In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a swimming pool with water reflections using Adobe Illustrator. We will go through the steps such as creating the swimming pool and the other objects for the poster. Finally, we will arrange these elements into the swimming pool. Let’s go through an exciting process and challenge ourselves by composing an interesting and happy summer holidays poster.
Create a New Document
1. Launch Illustrator and press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 862 in the width box and 675 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 a Swimming Pool
2. Pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and simply click on your artboard. In the Line Segment Tool Options dialog box, enter the data as shown below and click OK. Keep the newly created path selected and go to the Object > Transform > Move. In the Move dialog box, enter 38 in the Horizontal box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) twenty-two times to get the results as you can see in the second image. Reselect all the newly created paths and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate. Enter a 90 degrees Angle and then click Copy.
3. Pick the Bloat Tool and double-click on the Bout Tool icon from the Tool palette. In the Bloat Tool Options dialog box, follow the data as shown below and click OK. Now focus on the second image. With the help of Bloat Tool, click on the four points highlighted with red. You should end up with something like the final image.
4. Select all the paths created in the previous steps, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder). Click on the Divide button. Make sure that the results are still selected, fill them with R=43, G=198, B=255 and add a 1px stroke (R=2, G=160, B=223). Next, focus on the second image, select some newly created shapes and replace the existing color. Fill them with R=73, G=232, B=255.
5. With the help of the Pen Tool (P,) create two objects as shown below. Once your objects are drawn, fill the black object with the linear gradient as you can see in the second image. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the newly created shape and move this to 70px down, then replace the existing color of it with R=0, G=172, B=255. Keep the resulting shape selected and press (Ctrl +Left Square Bracket) to hide it behind the original shape.
6. Fill the red object with the radial gradient as shown below. Make sure that the resulting shape is still selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. .Enter a 30px Offset and click OK, then replace the existing color of the new shape with R=0, G=172, B=255. Keep the resulting shape selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path..Enter a 30px Offset and click OK. Repeat the process to create two more blue shapes. Now reselect the four blue shapes created in this step and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as you can see in the fourth image and then click OK.
7. Reselect the first shape created in step 5 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Set the values as you can see in the image and click OK. Next, select the first shape created in step 6 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown in the second image and then click OK.
8. Reselect the two shapes with shadow effect applied in step 7 and make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them, then open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance) and remove the Drop Shadow section. Replace the existing color of the resulting shapes with R=241, G=242, B=242 and then go to the Effect > Texture > Stained Glass. Follow the data as shown below and click OK. Make sure that the resulting shapes are still selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Feather. Enter a 5px Radius and click OK. Finally, set the Blending Mode of the resulting shapes to Lighten and reduce the Opacity to 60%.
9. With the use of Pen Tool (P), create an object as shown below. Once your object is drawn, fill it with R=45, G=132, B=255 and then go to the Effect > Distort > Glass. Follow the data as you can see in the second image and click OK. Keep the resulting shape selected. Set the Blending Mode of it to Multiply and reduce the Opacity to 50. Make a duplicate of the resulting shape, then open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance) and click on the Glass section. Choose Invert and click OK. Finally, change the Blending Mode of the resulting shape to Overlay and increase the Opacity to 60%.
10. Before you continue, select and lock (Ctrl +2) all the objects created from step 2 up to this time. Pick the Pencil Tool (N) and create a lot of curved paths as shown in the https://vectordiary.com/isd_tutorials/100-swimming-pool below. In the end, your curved paths should look roughly like the third image. Now select and group (Ctrl +G) all the newly created paths, then add a 3px stroke (apply the linear gradient within stroke) and apply the Width Profile 2 for the resulting group. Keep this group selected and apply a 6px Feather effect, then set it to Blending Mode Overlay. Make sure that the resulting group is still selected and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown in the sixth image and click OK. Finally, press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock all the objects locked in this step, then hide the newly created group behind the two shapes created in step 8.
11. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 862px by 675px and place this rectangle to the correct position as shown below. Next, select all the objects created from step 2 up to this time and go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7). The swimming pool is ready and looks like the final image below.
