In today’s tutorial we’re going to step away from the regular program and tackle something new for a change. We’re going to get our architecture hats on and build the Toronto skyline, using some of the most basic shapes and tools that we’ve been working with lately.
So grab a cup of
that special coffee blend, and let’s get started!
Oh, and before I forget, you can always expand the project by checking
out GraphicRiver where you can find
tons of inspiring skyline illustrations just waiting to be clicked on.
1. How to Set Up a New Project File
Since I’m assuming you already have Illustrator up and running in the background, bring it up and let’s set up a New Document (File > New or Control-N) for our project using the following settings:
- Number of Artboards: 1
- Width:1200 px
- Height:600 px
- Units:Pixels
And from the Advanced tab:
- Color Mode: RGB
- Raster Effects: Screen (72ppi)
- Preview Mode: Default
Quick tip: some of you might have noticed that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid option is missing. That's because I’m running the new CC 2017 version of the software, where great changes have been made to the way Illustratorhandles the way shapes snap to the underlying Pixel Grid.
2. How to Set Up a Custom Grid
Now, I know we’re not working on icons today, but since we’re going to be creating the illustration using a pixel-perfect workflow, we’ll want to set up a nice little grid so that we can have full control over our shapes.
Step 1
Go to the Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid submenu, and adjust the following settings:
- Gridline every: 1 px
- Subdivisions: 1
Quick tip: you can learn more about grids by reading this in-depth piece on how Illustrator’s Grid System works.
Step 2
Once we’ve set up our custom grid, all we need to do in order to make sure our shapes look crisp is enable the Snap to Grid option found under the View menu, which will transform into Snap to Pixel each time you enter Pixel Preview mode.
Now, if you’re new to the whole “pixel-perfect workflow”, I strongly recommend you go through my how to create pixel-perfect artwork tutorial, which will help you widen your technical skills in no time.
3. 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 some layers, since this way we can maintain a steady workflow by focusing on one section at a time.
That being said, bring up the Layers panel and create a total of six layers, which we will rename as follows:
- layer 1: background
- layer 2: frame
- layer 3: foreground line
- layer 4: buildings
- layer 5: water lines
- layer 6: sky lines
4. How to Create the Frame
As you’ve probably already noticed, our little city is perfectly framed inside a fairly large rectangle, which we will use in a similar way to how we would normally use a reference grid, since we’re going to position our shapes in relation to its outer edges, in order to reconstruct the composition.
Step 1
Let’s kick off the project by first making
sure that we’re on the right layer (that would be the second one) and then
creating the main shape for our frame using a 1120 x 520 px rectangle, which we will color using #282020 and then
center align to our Artboard.
Step 2
Turn the shape that we’ve just created into an outline by pressing Shift-X and then setting its Stroke’s Weight to 8 px, making sure to lock its layer once you’re done.
5. How to Create the Foreground Line
Before we start, make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the third one) and then zoom in on its bottom-left corner so you can have a better view of what you’re going to be creating.
Step 1
Create the
foreground’s smaller line segment using a 36
px wide 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will position
at a distance of 84 px from the
frame’s left edge and 50 px from
its bottom one.
Step 2
Create the larger line segment using a 900 px wide 8 px thick Stroke (#282020)
which we will position on the right side of the one that we’ve just created,
at a distance of 8 px.
Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G) both line segments together, locking their layer afterwards.
6. How to Create the First Building
Our next step is to start working on the little buildings that make up our skyline. That being said, make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the fourth one), and then zoom in onto the Artboard’s bottom-left corner so that we can get started.
Step 1
Create the main shape
for the first building using 48 x 106 pxrectangle (#282020), which we will turn into an outline by flipping its Fill with its Stroke (Shift-X) and
then setting its Weight to 8 px. Position the resulting shape on
the larger foreground line segment, at a distance of 24 px from its left edge.
Step 2
Start adding details to
the building by creating two 16 x 10 px rectangles
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will bottom
align to each of its corners, making sure their strokes end up overlapping
each other.
