In this tutorial you will use Adobe Illustrator to learn to create an amazing rocket by using some simple methods and shapes, gradient tool and various options in the effect and object menu to achieve the final outcome. We’ll use filters like Blur to create smoothness and movement in some of the illustration elements. Hopefully you will learn some interesting tips along the way.
Difficulty: Easy
Requirements: Adobe Illustrator
What will you get?
- Instant download of PDF e-book (41 pages, 39 steps)
- Comes with Ai file for easy reference
- Detailed step by step tutorial to draw a nice realistic rocket vector
Tutorial Preview:
Create a New document
1. Launch Illustrator and then press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 1389 in the width box and 1337 in the height box then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before you click OK.
Create the Rocket
2. Start with drawing a 206 by 480px ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L). Next pick the Direct Selection Tool (A) along with the Shift, extend the handles of the top and the bottom anchor point of the newly created ellipse. You should end up with something like the second image below.
3. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 480 by 480px ellipse. Select two ellipses created from beginning step 2 to this time, open the Align palette (Window > Align) and click on the Horizontal Align Center button, then click on the Vertical Align Center button. Next select the blue ellipse and move it 39px up. Keep the blue ellipse selected, hold down the Shift and click on the remaining ellipse. Then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect button. The resulting object should look like the next to last image below. Having the new object selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path… Enter a -5px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing stroke color of the newly created object with red.
4. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 615 by 263px ellipse. Make sure that
the newly created ellipse is still selected, hold down the Shift and click on the blue object
created in the step 3, release the Shift and then click on the blue object created in the
step 3 again (to fixed its position). Open the Align palette (Window > Align) and click
on the Horizontal Align Center button, then click on the Vertical Align Top button.
Move the black ellipse 85px up and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then move the
copy 7px down. Reselect the two black ellipses created in this step, then open the
Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Minus Back button.
Keep the resulting object selected, hold down the Shift and click on the blue object
created in the step 3, then click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder
palette. Finally press (Ctrl +Shift +G) to ungroup the resulting group.
5. Select the red object created in the step 3 and remove its stroke, then fill this object with the radial gradient as shown below. Likewise, select the two remaining red objects, remove the stroke of them and then fill these objects with the radial gradients like you see in the second and the third image.
6. Select the orange shape created in the step 5 and go to the Object > Transform >
Scale… Check the Non-Uniform, enter a 50 in the Horizontal box and enter a 86 in
the Vertical box, then click Copy. Replace the existing color of the newly created shape
with new radial gradient as shown in the second image. Keep the resulting shape
selected and go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur… Enter a 10px Radius and
then click OK.
7. Select the first shape created in the step 5 and make a copy (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then bring the copy to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the copy selected, remove the fill color of it, then add a black stroke for this object. With the Direct Selection Tool (A) and the Shift, select three anchor points highlighted with yellow of the black object, then click on the “Cut path at selected anchor points” button from the Properties bar. This make the black object becomes three curved paths. Select the bottom path and remove it. Next select the two remaining paths and go to the Object > Blend > Blend Options… Follow the data like you see in the fourth image and click OK, then go to the Object > Blend > Make (Ctrl +Alt +B). Keep this blended object selected and go to the Object > Blend > Expand. This make the blended object becomes a group. Next apply the Width Profile 5 for the newly created group. Now focus on the last image and change the stroke weight of some curved paths of the resulting group.