Create the Text
12. Open the Character palette (Window > Type > Character) and set the data as shown in the first image below. Pick the Type Tool (T). Simply click on your artboard and add the “SUMMER” piece of text. Next, go to the Character palette and set the data as shown in the second image, then click on your artboard and add the “Holidays” piece of text. Now select the two pieces of text and go to the Object > Expand. Click OK when the Expand dialog box appears. Place the two pieces of text into the swimming pool and replace the exsting color of them with R=255, G=255, B=255. Select the “SUMMER” piece of text and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown in the third image and click OK. Reselect the “Holidays” piece of text and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown in the fourth image and click OK. Next, make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the two pieces of text and then go to the Effect > Stylize > Outer Glow. Follow the data as you can see in the fifth image and then click OK. At this point your text should look roughly like the final image.
Create a Beach Umbrella
13. With the help of the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 300px by 300px ellipse. Next, pick the Line Segment Tool (\) and create a vertical path as shown below. Show the Rulers (View > View Rulers > Show Ruler) or (Ctrl +R). Next, drag a horizontal and vertical guide from the Rulers (if the guides locked, go to the View > Guides > Lock Guides) or (Ctrl +Alt + ;). Now select the ellipse, the vertical path created in this step and the two guides. Open the Align palette (Window > Align), click on the Horizontal Align Center button and click on the Vertical Align Center button, then move the vertical path up to the position as you can see in the first image.
14. Select the vertical path. Pick the Rotate Tool (R), hold down the Alt key and click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a -20 degrees Angle and click Copy. Reselect two paths, then right-click on the artboard and select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Do this again to connect these two paths to become a closed path. Now select the closed path and the ellipse, then open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder) and click on the Intersect button. Keep the resulting object selected. Pick the Rotate Tool (R) and hold down the Alt key, then click on the intersection point of the two guides. In the Rotate dialog box, enter a -20 degrees Angle and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) sixteen times to get the results as shown in the fourth image.
15. Reselect all the objects created in step 14 and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate. Enter a -10 degrees Angle and click OK. Now with the help of the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), adjust the shape of the newly created objects as you can see in the second image.
16. After you are done adjusting the shape of the newly created objects, reselect the yellow objects and fill them with the linear gradient as shown below, then add a 1px stroke (R=241, G=90, B=41). Next, fill the remaining objects with the linear gradient as you can see in the second image and then add a 1px stroke (R=241, G=90, B=41).
17. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all the shapes created from step 13 up to this time, then go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown below and click OK. Keep the resulting group selected and go to the Object > Transform > Scale. Select Uniform and enter 30 in the Scale box, then click Copy.
Make sure that the newly created group is still selected. Open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance) and click on the Drop Shadow section. In the Drop Shadow dialog box, follow the data as you can see in the second image and click OK.
18. With the Ellipse Tool (L), create an ellipse and place it to the position as shown below. Fill this ellipse with R=255, G=255, B=255 and apply a 15px Gaussian Blur for the resulting ellipse. Make sure that the ellipse is still selected. Set it to Blending Mode Overlay and reduce the Opacity to 70%. Finally, select and group (Ctrl + G) all the shapes created from step 13 up to this time. We are done with the beach umbrella for the moment.
Create an Air Mat
19. Pick the Rounded Rectangle Tool and simply click on the artboard. In the Rounded Rectangle dialog box, enter the data as shown below and click OK, then fill this rounded rectangle with R=241, G=242, B=242. With the Line Segment Tool (\), create a vertical path and then place it to the position as you can see in the second image. Reselect the vertical path and go to the Object > Transform > Move. In the Move dialog box, enter 13 in the Horizontal box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) four times to get the results as shown in the third image. Reselect the last red path created in this step and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it. Replace the existing stroke color of the duplicate with black and then move it 11px to the right. Keep the black path selected and go to the Object > Transform > Move. In the Move dialog box, enter 11 in the Horizontal box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) thirteen times to get the results as shown in the fourth image.
20. Select the first red path created in step 19 and add a 10px Stroke (R=224, G=0, B=0). Keep this path selected. Open the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), click on the Add New Stroke button (at the left-bottom corner of the Appearance palette). This will add a second stroke for your path. Fill it with R=255, G=65, B=0 and apply a 5px Feather effect for it. Reselect the five remaining red paths, then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the path we have just added on the second stroke.
