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How to create ornaments in Illustrator (Christmas Tree Part 2)

by | Dec 5, 2014 | Articles, Graphic Design, Illustrator, Tutorials | 0 comments

Tutorial: How to create ornaments and decorate the Christmas Tree

  • Author: Freepik
  • Program: Adobe Illustrator (CS6)
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Topics Covered: Creating symbols, creating graphic fills
  • Estimated Completion Time: approx. 30mins – 1hr

Step 1

Grab your Ellipse Tool and create a circle shape. Open up the Appearance panel and apply a gradient for the fill by opening up the Gradient panel and click on the gradient itself.

Step 3

Now change the gradient to a blue shade. For the right pointer change the color to this shade #3A7999 and for the left pointer #46C4DA. Change
the gradient type to ‘Radial’

Step 4

Go back to Appearance and add a new fill by clicking on the arrow icon on the upper right corner of the panel. On the dropdown options click on ‘Add new fill’

Step 5

In the gradient panel, make sure the Type is ‘Linear’ and Angle is ’50’ degrees. Click on the left pointer in the gradient and make sure the Opacity is set
to ‘0%’. For the right pointer change the color to a dark blue (#0D182C).

Step 6

Add a new fill again (repeat Step 4) and go the Gradient panel. Set the Type to ‘Radial’ and Aspect Ratio must be ‘100.3%’. Change the color for the left pointer,
the color should be the dark blue (#0D182C) make sure the other pointer is set to Opacity ‘0%’. Now change the position of the radiant gradient to the bottom left of the circle similar to the screen shot below.

Step 7

Go back to Appearance and add a new fill (repeat Step 4). Go to the Gradient panel. Type must be set to ‘Radial’ change the color of the left pointer to a
bright light blue (#69E1FF) and the other pointer must have ‘0%’ Opacity. Move the Gradient to the upper right corner of the circle shape similar to the screenshot below.

create ornaments in Illustrator  edit

create ornaments in Illustrator 1

Step 8

Go back to Appearance and add a new fill (repeat Step 4). Go the the Gradient and set the Type to ‘Linear’. In the gradient slider make sure you have three
pointers. For the first (left) pointer, change the color to a bright light blue (#96DBD0) and the location of the pointer to ‘0%’. For the middle pointer, just
make sure the Opacity is set ‘0%’ with the Location set at ‘50%’. For the final pointer on the very right change the color to the same shade as before (#96DBD0) and
Location must be set at ‘100%’.

create ornaments in Illustrator  2

Step 9

For our final layer fill, go back to appearance and add a new fill (repeat Step 4). Go to the Gradient panel, Type should be set at ‘Linear’, Angle should be set
at ‘-90′ degrees. Change the color of the pointer to this shade (#96DBD0). Click on the gradient slider on the top (small diamond icon) and change its’ Location
to ‘33.33%’. For the other pointer set the Opacity to ‘0%’

create ornaments in Illustrator 3

Step 10

Now with the same fill selected go to Effects > Distort&Transform > Transform. Now the dialog box will pop up wherein we can change the settings. For the
Scale change the Horizontal to ‘85%’ and the Vertical to ‘80%’. Now under the Move settings type in ‘-4.2px’ for the Vertical option. Then Click ‘OK’.

Step 11

You will end up with a circle with some nice depth and a lot of shine. Check the Appearance panel and make sure the fills are arranged exactly like
in the screen shot below.

Step 12

Next we will create the metallic top part of the ornament. Grab your Ellipse tool and create a thin horizontal oval similar to the screenshot below.
Then with oval shape selected go to Object > Transform > Scale. In the dialog box that will appear choose ‘Non-Uniform’ and set the Horizontal to ‘65%’ and click ‘Copy’

Step 13

A shorter oval will be formed. Select it and drag it up using your Selection Tool. Make sure it is aligned with the longer oval at the center.
Grab your Pen tool and connect the edges of the oval forming a trapezoid similar to the screenshot below.

