In the following tutorial you will learn how to create a vector golf illustration. It includes creating a golf hole scene, complete with numbered flag for the hole and a cutout section of turf where the golf ball has landed. You’ll also learn to illustrate some dynamic text that fits well with the illustration’s theme.
Step 1
Hit Command + N to create a new document. Enter 700 in the width box and 500 in the height box, then click on the Advanced button. Select RGB, Screen (72ppi) and make sure that the Align New Objects to Pixel Grid box is unchecked before your click OK.
Now, turn on the Grid (View > Grid) and the Snap to Grid (View > Snap to Grid). Next, you’ll need a grid every 10px. Go to Edit > Preferences > Guides & Grid, enter 10 in the Gridline every box and 1 in the Subdivisions box.
You can also open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your shapes. Do not forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Unit > General. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
Step 2
Pick the Ellipse Tool (L) and create a 300 by 100px shape. Fill it with R=0, G=148, B=68. Now remove the color from the stroke and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Zig Zag. Enter the data shown below, click OK and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen. Again, enter the data show below, click OK and apply Object > Expand Appearance.
Step 3
Reselect the shape made in the previous step and go to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel. Click on the More Options button and enter the data shown below.
Do not forget to check the “Draw Hidden Faces” box from the bottom of this window. It’s really important. Now click OK and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Move to the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and you will find a new group.
Step 4
Move to the Layers panel and focus on the group created in the previous step. Click on the little arrow so that you can see the content of your group. It should contain five subgroups.
First, select the two, bottom subgroups and delete them. Next, select the second subgroup and hit the Unite button from the Pathfinder panel. Reselect the entire group and hit Shift + Command + G a few times until you get rid of all the groups.
In the end you should have three simple shapes inside your Layers panel. Don’t worry if you can only spot two of them. The third one is hidden behind those two. Select the top, visible shape and go to the Layers panel. Double-click on it and enter “Top” in the Name box. Select the bottom, visible shape and name it “Bottom”.
Finally, select the hidden shape from the Layers panel and name it “Back”. Make sure that this final shape is placed in the bottom of the Layers panel.
