Welcome back to another Illustrator tutorial in which we’re going to learn how to put together a scary cellar scene, using some basic geometric shapes and tools that you probably already work with on a daily basis.
Oh, and don't forget you can always expand the composition by heading over to GraphicRiver where you'll find a great selection of vector assets.
So, assuming you already have the software up and running, grab a quick
sip of that fresh coffee and let’s get started!
1. How to Set Up a New Project File
As always, we’re going to kick things off by setting up a new project file by heading over to File > New (or using the Control-N keyboard shortcut), and then adjusting it as follows:
- Number of Artboards: 1
- Width: 800 px
- Height: 600 px
- Units: Pixels
And from the Advanced tab:
- Color Mode: RGB
- Raster Effects: Screen (72ppi)
- Preview Mode: Default
2. How to Set Up the Layers
Once we’ve finished setting up our project file, it would be a good idea to structure our document using a couple of layers, since this way we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one section of the illustration at a time.
That being said, bring up the Layers panel, and create a total of three layers, which we will rename as follows:
- layer 1: background
- layer 2: floor
- layer 3: trap door
Quick tip: I’ve colored all of my layers using the same green value, since it’s the easiest one to view when used to highlight your selected shapes (whether they’re closed or open paths).
3. How to Create the Background
As soon as we’ve layered our document, we can start working on the actual illustration, and we will do so by creating the background. That being said, make sure you’ve positioned yourself onto the first layer and let’s jump straight into it!
Step 1
Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 800 x 600 px rectangle, which we will
color using #21353A and then position to the center of the underlying Artboard
using the Align panel’s Horizontal and Vertical Align Center
options.
Step 2
Once we have the background in place, we can lock the current layer and then move on to the next one (that would be the second one), where we will focus on the second part of our composition.
4. How to Create the Floor
Assuming you’ve already positioned yourself onto the second layer, let’s continue working on our composition by creating the floor section.
Step 1
Create the main shape for the lighted section of the floor using a 480 x 320 px rectangle which we will
color using #FFB85A, and then center align to the Artboard’s bottom edge.
Step 2
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by individually selecting its bottom anchor points using the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then pushing them to the inside by a distance of 128 px using the Move tool (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal > +/- 128 px depending on which side you start with).
Step 3
Continue adjusting the shape by adding a new anchor point to the center of its top edge using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+), which we will then push to the outside by 160 px (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > -160 px).
Step 4
Give the upper section of the resulting shape a curvature by converting its top anchor to smooth using the Convert selected anchor points to smooth tool, and then repositioning its handles at a distance of 184 px from its center as seen in the reference image.
Step 5
Create a copy (Control-C) of
the shape that we’ve just finished adjusting, which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then turn into a linear
gradient with a 90º Angle. Use #F75443
for both of its color stops, lowering the Opacity
of its left one to 0% and its right
one to 60%. Once you’re done, make
sure to select and group both the gradient and the floor’s main shape together
using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut before moving on to the next one.
Step 6
Next, we’re going to start adding the floor lines which will help build
the perspective, and we will do so by creating the center line using an 8 x 600 px rectangle (#21353A), which we
will center align to the larger Artboard.
Step 7
Add the remaining lines using four copies (Control-C > Control-F four times) of the one that we’ve just created, which we will then individually adjust by repositioning their bottom anchor points 184 px from one another as seen in the reference image (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal > +/- 184 px depending on which side you start with). Take your time, and once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all five of them together before moving on to the next step.
Step 8
Give the resulting lines a set of highlights by creating a copy (Control-C) of them which we will paste
in back (Control-B). Then adjust them by setting their color to #FFCD5C and then individually increasing their Width by 4 px on each side. Once you’re done,
don’t forget to select both the highlights and ground lines and group them
together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 9
Grab the Pen Tool (P), and
quickly draw the little cracks into the floor, coloring the darker shapes using
#21353A and their highlights using #FFCD5C. Take your time, and once you’re
done, make sure you select and group all of them together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 10
Since we want the floor lines and the cracks to remain confined to the lighted surface, we’re going to mask them using a copy (Control-C) of the larger underlying shape, which we will paste in front (Control-F) and then, with both the desired shapes and the copy selected, simply right click > Make Clipping Mask.
Quick tip: for the moment, we’re going to be moving on to the next section, but we’ll be adding a few more cracks and some highlights once we’ve finished working on the cellar’s entrance.
5. How to Create the Cellar Entrance
Since we’re pretty much done working on the floor, we can lock its layer and move on up to the next one (that would be the third one) where we will start working on the center piece of our composition.
Step 1
Create the main shape for the cellar’s entrance using a 244 x 128 px rectangle (#21353A), which
we will adjust by individually selecting and pushing its top anchor points to
the inside by 40 px (right click > Transform > Move >
Horizontal > +/- 40 px depending on which side you start with). As soon
as you’re done, center align the resulting shape to the underlying Artboard,
positioning it 120 px
from the floor’s top edge.
Step 2
Start working on the support beam by creating the main shape for its
upper section using a 244 x 36 px rectangle, which we will color using #AA5D3F and then position on top of the previous
shape as seen in the reference image.
Step 3
Add the hinges using two 16 x 8 px rectangles (#21353A) stacked on top of an 8 x 16 px rectangle (#21353A), which we
will individually group (Control-G)
and then position 84 px from
one another, making sure to align them to the top edge of the beam.
