Easy 2D to 3D Illustration Hack for Beginners | Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

Summary

In this tutorial, Anne demonstrates how to transform a 2D rainbow illustration into a 3D version using Adobe Illustrator 2022. She guides viewers through creating circles, manipulating paths, and using the shape builder tool to eliminate overlaps. Anne also shows how to create a fluffy cloud and apply lighting effects for a realistic 3D look. She advises on editing colors and managing render settings for efficiency. The tutorial concludes with adding a background to complete the scene, encouraging viewers to share their creations.

Takeaways

• 🌈 The tutorial is about transforming a 2D rainbow illustration into a 3D version using Adobe Illustrator's new feature.
• 🖌️ The user needs Adobe Illustrator 2022 to follow along with the tutorial.
• 🎨 The tutorial provides HEX codes for the rainbow colors, allowing viewers to match the exact shades used by the instructor.
• 🔄 The process involves creating a series of circles using the ellipse shape tool and the 'Offset path' function.
• 📏 The initial circle is set to 1000px in width and height to create a large, central circle for the rainbow.
• ✂️ The 'Shape Builder Tool' is used to remove unwanted parts of the circles and clean up the design.
• 🌀 The tutorial demonstrates how to copy and paste parts of the design to avoid losing certain colors during the editing process.
• 💨 The final step in creating the rainbow involves removing overlapping shapes to ensure a clean, layered appearance.
• ☁️ A cloud is created by duplicating and arranging circles to resemble a fluffy cloud that covers the bottom of the rainbow.
• 💡 The lighting effect is achieved with a slightly off-white color, and viewers can experiment with the settings to find what works best for them.
• 🔄 The 3D render process can be time-consuming, but it allows for changes in color and design without having to re-render each time if the real-time render is turned off.
• 🎨 The final product is a 3D rainbow icon that resembles clay, showcasing the capabilities of Adobe Illustrator's 3D feature for 2D illustrators.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Anne's tutorial?

The main topic of Anne's tutorial is creating a 3D version of a 2D rainbow illustration using Adobe Illustrator.

Which version of Adobe Illustrator does Anne recommend for this tutorial?

Anne recommends using Adobe Illustrator 2022 for this tutorial.

What is the standard canvas size Anne uses for her illustration?

Anne uses a standard canvas size of 1920x1080 for her illustration.

How does Anne suggest creating a series of circles for the rainbow?

Anne suggests using the 'Offset path' feature under 'Object > path' and repeating the process with -100px offset until all necessary elements are created.

What keyboard shortcut does Anne use to switch to the ellipse shape tool in Adobe Illustrator?

Anne uses the 'L' key to switch to the ellipse shape tool in Adobe Illustrator.

How does Anne show the wireframe of the illustration?

Anne shows the wireframe by pressing 'command + Y' for Mac.

What tool does Anne use to remove unwanted parts of the shapes in the rainbow?

Anne uses the Shape Builder tool to remove unwanted parts of the shapes in the rainbow.

How does Anne handle the loss of the yellow part when removing the red circle?

Anne copies the yellow part before deleting it, and pastes it back after cutting out the red circle.

What does Anne suggest for creating the cloud in the illustration?

Anne suggests using a whitish color, creating a circle, duplicating and arranging it to form a fluffy cloud, and then adjusting it to cover the bottom of the rainbow.

What is the final step Anne mentions for completing the 3D rainbow icon?

The final step Anne mentions is clicking 'render' to see the final outcome of the 3D rainbow icon.

How does Anne suggest making changes to the 3D illustration without re-rendering each time?

Anne suggests turning off the real-time render in the 3D panel or turning off the 3D effect in the effects panel to edit its 2D form without re-rendering.

What does Anne add to the scene to complete the look of the final render?

Anne adds a background to the scene to complete the look and appreciates the way the shadow spreads nicely.

How does Anne encourage viewers to share their creations based on the tutorial?

Anne encourages viewers to tag her on Instagram if they create something from the tutorial, as she would love to see their work.

What does Anne invite viewers to do if they have suggestions for future tutorials?

Anne invites viewers to write their suggestions for future tutorials or topics they want covered in the comments section.

Outlines

00:00

🌈 Creating a 3D Rainbow Illustration in Adobe Illustrator

In this tutorial, Anne guides viewers through the process of transforming a 2D rainbow illustration into a 3D version using Adobe Illustrator 2022. She begins by setting up the canvas and creating a series of concentric circles to form the rainbow's bands. Anne then demonstrates how to use the 'Offset path' feature to adjust the size of each band and the shape builder tool to remove unwanted shapes and avoid overlaps. She also shows how to create a cloud to complement the rainbow and emphasizes the importance of adjusting the cloud's size and shape to cover the rainbow's base. The tutorial is aimed at those familiar with Adobe Illustrator and interested in learning 3D effects.