Step 3
Add the windows using seven 48 px wide 8 px thick Stroke lines
(#282020) which we will vertically stack at a distance of 12 px from one another. Once you’re done, group the lines (Control-G) and then horizontal center
align them to the building’s upper section.
Before you move on, select and group (Control-G) all the shapes that we have so far to separate the building’s different sections.
Step 4
Create the rooftop using
a 32 x 12 px rectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position on top of the building’s
outline, making sure to center align it to the larger group.
Step 5
Start adding details to
the roof by creating a 14 x 12 px rectangle
(#282020) which we will position over its outline’s upper half, aligning it to its left edge
afterwards.
Step 6
Create and position a
6 x 4 px rectangle (#282020) on top
of the shape that we’ve created in the previous step, aligning it to its right
edge, making sure to group (Control-G)
them together afterwards.
Step 7
Finish off the roof by creating a 10 x 8 px rectangle
(#282020) which we will position on top of the roof’s outline, aligning it to
its right edge. Once you’re done, select and group all of the roof’s composing
shapes together using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.
Step 8
Since we’re pretty much done working on the first building, we can now select all of its composing sections and group them either by using the Control-Gkeyboard shortcut or by right clicking > Group.
7. How to Create the Second Building (the SkyDome)
Move a few pixels towards the right, and then let’s start working on the second building, which is the iconic SkyDome (now Rogers Centre) that Toronto is known for.
Step 1
Start working on the dome’s
center section by creating a 224 x 56 pxrectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
onto the foreground detail line, at a distance of 64 px from the first building.
Step 2
Create the frame for
the centered set of windows, using a 48
x 20 px rectangle with an 8 px thickStroke (#282020) which we will
center align to the larger shape’s base.
Step 3
Using the Pen Tool (P), draw two 20 px tall 8 px thick Stroke lines
(#282020) which we will position 16
px from one another, grouping (Control-G)
and then center aligning them to the frame afterwards.
Step 4
Finish off the center
window frame by drawing a 48 px wide4 px thick Stroke line (#282020) which we will align to its center, selecting
and grouping (Control-G) all its
composing shapes afterwards.
Step 5
Create two copies (Control-C > Control-F x 2) of the windows set that we’ve just finished working on, and position one on each side of the dome, at a distance of 24 px from the original.
Step 6
Start working on the
dome’s top window row, by creating the frame using a 224 x 12 px rectangle with an 8
px thick Stroke (#282020) which
we will center align to its main body, at a distance of 4 px from the windows that we’ve just finished working on.
Step 7
Create the
windows using nine 12 px tall 8 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) which we will position 24 px from one another, grouping (Control-G) and then center aligning
them to the larger frame.
Once you’re done, select both the frame and the vertical stroke lines that we’ve just created and group (Control-G) those and the entire front section of the dome together as well.
Step 8
Start working on the
building’s left section by creating a 38
x 76 px rectangle with an 8 px thickStroke (#282020) which we will
position on its side, so that their paths overlap.
Step 9
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by first turning on Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and then adding two new anchor points to its path, one at a distance of 12 px from its left edge, followed by another one at just 8 px.
Then, select the two top-right anchor points and push them to the bottom by 8 px (right click > Transform > Move > Vertical > 8 px).
Step 10
Start adding details
to the resulting shape by creating three 38
px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) which we will
vertically stack 6 px from one
another, grouping (Control-G) and
then center aligning them to the bottom edge of the larger shape, at a distance
of just 4 px.
Step 11
Create another set of
two 38 px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines
(#282020) which we will vertically stack at a distance of 10 px from one another, positioning them above the previous lines
at a distance of 4 px.
Step 12
Add an 8 x 10 px rectangle (#282020) between the two lines that we’ve just created, positioning it at a distance
of 4 px from the section’s larger
outline, selecting and grouping (Control-G)
all three shapes together afterwards.
Step 13
Create a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the shapes that we’ve just grouped, and then vertically position it at a distance of 8 px from the original, selecting and grouping (Control-G) all of the side section's composing shapes afterwards.