21. Select the second red path. Go to the Appearance palette and replace the existing stroke color as you can see in the first image. Now, follow the sequence of https://vectordiary.com/isd_tutorials/100-swimming-pool and replace the existing stroke color of the four remaining red paths. Next, focus on the black paths. Select one of these paths, then pick the Eyedropper Tool (I) and click on the path with the stroke color you want. In the end, your air mat should look like the final image below.
22. With the use of Line Segment Tool (\), create two horizontal paths as shown below. Fill these two paths with none and add a 2px stroke (R=241, G=242, B=242). Next, apply a 1px Gaussian Blur for the resulting paths and set them to Blending Mode Overlay.
23. Select the white rounded rectangle created in step 19 and go to the Object > Transform > Scale. Select Non-Uniform, enter 102 in the Horizontal box and enter 110 in the Vertical box, then click Copy. Remove the fill color of the newly created rectangle and add a 2px stroke (R=0, G=0, B=158), then apply the Width Profile 2 and a 4px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting rectangle. Now reselect the white rounded rectangle created in step 19 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown in the third image and click OK. The last thing to do is select and group (Ctrl + G) all the objects created from step 19 up to this time. The air mat is ready and looks like the third image below.
24. Repeat the process in the previous steps to create another air mat.
Create an Inflatable Swim Ring
25. We will continue with the swim ring. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create two ellipses with dimensions: 134px by 134px and 67px by 67px. Select these ellipses and open the Align palette (Window > Align), then click on the Horizontal Align Center button and click on the Vertical Align Center button. Reselect these ellipses and open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder), then click on the Minus Front button. Keep the resulting object selected and go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter -8px Offset and click OK, then move the newly created object 4px to the right and replace the existing stroke color of it with white.
26. Fill the black object with the linear gradient as shown below and remove the stroke of it. Next, remove the stroke of the white object and fill it with the linear gradient as you can see in the second image, then apply a 5px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape.
27. Select the bigger shape created in step 26. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of it, then move it 10px down and 10px to the right. Replace the existing color of this new shape with R=46, G=0, B=0 and apply a 6px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape. Reduce its Opacity to 80% and bring it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). To give a more realistic look, I’m going to add some highlights on the swim ring. With the use of Pen Tool (P), create two curved paths as shown in the second image. Once your paths are drawn, fill them with none and add a 3px stroke (R=255, G=255, B=255). Next, apply the Width Profile 1 and 4px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting paths, then change the Blending Mode to Hard Light. Finally, select and group (Ctrl + G) all the objects created from step 25 up to this time.
Create a Beach Ball
28. Let’s work on the creation of beach ball. Using the Ellipse Tool (L), create a 90px by 90px ellipse. Next, pick the Pen Tool (P) and create six straight paths as shown in the second image. Now with the help of the Convert Anchor Point Tool (Shift +C), adjust the shape of the straight paths as you can see in the third image below.
29. Before you continue, select all the six curved paths and make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of them. Now select a green path and a yellow path, then right click on the artboard. Select the Join section from the drop-down menu. Do this again to connect these two paths to become a closed path, then reselect the closed path and lock it (Ctrl +2). Next, select a yellow path and a red path and connect these two paths to become a closed path, then lock this closed path. Repeat the techniques for the remaining paths. You should end up with something like the final image below.
30. Before you continue, press (Ctrl +Alt +2) to unlock all the objects locked in step 29. Now select all the objects created in step 29 and the black ellipse, then open the Pathfinder palette and click on the Divide button. Select and remove all the objects as you can see in the third image below.
31. Select a new object created in step 30 and fill it with the radial gradient as shown below. Remove the stroke of it. Next, make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the new shape and click on the “Swap Fill and Stroke” icon from the Tool palette. Repeat the techniques for the remaining five objects (but with different color).
32. With the use of Ellipse Tool (L), create two ellipses and place them to the positions as shown below. Fill the smaller ellipse with the radial gradient and remove the stroke of it. Next, fill the remaining ellipse with the radial gradient as you can see in the fourth image and remove its stroke. Apply a 5px Gaussian Blur for the resulting ellipse and set it to Blending Mode Hard Light. To add some details, first draw two white shapes as shown in the sixth image, then apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for these two shapes and reduce their Opacity to 70%.