05:11

💡 Adding Lighting and Final Touches to the 3D Rainbow

The second part of Anne's tutorial focuses on adding lighting effects to enhance the 3D appearance of the rainbow illustration. She discusses her preferred lighting color and settings, which she finds optimal for this project. Anne then instructs viewers on how to set up the 3D settings and render the final image, which can be time-consuming. She mentions the limitations of Adobe Illustrator's 3D feature but expresses satisfaction with the outcome. Anne also explains how to edit the color and other elements without re-rendering each time by disabling the real-time render or the 3D effect. Finally, she adds a background to complete the scene and invites viewers to share their creations and provide feedback for future tutorials.

Keywords

💡2D illustration

2D illustration refers to a form of visual art that represents images in two dimensions, as opposed to three-dimensional space. In the context of the video, Anne is transforming a 2D rainbow illustration into a 3D version using Adobe Illustrator, showcasing the transition from flat artwork to a more realistic, depth-oriented design.

💡3D version

A 3D version is a representation of a model or object in three dimensions, giving it depth and a more lifelike appearance. In the video, Anne demonstrates how to create a 3D effect for a rainbow illustration, which is a key part of the tutorial and represents a significant advancement in the realm of digital art.

💡Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor used for creating illustrations, logos, icons, and other graphic elements. In the script, Anne uses this software to demonstrate the process of converting a 2D rainbow into a 3D illustration, highlighting its capabilities for graphic design.

💡Wireframe

A wireframe in graphic design is a basic visual model that represents the structure of a 3D object or scene. In the video, Anne uses the wireframe view in Adobe Illustrator to show the underlying structure of the 3D rainbow before adding colors and details.

💡Offset path

Offset path is a feature in Adobe Illustrator that creates a new path parallel to the original path at a specified distance. Anne uses this feature to create a series of concentric circles for the rainbow, demonstrating a fundamental technique in vector graphic design.

💡Shape builder tool

The shape builder tool in Adobe Illustrator is used to combine, subtract, or intersect shapes by clicking or dragging over them. Anne uses this tool to clean up the rainbow by removing unwanted shapes, which is a crucial step in refining the 3D illustration.

💡Rendering

Rendering is the process of generating a two-dimensional image or animation from a model or scene using computer graphics. In the script, Anne mentions rendering the 3D rainbow icon, which involves the computer generating the final appearance of the 3D model based on the settings applied.

💡Real-time render

Real-time render refers to the ability to see the effects of changes immediately as they are made, without the need to wait for a separate rendering process. Anne mentions turning off the real-time render mode in Adobe Illustrator to make changes more quickly without the overhead of constant re-rendering.

💡3D effect

A 3D effect is a visual technique used to give a two-dimensional image the appearance of depth. In the video, Anne applies a 3D effect to the rainbow illustration, which is a key part of the tutorial and results in a more realistic and three-dimensional look.

💡Shadow

In graphic design, a shadow is a dark area that represents the effect of light being blocked by an object. Anne adds a shadow to the 3D rainbow icon to enhance the sense of depth and realism, which is an important aspect of creating a convincing 3D illustration.

💡Tutorial

A tutorial is a set of instructions or guidance on how to achieve a particular task or skill. In the script, Anne provides a step-by-step tutorial on creating a 3D rainbow icon in Adobe Illustrator, which is the main educational content of the video.

Highlights

Anne shares a tutorial on creating a 3D version of a 2D rainbow illustration using Adobe Illustrator 2022.

The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to follow along in real time.

A standard canvas size of 1920x1080 is recommended for the tutorial.

The HEX codes for rainbow colors are provided to achieve the same result as Anne's.

The ellipse shape tool is used to create circles of different sizes for the rainbow.

The 'Offset path' feature is utilized to create smaller circles within the original circle.

The process involves creating a series of circles to form the complete rainbow.

The wireframe view helps in identifying and deleting unwanted points.

The Shape Builder tool is used to clean up unseen shapes by removing overlaps.

Copying and pasting shapes is a technique to preserve parts of the rainbow during editing.

Creating a cloud involves using a whitish color and arranging circles to form a fluffy shape.

The cloud is adjusted to cover the bottom of the rainbow and add to the overall design.

Lighting settings are crucial for achieving the desired 3D effect.

The 3D render process takes time and requires patience.