Step 14
Create the building’s right side section using a copy of the one that we’ve just finished working on, which we will position so that the paths overlap, making sure to vertically reflect it afterwards (right click > Transform> Reflect > Vertical).
Step 15
Start working on the
dome’s roof by creating
a 224 x 80 px ellipse with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will center align to the dome so that
its outer anchor points overlap those of the building’s side sections.
Step 16
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by pinching its side anchor points with the help of the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C), cutting it in half afterwards by selecting its bottom anchor point with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then removing it by pressing Delete.
Step 17
Create the outer
section of the roof, using a 276 x 108
px ellipse with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
over the dome, so that its outer anchor points overlap the top ones of the building’s
side sections.
Step 18
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created using the same process of pinching its side anchor points and then selecting and removing its bottom half, so that in the end you have a nice bolted roof.
Step 19
Start working on the
roof’s arches by creating a 48 x 104 pxellipse with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will cut in
half by selecting and then removing its bottom anchor point (Delete). Once you’re done, center align
the resulting shape to the roof’s inner section, positioning it so that their
paths overlap.
Step 20
Add the second arch
line using a 128 x 104 px ellipse
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will adjust
by removing its bottom half, center aligning the resulting shape to the
previously created arch.
Step 21
Create the third and
last arch line using a 196 x 104 px ellipse
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will adjust
by removing its bottom half and then center aligning the resulting shape to
the previously created shape.
Step 22
Finish off the roof, and
with it the dome itself, by adding a couple of 4 x 8 px rectangles (#282020) to the center of the arches that we’ve just created.
Once you’re done, select and group (Control-G)
all of the roof’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire
building afterwards.
8. How to Create the Third Building
Once we’ve finished working on the dome, we can start working on the background building from behind its left side.
Step 1
Create the building’s
main body using a 32 x 126 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will
position over the dome's left section, so that their paths end up overlapping.
Step 2
Since we need the building to sit behind the dome, we’ll have to adjust the shape that we’ve just created by adding a new anchor point to the center of its stroke’s bottom edge, which we will then remove by pressing Delete. Then, simply select and drag its bottom anchor points to the top, until they end up overlapping the roof’s outer section.
Step 3
Add the windows using
two 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) vertically stacked at a distance of 8 px from one another, which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the building, at a distance of 4 px from its top edge.
Step 4
Create the antenna using
a 16 px tall 4 px thick Stroke line
(#282020) which we will position onto the left side of the building’s roof.
Step 5
Finish off the building
by adding a 10 x 8 px rectangle
(#282020) to the right side of its roof, selecting and grouping all its
composing shapes together afterwards using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
9. How to Create the Fourth Building
Move on to the right side of the dome, and let’s start working on our fourth building, which can be seen behind it.
Step 1
Create the building’s
main body using a 48 x 92 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will
position behind the dome’s right section, making sure to adjust its left side so that its paths don’t obscure the shapes sitting in front of it.
Step 2
Add the windows using
five 40 px wide 8 px thick Stroke lines
(#282020) stacked vertically 16 px from
one another, which we will group (Control-G)
and then position in the center of the front section of the building, at a
distance of 8 px from its top edge.
Step 3
Create the roof using
a 28 x 12 px rectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position on top of the main
building, aligning it to its left edge.
Step 4
Finish off the roof, and with it the building itself, by adding a 14 x 8 px rectangle (#282020) on its right side, selecting and
grouping (Control-G) all its
composing shapes together. Once you’re done, do the same for the entire
building so that in case you move it, you won’t have shapes left behind.
10. How to Create the Fifth Building (the CN Tower)
The next building that we are going to recreate is the iconic CN Tower, which is one of the world’s tallest free-standing structures ever made.
Step 1
Start working on the
tower’s base by creating a 36 x 260 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
on the right side of the building that we’ve just finished working on, at a
distance of 40 px.
Step 2
Start adjusting the shape by first turning on Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y), and then adding a new anchor to each of its sides at a distance of 88 px from its top edge, using the Add Anchor Point Tool (+).
