How To Create A Billboard In Illustrator

Final Image Preview

In this vector tutorial we will learn how to create an advertising billboard using 3D modeling and a few simple techniques such as shape building using the Pathfinder palette, defining the vanishing point by using the guides, filling an object with gradients and using the Blend Tool.

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Tutorial Details

• Program: Adobe IllustratorCS-CS5;
• Difficulty: Beginner;
• Estimated Completion Time: 45 minutes;

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Step 1

Take the Rounded Rectangle Tool and create billboard advertising space. In the process of creating a shape you can change the radius of rounding the corners, by pressing the arrow keys.

Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle, align the two created figures vertically and horizontally with the help of the Align palette.

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Step 2

Select both shapes and click on the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder palette.

With the Rectangle Tool (M) create two rectangles that will be a stand of the billboard, and align all the objects vertically with the help of the Align palette.

Select and group up all the created objects (Cmd / Ctrl + G).

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Step 3

Keep the group selected, go to Effect> 3D> Extrude & Bevel and set the angle of rotation around the axis Y in the dialogue window, the angle of perspective and the Extrude Depth.

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Step 4

Now go to Object> Expand Appearance.

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Step 5

With the Direct Selection Tool (A) select three objects on the side of the billboard and press the Unite button from the Pathfinder palette in order to unite them.

Recolor the surface of the billboard in different colors, it needs to be done so you could see what other objects need to be united and if the objects are in the right sequence relatively to each other in layers palette.

For example, that's how I found that the objects of the upper surface of the ground of the billboard needed to be united.

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Step 6

Open the layers palette and select all the underlayers in turn, watching in the workspace, which objects are selected. This is a so-called objects audit. This way I detect and remove unnecessary objects.

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Step 7

Billboard stand is usually wider than the advertising plane. Let's extend it. We are dealing with an object located in the linear perspective. For further constructions, we need to find the vanishing point. This can be easily done with the help of guides. Create a horizontal guide and place it at the intersection with one of the billboard's angles of inclination.

Take the Rotate Tool (R) and set the rotation center into the intersection point of the guide with an angle of a billboard, now turn the guide so that it could coincide with  edge of the billboard.

In the same way create and rotate another guide, so that it could coincide with another edge of the billboard.

The intersection point of these guides will be the vanishing point.

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Step 8

Now create the guides that will limit the basis of the billboard across the width. Create a new horizontal guide and move it to the intersection with the vanishing point.

Take the Rotate Tool (R), set the center of rotation into the vanishing point and rotate the guide towards the supposed boundary of the basis.

The coincidence of the guide with the lower edge of the base in the picture above happened by chance. Using this technique, create another guide, which will limit the billboard stand across the width on the back.

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Step 9

Lock the guides in the Layers palette, take the Direct Selection Tool (A) and begin to move the anchor points of the A-surface towards the intersection with the guides. While moving the anchor points you should not move them from the already existing direction.

Take the Pen Tool (P) and delete the points 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Using the same technique, create the sides of the basis of the billboard.

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Step 10

The basic elements of the billboard are created; now get down to the coloring of the image. First create a background. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a rectangle filled with linear gradient from blue to dark blue color.

Now create another rectangle and fill it with the same gradient.

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Step 11

To add volume to the image, will be using a linear gradient containing gray and black color, while locating it at different angles.

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Step 12

Take the Pen Tool (P) and create the shape of glass. Move the underlayer with the shape in the layers palette so that it could take the right position. Now fill this shape with linear gradient consisting of rotating gray and black colors.

Now set the Screen Blending Mode for the glass shape in the Transparency palette.

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Step 13

Create light bulbs of the billboard. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a circle. Fill the circle with radial gradient from red to gray.

Create glow from the lights. Create another circle and place it in the underlayer under the bulb. Fill this circle with radial gradient from red to black.

Set the Screen Blending Mode for this circle in the Transparency palette.

Group up both objects created in this step.

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Step 14

Holding down the Shift key and the Opt / Alt, drag the group down.

Select these two groups and go to Object> Blend> Blend Options and set the blend step equal to 2, then go to Object> Blend> Make.

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Step 15

Light bulbs will not be visible on the left side of the billboard. Just create the glow from them on this side, using the technique described in step 13.

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Step 16

Proceed to the creation of the billboard reflection. With the Pen Tool (P), create two black shapes, so that their boundaries were a little beyond the basis, and place them below all of the objects, but certainly above the background.

Now create a new shape and fill it with linear gradient from black to black with 0% opacity. Two vertical guides will help us to set its width accurately.

Create a reflection of the side of the basis of a billboard.

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Conclusion

Now you can add advertising text on the billboard glass using 3D effect with the same parameters that we used to the entire billboard in step 3.

Final Image

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How To Create A Billboard In Illustrator

Source: http://vectorboom.com/load/tutorials/illustration/how_to_create_advertising_billboard_using_adobe_illustrator/5-1-0-45

Posted by: cundiffthaveling73.blogspot.com

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