Step 14

Using your Selection Tool, select the longer oval at the bottom and your trapezoid shape. Now Open up the Pathfinder panel and click on the ‘Unite’ icon.

Step 15

While the shape is selected open up the Gradient panel and set the Type to ‘Linear’. Create this gradient which has 9 different shades of metallic grey.

Step 16

Select the top shorter oval and go to object > Arrange > Bring to Front.Now Select the gradient filled shape and duplicate it two times by pressing on CTRL+C (PC) / CMD+C (Mac) and then pressing CTRL+F (PC) / CMD+F (Mac) two times.
Then nudge the copy on top up a little bit.

Step 18

While the top copy is selected, also select the copy on the bottom with your Selection Tool by holding down Shift key. Open up the Pathfinder panel while
both shapes are selected and click on the ‘Minus Front’ icon. Your final object will look like the one in the screenshot below.

create ornaments in Illustrator

Step 19

Now Select all of the paths with your Selection Tool.While everything is selected group it by going to Object > Group. Select the metallic top part with your Selection Tool and move it on the top of your circle ornament that we have finished previously.

create ornaments in Illustrator

Step 20

We’ll create a stripe design for our Christmas Ornament. Let’s start with using the Rectangular Marquee Tool and create one thin horizontal rectangle shape.
Fill a very light yellow color (#FFFF97) Select the rectangle shape and to Object > Transform > Rotate. In the dialog box
set the Angle to ’25’ degrees and hit ‘OK’Then while the shape is selected go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. In the Move settings type in ‘9px’ for the Vertical option and on the
bottom typ in ‘5’ for copies. Then click ‘OK’

Step 21

Now go to Object > Expand Appearance then Compound Path > Make to convert the stripes into a single path. Go back to the Christmas Ornament and drag the stripes on top of the ball.

Step 22

Select your ball and duplicate it (Copy and Paste in front). Select the copy and your stripes and open up the Pathfinder panel – click
on the Intersect. Now while the stripes are selected put it behind the metallic top part by going to Object > Arrange > Send Backward.

Step 23

Then open up the Transparency panel and change the blending mode to ‘Overlay’Christmas ornament is ready and we can create a few more variations to decorate the tree with by simply change the colors of
the gradients used for the ball accordinly and also create other designs for the ornament.

Step 24

Get the Pen tool and create a straight vertical line.While the line is selected, open up the Stroke panel and change the Size to 12pt.

Step 25

Then create a V line similar to the one in the screenshot.Select the V line with the Selection Tool and go to Object > Transform > Reflect. This dialog box will appear. For the Axis choose ‘Horizontal’ and Click ‘Copy’.
You will automatically get an upside down V line and move this to the bottom of the line. Make sure it is aligned with the one on top.

Step 26

Next select all the paths we have made so far and go to Object > Expand. A dialog box will pop up and just click ‘OK’. Open up the Pathfinder panel and unite the expanded paths.

Step 27

With our shape selected go to Object > Transform > Rotate.When the dialog box appears type in 35 for the Angle and then click ‘Copy’

Step 28

Then press CTRL+D (PC) or CMD+D (Mac) at least 3 times so it would span a full circle. You will end up with something similar in the screenshot. 11. Select every path and open up the Pathfinder and click the ‘Unite’ icon.

Step 29

We’re going to go ahead and color it with a gardient. While selected open up Gradient panel and click on either pointer in the slider to create the gradient
fill. Next we’re going to choose the colors, select the pointer containing the dark grey color and change it into a cool blue color (#5BADFD) and leave the other pointer
white (#ffffff). Then change the gradient Type into ‘Radial’ (the white color should be in the inside) Our snowflake ornament is done.

Step 29

Next up we’re going to do the beaded string decoration. First grab your Ellipse tool and create a small perfect circle
with it and use a deep red shade (#AA0000) for the color.

