Vectorpack Blog How to create a beautiful abstract background in illustrator

Hello. In this tutorial I will show you how to create a beautiful abstract background in illustrator using only 20 steps. STEP 1 Create a new document. It can be any size you want. Let's set the standard size of 800x600 pixels, resolution 72 (for screen; if your design is meant for printing, then set the resolution at the maximum size of 300 dpi) and use the RGB colour mode. STEP 2 Create your background by using a rectangle tool (M) and set it to the resolution of your page (800x600) and fill it with the colour of your choice, use a gradient (radial) so as for it to give you the impression of space. Lock it so that it cannot be modified. STEP 3 Step 3 is where we use our imagination and we conceive an abstract image. Try using shapes from control panel (rectangles, ellipses etc etc ) STEP 4 Now we give a third dimension to the existing shapes and objects. Select your shapes, group them and Go to Effect (in the bar menu) 3d -> Extrude & Bevel. Check the preview, rotate the cube so as to suit your desire, change the perspective by dragging the perspective bar to 50 - 70 degrees, and change the depth based on your preference. STEP 5 After everything is in order and you are pleased with the perspective on your object, click ok and Go to Object (in the bar menu) and click 'Expand Appearance'. Expanding the object will help you manipulate every edge/face of the object by putting it in perspective (you will notice that the points are defining the entire perspective upon the object). STEP 6 Ungroup every single object created. Go to the gradient bar and put a gradient on each face of the object. STEP 7 Go to the transparency bar menu and change the transparency to 'overlay' and/or 'multiply' to give the object a transparent and glossy look. STEP 8 As the faces of the ring might need a glossier look, we select each face of the ring, both the front side and the backside, and we copy them (Ctrl+C) in front (Ctrl+F). Then we select Overlay from the transparency panel and we decrease the Opacity to circa 45%. For a shinier and more realistic look, you can repeat the entire step several times. STEP 9 In order to have a better effect, give your design a light reflection by creating a circle using the Ellipse tool (L). Go to Effect->Blur->Gaussian Blur and give it a radius of 16-18 with a transparency at Overlay, make glimpses of light and align them with your object. STEP 10 Stretch the circles until you have and elliptic shape similar to a flare and just Copy (CTRL+C) and Paste it in front (CTRL+F) several times for a solar flare effect. STEP 11 You can start adding details by using the pen tool (P), making reflections and portions of light on each of the faces of the object by using overlay and -50% transparency. STEP 12 You can add even more details by making little curved string-like reflections from the glimpses of light by using the pen tool (P). STEP 13 After you have added the reflections with the pen tool (P), click on them and Go to Object -> Expand -> Uncheck fill check stroke -> ok. STEP 14 Now we need to return to the background and fill it up with some shapes for the sake of the composition. You can try using numbers or irregular shapes.STEP 15 By using the Type tool (T), you create a rectangle in which you can write some random letters or numbers on multiple rows. STEP 16 After you finish the typography exercise, you have to expand the type area and apply an Overlay transparency. You can then copy the entire typographical composition several times and you can even rotate it 90 degrees and thus fill the entire background with it. STEP 17 Make some circles by using the Ellipse tool (L). By pressing SHIFT at the same time, you are to make a perfect circle. Make a perfect circle of whatever size you want, give it a stroke and no fill. Design several such circles and place them in your composition with 'multiply or overlay' transparency. When you are pleased with their placement, Go to Object in the bar menu and click 'Expand'. This will transform your circles from a stroke to a fill (object). Reminder: don't ever leave out strokes Unexpanded, always use expand on your strokes. STEP 18 Now Copy the background (CTRL+C) and paste it in front (SHIFT + CTRL +]), and change the transparency to Overlay. This will deepen the shadows, the lights and the reflections of the composition. STEP 19 Now the abstract composition is almost done. You now need to delete the excesses out of the abstract format, but, before you start cutting the objects, remember that they must be ungrouped. Click on the Eraser (SHIFT + E) and just drag it while clicking ALT, this way you will erase a perfect radius of what you want. STEP 20 If you want to resize your design or if you want to change the format after you have cut the excess, and you have finished your abstract, select the whole thing and Go to TRANSFORMATION -> click Windows -> transform, click on the transformation bar menu and deselect the 'Align new objects to pixel grid' option, and your work is done. And this is the final result. Enjoy it!