The final 3D rainbow icon resembles clay, which was a surprising outcome.

Limitations of the 3D feature in Adobe Illustrator are acknowledged, but the result is still satisfying.

Colors can still be changed in the 3D render, similar to vector editing.

Disabling real-time render or the 3D effect allows for faster editing of the 2D form.

Anne adds a background to complete the scene and enhance the visual appeal.

The tutorial is Anne's first-ever, and she expresses enjoyment in sharing her learning experience.

Viewers are encouraged to tag Anne on Instagram with their creations from the tutorial.

Anne invites feedback and suggestions for future tutorial topics in the comments section.

Transcripts

Hi friends, it's me Anne and today I want to share with you how I created this 2D rainbow illustration

into a 3D version of it.

It's a new feature that I've learnt in Adobe Illustrator where you can create all this 3D magic.

I want to share with you the step-by-step in real time where you can follow along this

tutorial to create the same thing.

All you need to do is to get your Adobe Illustrator 2022 ready and let's go!

Open up your Adobe Illustrator and my canvas here is the standard 1920x1080.

If you want to get the same result as mine, feel free to note the HEX code in the colours

for the rainbow.

Now, press L to switch to the ellipse shape tool, click once on the canvas...

And enter in the size to 1000px...

For both the width and height to create a circle.

Alright, now we want to create a series of circles.

At the top, go to Objects, choose path and then choose ‘Offset path’.

In the box enter -100px here and click OK.

This will create a smaller circle within our original circle.

Now click the smaller circle and do the same thing again.

Object > path > offset path > -100px and OK.

Let’s repeat this until we have all the necessary elements.

Ok last one…

Now we have our full rainbow, press command + Y for mac to show the wireframe, press A

and highlight the points that we want to get rid and delete.

And, one more step to complete it.

I want to clean up the unseen shapes.

To do this, select the two shapes that you want to cut and go to your shape builder tool

on the toolbar on the left . When I press shift, you see the plus sign turns minus,

if you click on the highlighted part, you will remove that shape.

So that’s the function of the shape builder tool.

Now let’s start from the top, now select both the red and yellow, choose shape builder and

remove the part we don’t want- we’ll have the red part but unfortunately we will lose

the yellow part.

So what I do is, I’ll copy the yellow part before deleting it, and pasting it back after

I have cut out my red circle.

I’ll do it again, here copy the green shape.

Choose green and yellow, remove the overlap and then paste the green shape, move it backward.

One more time, I’ll copy the blue, remove the overlap and then paste it back.

For the last one, I don’t need to copy the white part since I need it to be gone.

Let’s remove that.

Now we will have the rainbow done, clean and no overlapping shapes under each other!

After we have the rainbow done, now we will create the cloud which is much easier.

Choose the whitish colour from the palette and create a circle.

Duplicate it and arrange it to its left.

Duplicate and arrange to its right.

Duplicate and add the puffiness at the bottom.

Arrange so that it looks like the a nice, fluffy cloud.

Adjust the cloud to cover the bottom of the rainbow, resize and do what you need to do.

We want these clouds to cover the corner of

the rainbow.

Moving on the to the last tab, lighting.

For the color of the lighting I like something slightly off-white.

After experimenting for this icon, I find these settings to work best for me so you

are welcome to enter the exact value on the screen or experiment on your own.

Alright, we have set up the 3D settings and we are one more step away from completing

it.

Now let’s click render to see how things will turn out…

It will take some time, don’t worry and my computer is working really hard right now.

And here you go, this is the final render of the 3D rainbow icon.

I was so shocked when I first tried out, it looks like clay and people thought it was

those clay earrings.

There are limitations to this 3D feature in Adobe Illustrator, but I’m happy with how

it turns out.

It's such a big step for all of us in the 2D illustration realm.

The cool thing is that you can still change the colour- just like vector, although it

will re-render again and maybe quite heavy to make a lot of changes in the real-time

render mode.

If you wish to make changes faster, you can either turn off the real-time render on the

top right of the 3D panel or you can go to effects panel and turn off the 3D effect to

edit its 2D form too without having to render every time you make those changes.

I will add some background to this scene just to complete the look…

I love the way the shadow spreads nicely.

There you go, I hope that it’s an easy to follow tutorial, please tag me on instagram

if you have created something from this tutorial because I would love to see them.

So that's it, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, it's my first ever tutorial and it was just

really fun to share what I've learnt, what I have discovered.

So if there is anything that you want to see that I do next time, or topics that you want

me to cover just write them down below in the comments.

Thank you for watching and I'll see you guys again- Bye!