0In this tutorial, we’ll be learning how to create a dolphin in the deep blue ocean using Adobe Illustrator.You’ll start by creating the deep blue ocean with the help of the Rectangle Tool and the Pen Tool along with some other effects (Gaussian Blur and Feather). We’ll also be using some basic tools and other simple vector techniques, along with the Grain effect for the creation of a detailed dolphin. To add depth, you will be shading and highlighting the body of the dolphin. Let’s start.
Open a New Document
1. Launch Illustrator and press (Ctrl + N) to create a New document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 828 in the width box and 588 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 Deep Blue Ocean
2. Let’s work on the creation of sands. Start by drawing a 826px by 582px object using the Rectangle Tool (M). Next, pick the Pen Tool (P) and create objects as you can see in the images below. You should end up with something like the final image.
3. Fill all the red and black objects with R=146, G=254, B=255 and add a 4px stroke (R=100, G=229, B=251), then go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 5px Radius and click OK, then go to the Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -3px Offset and click OK. Make sure that the new shapes are still selected, open the Appearance palette Window > Appearance and remove the Gaussian Blur section, then remove the stroke of the resulting shapes. Keep these results selected and apply a 5px Feather effect for them. Finally, move the resulting shapes 1px up and 6px to the right.
4. Fill the blue rectangle created in step 2 with R=14, G=78, B=220. Continue working with the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 928px by 254px object. Fill it with the linear gradient, then go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 15px Radius and click OK.
5. Keep working with the Rectangle Tool (M) and create a 890px by 605px object then fill this object with the linear gradient as shown in the second image. Next, apply a 15px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape.
6. Let’s proceed with the light rays. Using the Rectangle Tool (M), create six objects with dimensions similar with the image below. Once your rectangles are drawn, fill them with the linear gradients as shown in the second image.
7. Keep working with the Rectangle Tool (M). Create four objects and fill them with the linear gradients as shown in the images below.
8. Reselect all the rectangles created in step 6 and step 7 and then go to the Effect > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter a 10px Radius and click OK, then reduce the Opacity of the results to 90%. Keep these results selected and go to the Object > Transform > Rotate. Enter a 7 degrees Angle and click OK.
Create the Dolphin
9. With the help of the Rectangle Tool (M), create a 655px by 133px object. Pick the Pen Tool (P) and draw an object as you can see in the second image. Once your object is drawn, convert all the anchor points of this object to smooth. With the help of the Direct Selection Tool (A), adjust the handles of the anchor points of the new object to get the result as shown in the fourth image below. After you are done adjusting the shape of the new object, apply a linear gradient as it is shown in the final image below.
10. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the new shape created in step 9 and replace the existing color of it with new linear gradient. Keep the resulting shape selected. Go to the Effect > Texture > Grain. Follow the data as you can see in the second image and then click OK. Next, apply a 2px Feather effect for the result and set this result to Blending Mode Multiply, then reduce the Opacity to 20%.
11. We are going to add highlights on the dolphin to give it a 3D look. With the use of the Pen Tool (P), draw an object as shown below and fill it with R=197, G=207, B=194, then go to the Effect > Texture > Grain. Follow the data as you can see in the third image and click OK. Next, apply a 7px Gaussian Blur effect for the result and then set this result to Blending Mode Hard Light.
12.With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create an object as shown below and fill this object with R=72, G=141, B=202. Next, apply a 2px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape and reduce the Opacity to 70%. Keep working with the Pen Tool (P) to create an object as you can see in the third image. Once your object is drawn, select the shape created in step 10 and duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) it. Make sure that the new shape is still selected, hold down the Shift key, click on the red object and open the Pathfinder palette (Window > Pathfinder). Click on the Intersect button. Next, fill the resulting shape with R=72, G=141, B=202. Continue working with the Pen Tool (P) to create an object as shown in the seventh image and then fill it with R=85, G=172, B=212.
13. Select the two new shapes created in step 12 and apply a 10px Gaussian Blur effect for them. Now reselect and group (Ctrl + G) the four shapes created from step 11 up to this time. Next, select the shape created in step 10, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) and bring it to front (Ctrl +Shift +Right Square Bracket). Make sure that the new shape is still selected, hold down the Shift key, click on the new group and go to the Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl +7).
Create the Mouth and Eye of the Dolphin
14. With the help of Pen Tool (P), create two curved paths as shown below. Once your paths are drawn, fill the red path with none and add a 3px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke), then apply a 2px Feather effect for the result. Next, fill the remaining path with none and add a 2px stroke (R=12, G=51, B=74). Finally, apply the Width Profile 1 and a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the result.
15. Let’s work on the eye. First, draw two objects as you can see in the images below. Once your objects are drawn, fill the red object with R=43, G=84, B=106. Next, fill the remaining object with the radial gradient and then go to the Effect > Stylize > Outer Glow. Follow the data as shown in the fourth image and click OK. Finally, reselect the two newly created shapes and apply a 7px Feather effect for them.
16. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create an object and fill it with the radial gradient as shown in the images below. Apply a 5px Feather effect for the resulting shape.
17. Keep working with the Pen Tool (P), create an object as shown below and fill it with R=26, G=54, B=78. Next, duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) the new shape and replace the existing color of it with R=68, G=113, B=132. Reduce the size of the resulting shape as you can see in the third image. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the new shape and replace the existing color of it with the radial gradient, then reduce the size of the resulting shape as you can see in the fourth image.
18. To add some details, first draw three paths as shown below. Once your paths are drawn, fill them with none and add a 1px stroke (apply the linear gradient across stroke). Next, apply the Width Profile 1 and a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting objects. At this point, your dolphin should look roughly like the final image below.
Create the Tail Fluke
19. Let’s start by creating the tail fluke of the dolphin. First draw an object using the Pen Tool (P) and then fill it with the linear gradient similar with the images below.
20. Continue working with the Pen Tool (P) to create three objects. Fill them with the linear gradients as you can see in the images below. Next, reselect the newly created shape and apply a 3px Feather effect for it. You should end up with something like the final image below.
Create the Dorsal Fin
21. Now we’ll work with the dorsal fin. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create an object as shown below and fill this object with R=62, G=145, B=167. Make a duplicate (Ctrl +C, Ctrl +F) of the new shape and replace the existing color of it with R=34, G=67, B=79, then apply a 8px Feather effect for the resulting shape. Next, duplicate the new shape, replace the existing color of it with R=62, G=132, B=199 and go to the Appearance palette (Window > Appearance), then click on the Feather section. In the Feather box, enter a 2px Radius and click OK. Make sure that the result is still selected and go to the Effect > Texture > Grain. Follow the data as shown in the fourth image and click OK. Finally, change the Blending Mode of the resulting shape to Multiply and lower the Opacity to 30%.
22. To add some details, first draw a curved path as shown below. Next, fill this path with none and add a 2px stroke (R=42, G=98, B=152). Finally, apply the Width Profile 1 and a 1px Gaussian Blur effect for the resulting shape.
Create the Flipper
23. It’s time to draw the flipper. With the help of the Pen Tool (P), create two objects as shown in the images below. Once your objects are drawn, fill the black object with the linear gradient as you can see in the third image. Next, fill th