Step 3
Turn off Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and then adjust the shape by individually selecting its bottom anchor points, and then pushing them to the outside by 26 px (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal > + / - 26 px depending on which side you start with).
Step 4
Take a few moments and adjust the curvature of the tower’s leg base by clicking on its center anchor points and then dragging and repositioning its handles’ end points to the bottom, at a distance of 116 px.
Step 5
Create the frame holding
the windows, using a 12 x 244 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will center
align to its bottom edge.
Step 6
Add the windows by
creating 29 lines that are 12 px wide and have a 4 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will vertically stack 8 px from one another, grouping (Control-G) and then center aligning
them to the frame that we created in the previous step. Also, since
we’re pretty much done working on this section of the building, don’t forget to
select and group (Control-G) all its
composing shapes as well.
Step 7
Start working on the sky
pod by creating its lower section using a 72
x 12 px rounded rectangle with a 6
px Corner Radius and an 8 px thickStroke (#282020), which we will
position on top of the tower’s base, center aligning it to the larger shape.
Step 8
Create the pod’s main
section using a 68 x 26 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020), which we will position
on top of the previously created shape, making sure to center align it.
Step 9
Adjust the shape that we’ve just created by first turning on Pixel Preview mode (Alt-Control-Y) and then adding two new side anchor points at a distance of 16 px from its top edge, individually selecting and pushing its bottom ones to the inside by 4 px (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal > + / - 4 px depending on which side you start with).
Step 10
Using the Pen Tool (P), draw a 68 px wide 8 px thick Stroke line
(#282020) which we will center align to the shape that we’ve just adjusted,
positioning it at a distance of 8 px from
its top edge.
Step 11
Next, create four 10 px tall 4 px thick vertical detail lines (#282020), which we will position 16 px from one another, grouping
(Control-G) and then center aligning
them to the lower section created by the horizontal divider from the previous
step.
Step 12
Double-click on the dividers to enter Isolation Mode, and then individually select and adjust the first and last lines by pushing their bottom anchor points to the inside by 4 px (right click > Transform > Move > Horizontal > + / - 4 px depending on which side you start with).
Step 13
Create a 68 px wide 4 px thick Stroke line
(#282020), which we will center align to the empty space created by the pod’s
thicker horizontal divider.
Step 14
Finish off this
section of the pod by creating seven 8
px tall 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020), which we will position 8 px from one another, grouping (Control-G) and then center aligning
them to the upper edge. Once you’re done, select and group all of the pod’s
composing shapes using the Control-G keyboard
shortcut.
Step 15
Start working on the
roof by creating a 60 x 10 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
on top of the sky pod and then adjust by individually selecting and pushing
its top anchor points to the inside by 4
px.
Step 16
Create a smaller 52 x 10 px rectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) and position it over the shape that we’ve just adjusted,
making sure to center align the two to one another.
Step 17
Create an 8 x 8 px square (#282020) which we will
position over the sky pod’s roof, making sure to align it to its left edge.
Once you’re done, select and group all of the roof’s composing shapes using the
Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 18
Start working on the
tower’s upper section by creating a 20 x
16 px rectangle with an 8 px thickStroke (#282020) which we will
position on top of the sky pod’s roof.
Step 19
Create a 12 x 48 px rectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position on top of the previously
created shape. Then, add an 8 x 6 px rectangle
(#282020) onto each of its sides, positioning them at a distance of 8 px from the wider section, grouping (Control-G) them together afterwards.
Step 20
Create the space deck
using a 28 x 10 px rectangle with an8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position on top of the tower’s upper
section.
Step 21
Start working on the
antenna by creating a 12 x 28 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
on top of the space deck that we’ve just created. Add a 32 px tall 8 px thick Stroke line (#282020) on top of it, and
then group the two (Control-G), doing
the same for the current section and the entire tower afterwards.
11. How to Create the Sixth Building
Assuming you’ve managed to finish the CN Tower, move a few pixels to its right, and then let’s start working on the building next to it.