33. Select and group (Ctrl + G) all the shapes created from step 28 up to this time. Go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown below and click OK. Next, create an ellipse using the Ellipse Tool (L) like in the second image below. Fill this ellipse with none and add a 2px stroke (R=228, G=253, B=249). Apply the Width Profile 3 and a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting ellipse, then send it to back (Ctrl +Shift +Left Square Bracket). We are done with the beach ball. The last thing to do is select and group (Ctrl + G) all the objects created from step 28 up to this time.
Create a Flip-Flop
34. It’s time to draw a flip-flog. Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 32px by 84px rectangle. Wiith the use of Pen Tool (P), create a black object as you can see in the second image. Now select anchor points of the black object and click on the “Convert selected anchor points to smooth” button from the Properties bar. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the shape of the black object as you can see in the third image. After you are done adjusting the shape of the black object, fill it with R=255, G=0, B=0 and remove its stroke.
35. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 38px by 7px rectangle, then fill this rectangle with R=241, G=242, B=242 and place the resulting rectangle to the position as you can see in the first image. Reselect the white rectangle and go to the Object > Transform > Move. Enter 13 in the Vertical box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) four times to get the results as shown in the second image. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the red shape. Remove the fill color of it and add a 1px white stroke, then apply a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting object. Keep the white object selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the six white rectangles. Group (Ctrl +G) them. Now select the red shape and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it, then bring the duplicate to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Keep the newly created red shape selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the newly created group. Go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7).
36. Select the red shape created in step 34 and go to the Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Follow the data as shown below and click OK.
37. Now we’ll do the straps of the flip-flop. With the use of Pen Tool (P), create two objects and fill them with the linear gradient as shown in the https://vectordiary.com/isd_tutorials/100-swimming-pool below.
38. Using the Pen Tool (P), create an object and fill it with the linear gradient as shown in the https://vectordiary.com/isd_tutorials/100-swimming-pool below. Hide it behind the straps. Now create an ellipse and place it to the position as you can see in the third image. Fill this ellipse with R=35, G=31, B=32, then apply a 1px Feather effect for the resulting ellipse and hide it behind the first shape created in this step.
39. To give a more realistic look, I’m going to add some shadows for the straps of the flip-flop. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create two objects as shown below. Once your objects are drawn, fill them with R=35, G=31, B=32. Next apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shapes and reduce their Opacity to 50%. Hide them behind the straps. We are done with the flip-flops. The last thing to do is select and group (Ctrl + G) all the shapes created from step 34 up to this time.
40. To create a flip-flop with different color, make a duplicate (Ctrl C, Ctrl +F) of the red flip-flop, then reflect it vertically. Next, place the new flip-flop to another position and replace the existing color of it with the color you want.
Create the Strings of Bunting
41. Using the Line Segment Tool (\), create a horizontal path. Fill this path with none and add a 4px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke). Next, pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 46px by 28px rectangle, then make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the new rectangle and place it to another position. Now focus on one of the two rectangles. Select and remove the bottom-right anchor point of it, then select and move the bottom-left anchor point 23px to the right. Now using the Add Anchor Point Tool, (+) add an anchor point at the point highlighted with yellow of the remaining rectangle. Select and move the newly added anchor point 14px up.
42. Place the two objects created in step 41 to the positions as you can see in the first image. Reselect these two objects and go to the Object > Transform > Move. Enter 115 in the Horizontal box and click Copy, then press (Ctrl +D) six times to get the results as shown in the second image. Fill all the newly created objects with the linear gradient. In the end, your shapes should look like the final image shown below.
43. To give a more realistic look, we will use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to adjust the shape of the new shapes created in step 42. You should end up with something like the final image.
44. Repeat the process in the previous steps to draw two more strings of bunting. Finally, rotate these strings of bunting and place them to the positions as you can see in the image below.
Place the Pool Objects in the Swimming Pool
45. Now, follow the sequence of https://vectordiary.com/isd_tutorials/100-swimming-pool and place the elements created in the previous steps in the swimming pool.
This is how the Summer Holidays poster should look like. I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. Happy Summer Holidays!
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