sign’s
corners, making sure to leave a 4 px
gap around them. Once you’re done, select and group all of the front section’s
composing shapes together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 24
Create the sign’s side section using a 24 x 48 px rectangle (#5086A3) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto its
right side.
Step 25
Finish off the sign by adding the support legs using two 16 x 16 px squares (#382E2E) underneath
its front section, selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all its composing shapes once you’re done.
Step 26
Start working on the street light’s pole by drawing it using an 8 px thick Stroke line (#382E2E), which we will position on top of the larger
building, on the left side of its sign.
Step 27
Create the light
cap using a 32 x 32 px circle (#382E2E)
which we will adjust by cutting its bottom half by selecting its bottom anchor
point using the Direct Selection Tool
(A) and then removing it by pressing Delete.
Position the resulting shape onto the shorter end of the pole, and then add a 16 x 8 px rectangle (#382E2E)
underneath it, selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all three shapes together afterwards.
Since we’re pretty much done working on the garage, you can select and
group (Control-G) all its composing
sections together as well.
6. How to Create
the Car
Assuming you’ve
already locked the previous layer, move on up to the third and last one, where
we will create the last piece of our little illustration.
Step 1
Start working on the rear end of the car by creating a 40 x 32 px rectangle (#E2775A) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E) which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the
left side of the garage.
Step 2
Add the tail lights using two 12
x 16 px rectangles (#382E2E) which we will bottom align to the shapes that
we’ve just created, positioning each one onto its sides.
Step 3
Create the rear handle using a 12
x 12 px square (#382E2E), which we will center align to the rear end’s top
section.
Step 4
Finish off the front section of the car’s rear end by adding the little bumper using a 12 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E) which we
will position onto the left side of the current section, making sure to select
and group (Control-G) all its
composing shapes together afterwards.
Step 5
Create the rear end’s side section using a 72 x 32 px rectangle (#CC5F46) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we will group (Control-G) and then position onto the
right side of the previously grouped shapes.
Step 6
Next, create a 16 x 4 px rectangle
(#382E2E) and position it onto the side section’s lower-left corner, selecting
and grouping all its shapes together afterwards using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 7
Create the front section of the car’s front end using a 40 x 28 px rectangle (#E2775A) with a 16 px thick outline (#382E2E), which we
will group (Control-G) and then
right align to the previously grouped shapes.
Step 8
Add the little window using a 12 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E) which we will center align to the bottom edge of the shapes from
the previous step, selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all of them together afterwards.
Step 9
Start working on the side section of the car’s front part by creating a 90 x 40 px rectangle (#CC5F46) which we will
position onto the right side of the rear end.
Step 10
Add the cabin’s upper section using a 32 x 20 px rectangle (#CC5F46), which we will position on top of
the larger one’s left side.
Step 11
Unite the two rectangles into a single larger
shape using Pathfinder’s Unite Shape Mode, and then
adjust the resulting shape by selecting and pushing its inner anchor point to
the right side by a distance of 16 px (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal
> 16 px).
Step 12
Continue adjusting the shape by selecting its top-right anchor point and
pushing it to the bottom by a distance of 4
px (right click > Transform >
Vertical > 4 px).
Step 13
Give the resulting shape a 16 px thick
outline (#382E2E) using the Stroke
method, selecting and grouping both shapes together afterwards using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 14
Create the side window using a 24 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E), which we will adjust by selecting and pushing its top right
corner to the left by a distance of 12
px (right click > Transform >
Move > Horizontal > -12 px). Once you’re done, position the resulting
shape onto the upper section of the car’s front end.
Step 15
Add the door handle using a 12 x
4 px rectangle (#382E2E) underneath which we will add a narrower 8 x 4 px one (#382E2E). Group (Control-G) the two shapes and then
position them below the window, at a distance of 4 px.
Step 16
Add the headlight using a 14 x
20 px rectangle (#382E2E), which we will position onto the nose of the car.
Step 17
Add the little front bumper section using a 12 x 16 px rectangle (#382E2E), which we will bottom align to the
front end of the car. Once you’re done, select and group all of the current
section’s composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, doing the same for the entire car
afterwards.
Step 18
Create the front wheels using two 32
x 32 px circles (#969393) with a 16
px thick outline (#382E2E) on top of which we will add a set of smaller 8 x 8 px circle (#382E2E). Individually
group each tire’s shapes together, and then position them over the car as seen in the reference image.
Step 19
Create the back side wheels using a copy (Control-C) of the front ones which we will paste in the back (Control-B) and then move towards the
left by a distance of 28 px (right click > Transform > Move >
Horizontal > -28 px). Quickly adjust the copies by changing the color of
the grey circles to #6B6868, and then select and group all of the car’s
composing sections together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Well Done!
There you have it—a fairly short and easy tutorial on how to
create your very own car repair shop illustration, which can be used in any
future personal projects. I hope that you’ve managed to keep up with each and
every step and most importantly learned something new and useful along the way.