Step 1
Start by creating its
main body using a 60 x 144 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
onto the right side of the tower, at a distance of 14 px.
Step 2
Create the building’s
front section using a 28 x 144 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will center
align to its main body.
Step 3
Add the front section’s
windows by creating sixteen 28 px wide4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) stacked vertically 8 px from one another, which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to it, at a distance of 4 px from its top edge. Once you have
them in place, select them along with the building’s front section and group (Control-G) those as well.
Step 4
Create the side windows
using two columns of fifteen 16 px wide4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the sides, positioning them at
a distance of 8 px from the
building’s top edge.
Step 5
Add the door using an 8 x 8 px square (#282020) which we will
center align to the bottom of the building. Then, select all the shapes that
we’ve created so far and group them together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 6
Create the main shape
for the building’s roof using a 20 x 12
px rectangle with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
on top of its body, center aligning the two.
Step 7
Finish off the roof and
with it the building itself, by creating and positioning a 12 x 8 px rectangle with an 8
px thick Stroke (#282020) on top
of all the other shapes, selecting and grouping them together afterwards using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
12. How to Create the Seventh Building
Move a few pixels back towards the left side of the illustration, and let’s start working on the smaller building which can be seen behind the CN Tower.
Step 1
Create the building’s
main body using an 18 x 72 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
onto the left side of the office tower that we’ve just finished working on. As
we did with most of our background buildings, make sure to adjust it so that it
won’t end up obscuring the shapes that are in front of it.
Step 2
Add the windows
using seven 18 px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) vertically stacked 8 px from one another, which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the building’s main body,
positioning them at a distance of 4 px from
its top edge.
Once you’re done, don’t forget to select and group all the shapes that we have so far using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 3
Start working on the
roof by creating a 10 x 8 px rectangle
(#282020) which we will position on top of its main body, making sure to align
it to its left edge.
Step 4
Finish off the building
by adding its antenna using a 24 px tall4 px thick Stroke line (#282020), which we will position on top of the
previously created shape, selecting and grouping all the shapes together using
the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
13. How to Create the Eighth Building
Move a few pixels back to the right side of the illustration, and let’s start working on the eighth building, which is probably the shortest of the bunch.
Step 1
Create the building’s
main body using a 64 x 40 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
on the right side of the office tower that we’ve built before it.
Step 2
Add the window rows
using three 64 px wide 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) stacked vertically 8 px from one another, which we will group (Control-G) and then center align to the previously created shape,
positioning them at a distance of 4 px from
its top edge.
Step 3
Add the little doors
using seven 4 x 6 px rectangles
(#282020) which we will position 4 pxfrom one another, grouping (Control-G)
and then center aligning them to the bottom edge of the building. Once you’re done, select all
the shapes that we’ve created so far and group (Control-G) those together as well.
Step 4
Start working on the
roof by creating a 24 x 10 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
onto the left side of the building, at a distance of 4 px from the office tower.
Step 5
Add a 14 x 8 px rectangle (#282020) to the
right side of the roof, positioning it at a distance of 4 px from the previously created shape.
Step 6
Finish off the roof, and with it the building itself, by creating the little antenna using a 20 px tall 4 px thick Stroke line
(#282020) which we will position on the left side of the taller rectangle.
Once you’re done, group (Control-G)
all of the roof’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire
building afterwards.
14. How to Create the Ninth Building
The next building is basically a duplicate of the one from section 11, so it shouldn’t take us long to get it done.
Create a copy (Control-C > Control-F) of the sixth building that we created in section 11, and then position it on the right side of the illustration, next to the one that we’ve just finished working on.
15. How to Create the Tenth Building
We are now down to our tenth (yes tenth) and last building, so without wasting any more time let’s wrap up this section of the illustration.
Step 1
Create the building’s
main body using a 42 x 88 px rectangle
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) which we will position
onto the right side of the taller structure from the previous step, at a
distance of 20 px.
Step 2
Add the windows using
six 42 px wide 8 px thick Stroke lines
(#282020) vertically stacked 12 px from
one another, which we will group (Control-G)
and then center align to the previously created shape, positioning them at a
distance of 8 px from its bottom
edge.