Step 30

Open up your gradient panel and for the Type set it to ‘Radial’. Change the color of the right pointer to the same shade
of red as used before (#AA0000) and for the left pointer change it to a lighter red (#EBC18F)Move the radial gardient to the upper left corner of your circle shape just like in the screen shot below.

Step 31

Duplicate the circle and drag the copy to the right with your Selection Tool. Make sure there’s an adequate amount
of space between the two circles for at least 15 duplicates.

Step 32

Now that you have the two circles apart select both circles and go to Object > Blend > Make Blend.

Step 36

Go back to the bare Christmas Tree we have made and using the Pencil tool draw a curve that spans between the edges
of the tree horizontally like in the screenshot below.

Step 37

Select both your curved line and the beaded strings. Go to Object > Blend > Replace Spine. There’s too many beads in the line so we have to fix it by going to Object > Blend > Blend Options

Step 38

In the dialog box on the dropdown options for the Spacing set it to ‘Specified Steps’ and type in 15 then click ‘OK’

Step 39

Repeat Steps 6-9 for the whole tree.

Step 40

To blend it to the tree put some of the beaded strings behind the leaves by selecting it and going to Object > Arrange > Send Backward.
In the screenshot below I have also rearranged some of the leaves and added some more to hide the edges of the beaded strings.

Step 41

Now get your Christmas ornaments that you have made and start further decorating the tree. Duplicate the ornaments and snowflakes how many you want.

Step 42

When you’re happy with it, put some decorations behind the leaves by going to Object > Arrange > Send Backward. Also you can rearrange the leaves further.
This is to further emphasize the depth and your Christmas tree graphic won’t look flat.

Step 43

We need a star for our Christmas Tree. Grab the Star Tool and create a simple star on top of the tree and color it yellow (#FFC91F).
Open up the Gradient panel and set the Type to ‘Linear’. Color for the left pointer is #FFC91F and for the right pointer it should be light
orange #F96E00

Step 44

Now duplicate the star by copying and pasting it in front. Duplicate it two times. Then nudge the top copy up a bit.

Step 45

Select both duplicated star shapes and open up the Pathfinder panel and select the Minus Front icon.For the remaining shapes selected, open up the Transparency panel and change the Blending Mode to ‘Multiply’.

Step 46

Now add a sparkle to the star by grabbing the Star Tool and creating a very thin pointed edge star with a white color (#FFFFFF). You can achieve this with the Star Tool by holding CTRL/CMD while
dragging the shape outward. Place it onto the upper left corner of the star.

Step 47

Open up the Gradient panel and set the Type to ‘Radial’ and for the left pointer color it white (#FFFFFF) and for the right color it a light yellow. (#FFD32E)

Step 48

Select the sparkle and go to Object > Transform > Scale. In the dialog box set the Scale to ‘Uniform’ and type in ’70’ for the percent. Click ‘Copy’

Step 49

Select the smaller duplicated sparkle shape and go to Object > Transform > Rotate.
In the dialog box set the Angle to ’25’ degrees and hit ‘Ok’. Now our star is complete for the tree.

Step 50

For the finishing touch for our Christmas Tree let’s add some small tiny sparkles all over. Use the Star Tool and create a small thin edged star with 4 points similar
to the sparkle of Star on top of the tree but not make the points thicker. Color it white (#FFFFF)

Step 51

Now open the Gradient panel and set the type to ‘Radial’. The left pointer should stay white (#FFFFFF) and the right pointer should have an opacity of ‘0%’ while the
gradient slider’s (diamond icon) location should be set at ‘18.5%’ Move the position of your radial gradient similar to the screenshot below.
*I’ve added a grey background so we can see the shape as we go along.

Step 52

Open up the Symbols panel and drag our sparkle to the thumbnail list. A dialog box will appear feel free to name the symbol and change the Type to ‘Graphic’ You will now have the Sparkle included in the Symbol list. Now grab the Symbol spray and select the sparkle from the thumbnail list and start spraying
the symbol onto the Christmas tree.

Our Christmas Tree is finally done.

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