Objective

To learn advanced Illustrator drawing techniques. To learn Illustrator's blending tools by recreating the following art by Precision Graphics:

Download starter file

Discussion

This realistic illustration may look complicated at first, but it is essentially colored shapes blended together. Using the outlines provided, we will assign colors to each object and then create blends. The result is realistic only because the original illustrator used reference when creating the original shapes.

Procedure

prepping illustrator

1. open "airplane.ai" in illustrator
2. practice Illustrator's navigation shortcuts (download Illustrator keyboard shortcuts)
3. examine layers

general instructions

1. start with the lowest layer ("sky"), fill the shapes with the colors indicated
2. objects > blend > options: specified steps: 16
3. select objects to blend: objects > blend > make (cmd+opt+B)
4. repeat with other layers
5. hide "instructions" layer
6. save, print

notes

1. to reflect: use reflect tool, opt+click center, choose COPY
2. for "exhaust" layer only: select all: objects > clipping mask > make

grading

1. add your name and the exercise number on the AI file
2. file > save as (format=PDF; preset=press quality)
3. print a proof for grading
4. file your graded proof in your Process Book for individual review