Step 3
Create the doors
using two 6 x 8 px rectangles (#282020)
which we will distance at 14 px from
one another, grouping (Control-G)
and then center aligning them to the bottom edge of the building. Once you’re
done, select and group all of the shapes that we’ve created so far using the Control-G keyboard shortcut.
Step 4
Start working on the
roof by creating a 16 x 12 px rectangle
(#282020) which we will position on top of the building, at a distance of 8 px from its left edge.
Step 5
Finish off the
roof, and with it the building itself, by creating another smaller 10 x 8 px rectangle (#282020) which we
will position onto the right side of the shape from the previous step.
Then, once you’re done, group (Control-G) all of the roof’s composing shapes together, doing the same for the entire building afterwards.
16. How to Create the Trees
Since we’re actually done working on the buildings, our next step is to start creating and adding some of nature’s finest creations: trees.
Step 1
Start by creating the
trunk using a 10 px tall 4 px thick Stroke line (#282020) (1), on top of which we will add an 8 x 10 px ellipse with a 4 px thick Stroke (#282020) (2). Adjust the ellipse by selecting its top
anchor point and then clicking on it with the Anchor
Point Tool (Shift-C) in order to make it pointy (3).
Finish off the tree by pushing the pointy anchor point to the top by 2 px (4), selecting and grouping (Control-G) both shapes together afterwards.
Step 2
Since each tree is basically identical to the next one, we’ll create one instance and then use multiple copies (Control-C > Control-F) to fill up some of the empty spaces found between the buildings.
Then, once you’re done, lock the current layer before moving on up to the next one.
17. How to Create the Water Lines
Assuming you’ve moved on up to the next layer (that would be the fourth one), let’s take a couple of minutes and work on our little water lines.
Step 1
Using the Pen Tool (P), draw a couple of
horizontal lines with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) and position them
below the foreground. Take your time, and once you’re done, move on to the next
step.
Step 2
Add some variation to the water by drawing some waves using a couple of slightly jagged lines, which we will position between the ones that we created in the previous step.
Once you’re done, select and group all of the water lines together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, locking the current layer and moving on to the next one.
18. How to Create the Sky Lines
Once we’ve finished working on the lower section of the illustration, it’s time to start working on the upper one, where we will create the little sky lines and clouds.
Step 1
As we did with the
water, grab the Pen Tool (P) and
draw a couple of 4 px thick Stroke lines (#282020) above and between the illustration’s buildings. Take your time, and once you’re done, move on to the next step.
Step 2
Start working on the
clouds by creating a 12 x 12 px ellipse
with an 8 px thick Stroke (#282020) (1) and then
positioning a slightly larger 20 x 20 pxellipse (#282020) onto its upper right side so that its left anchor point overlaps the top one of the smaller shapes (2).
Adjust the first shape by removing its bottom and right halves, and then the larger shape by removing just its bottom one, uniting the resulting paths using the Control-J keyboard shortcut (3). Extend the paths into each direction using the Pen Tool (P) (4) and then draw a pair of horizontal strokes and position them underneath (5), selecting and grouping (Control-G) all the shapes together afterwards.
Step 3
Create a couple of variations of the cloud using either a larger or smaller pair of circles, and then position them around the buildings at different heights.
Once you’re done, select and group all of the sky’s composing shapes together using the Control-G keyboard shortcut, locking the current layer before moving on to the last section.
19. How to Create the Background
We’re almost there! All we need to do in order to finish this illustration is add the two colored rectangles making up its background. That being said, make sure you’re on the right layer (that would be the first one) and let’s wrap things up.
Create two 258 x 520 px rectangles, which we will
color using #f96a53, and then individually select and align them to the sides
of the frame.
It’s a Wrap!
This is probably one of the longest tutorials I’ve done in a long time, but I really hope that most of you managed to stay with me until the end, since I believe the result pays off.
That being said, I hope that you’ve found the steps easy to follow and most importantly learned something new along the way.