Step 4
As we did with the floor, we’re going to take a couple of moments and draw in the little cracks (#21353A), highlights (#D67C50), and top shadow (#21353A), making sure to select and group
all of them together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut. Take your time, and once you’re done, don’t forget to select
and group (Control-G) all of the
current section’s composing shapes before moving on to the next one.
Step 5
Create the vertical support beams using two 24 x 92 px rectangles, which we will color using #844438 and then
position on the sides of the top one as seen in the reference image.
Step 6
Give the shapes that we’ve just created some details by drawing in the
little cracks (#21353A), highlights (#AA5D3F), and shadows (#21353A), making
sure to select and group (Control-G)
all of them together, doing the same for each beam afterwards.
Step 7
Select and group (Control-G) all three support beams together, masking them afterwards using a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the underlying shape (desired shapes selected > right click > Make Clipping Mask). Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the cellar entrance’s composing shapes together before moving on to the next step.
Step 8
Create the trap door using a copy (Control-C
> Control-F) of the cellar entrance’s main shape, which we will adjust
by first changing its color to #FFA95C and then vertically reflecting (right click > Transform > Reflect
> Vertical) and positioning it above as seen in the reference image.
Step 9
Add the door’s upper section using a 244 x 12 px rectangle (#844438), which we will adjust by
individually selecting and pushing its top anchor points to the inside by 12 px (right click > Transform > Move >
Horizontal > +/- 12 px depending on which side you start with),
positioning the resulting shape on top of the previously created shape.
Step 10
Create the top highlight using a 244
x 2 px rectangle, which we will color using #FFCD5C and then center align to
the door’s top edge, making sure to mask it afterwards.
Step 11
Next, grab the Pen Tool (P)
and quickly add some details to the lower section of the door by drawing the
cracks (#21353A) and subtle highlights (#21353A), using the reference image as
your main guide. Take your time, and once you’re done, make sure you select and
group all of the resulting shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 12
Start working on the occult symbol by creating the outer circle using a 72 x 72 px circle with a 4 px thick Stroke (#21353A), which we will horizontally center align to the
larger door, positioning it 28 px from its top edge.
Step 13
Following the reference image as your main guide, draw the downward-facing
pentagram using a 4 px thick Stroke (#21353A), making sure that its
anchor points overlap the path of the larger circle. Once you’re done, select
and group (Control-G) the two together
before moving on to the next step.
Step 14
Since we want the symbol to look hand-drawn, we’re going to apply a subtle roughen effect to its composing shapes, by heading over to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen and setting the Size to 1 px (Absolute) and the Detail to 15 / in, making sure to set the Points to Corner.
Step 15
Next, we’re going to be adding to the darkness of the scene by drawing
the blood splatter using one of Illustrator’s
default brushes called Ink Splatter,
which can be found within the Brushes
panel’s Library under Artistic > Artistic Ink. Once you
have it selected, simply switch over to the Paintbrush
Tool (B) and, with the Stroke
color set to #C63E2C, click anywhere on the trap door in order to create the splatter.
Step 16
Since we want to be able to edit the splatter, we’re going to expand it by heading over to Object > Expand Appearance, which will turn our brush stroke into a set of objects. This is the tricky part since, in order to set the splatter’s Opacity to 100%, you’ll have to isolate the resulting shapes by double-clicking on them, and then select the outer rectangular frame (which is invisible) and remove it by pressing Delete. Then you should be able to set the Opacity level to the upper limit and resize and position the splatter as seen in the reference image. Also, since we’re done working on the trap door, you can select and group (Control-G) all its composing shapes before moving on to the next step.
Step 17
Since we’re pretty much done working on the cellar entrance, we can go
back to the second layer, and add the subtle horizontal highlight using a 244 x 4 px rectangle (#FFCD5C) followed
by a few cracks (#21353A) and smaller highlights (#FFCD5C), which we will
position inside the Clipping Mask
that we’ve created for the other details.
6. How to Create the Spooky Eyes
Position yourself back on the third and last layer, and let’s finish the composition by adding the spooky staring eyes.
Step 1
Start by creating the main shapes for the center pair of eyes using two 8 x 8 px circles (#F2673D), on top of
which we will add a smaller 4 x 4 px one
(#21353A), individually grouping (Control-G)
and positioning them on the cellar’s entrance as seen in the reference image.
Step 2
Change the expression of the eyes that we’ve just created by positioning
an 8 x 6 px rectangle (#21353A) onto
each and one of them, which we will adjust by selecting their outer bottom anchor points using the Direct Selection
Tool (A) and then pushing them to the top by 6 px using either the directional arrow
keys or the Move tool (right click > Transform > Move >
Vertical > -4 px). Once you’re done, select the resulting shapes and the
eyes and group them together using the Control-G
keyboard shortcut.
Step 3
Finish off the project by adding the side pairs of eyes using two copies (Control-C > Control-F twice) of the ones that we’ve just finished working on, which we will position as seen in the reference image. Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) all of the trap door’s composing sections before finally hitting that save button.
Great Job!
As always, I hope you had fun working on the project and most importantly managed to learn something new and useful along the way.
That being said, if you have any questions, feel free to post them within the comments section and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
